MSN:  Please describe your current position. How long have you been in the position and with the company?

Spitz:  I have been a co-Vice President/Events of the World Poker Tour and my partner Kim and I are coming up on our one year anniversary.

 

MSN:  How did you get this position?

Spitz:  After 30 years in the radio industry, I was looking for a field that I had passion for and was on the upswing. I had a close friend and colleague that was looking to get into this field and we reached out to the CEO of the World Poker Tour with an idea. Luckily, he called back and was very receptive and asked us to write a business plan. Four months later, we became a wholly owned division of The World Poker Tour, WPT Events.

  

MSN:  What interested you in this position?

Spitz:  Poker had become the third largest sport in the world and I wanted to be a part of it. In my opinion, The World Poker Tour is the best poker brand out there and we wanted to help the brand grow globally.

 

Spitz:  I always knew I wanted to be in media/entertainment and when I got out of school I sent out 50 very unique resumes. I got 48 responses and took an entry level position at WLS-TV. I soon realized the money was in sales, but at that time there were very few women selling in media. I left to go to WFLD-TV (now Fox) and became an entry level seller. Two years later I was recruited by RKO Radio Sales and later became the first woman in the company to run a rep office. I had a tremendous mentor in Bill Hogan from RKO. I stayed through 6 owners and twenty seven years through the Clear Channel purchase, which was a rarity in this business. I had many wonderful positions throughout those years and left there as a Senior Vice-President. I then became the Market Manager and launched the Air America station in Chicago.

MSN:  How did you get hired by your current company?

Spitz:  My partner and I created a compelling business plan for an event division to bring the World Poker Tour to corporate America for sales meetings, vendor and incentive meetings, product launches, charitable events, etc. for entertainment purposes only, and the timing was right for the World Poker Tour to create this division. We are national in scope and do spectacular events all over the country.

 

MSN:  What has been the most challenging for you in your career?

Spitz:  In the rep business, being the middle person where not everyone had the same regard for execution that I did.

 

MSN:  What is your favorite part of your job?

Spitz:  I love doing a business deal where it is a true win-win for both parties. At WPT Events, it is wonderful to walk into a room and see so many people having fun. I also have met some amazing people over the last 30 years and tried to learn from the best.

 

MSN:  What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into a similar career?

Spitz:  Be faster and smarter than your competition and put in the hours necessary to truly service your clients. Also you are not just selling your product; you need to learn about the business you are pitching to help sell THEIR product or service.

 

MSN:  What tools helped prepare you for this position?

Spitz:  Experience and being a student of business, not just media. I made it a point of asking a lot of questions. I also sat on the advisory boards of several technology companies and learned a lot about finance, business plans, and P & L’s [Profit and Loss].

 

MSN:  What set you apart from other candidates?

Spitz:  Integrity, guts, passion for our business, flawless execution, and work ethic. After 30 years, I have also developed a pretty good rolodex of contacts!