This is a guest contribution from Paris Smith, Sue Schneider and Kate Chambers, each of whom share their thoughts about Calvin Ayre and CalvinAyre.com
Paris Smith – CEO of Pinnacle.com
Calvin has been an icon in the sports betting industry for over 20 years! Congratulations on 10 years of CalvinAyre.com that was just one of your many visions that took off and became a staple for information in the industry, you have paved the way with a great team, as always and enjoyed the successes from a distance.
My absolute favorite thing about Calvin beyond the industry aspect is his kind heart and his generosity. He never forgets who has his back and his contribution to Antigua is a testament to that! Congratulations on another 10 years!
Sue Schneider – Currently, VP, Growth & Strategy, America’s for SBC
It’s been interesting to see how Calvin and his enterprises have evolved over the years. We first met over the phone before he ever got into the business. The first time we crossed paths was at a gaming trade show in Las Vegas in the mid-90s. He looked like he came straight out of the pages of GQ. Over the last decade or so, I’ve teased him that he’s aimed more toward becoming the Hugh Hefner of the business.
Calvin went on to build up an amazing online business as well as forays into other industries. It’s been fun to watch his launch of CalvinAyre.com which has become a mainstay of the industry. He’s built an amazing and talented staff who always offer the information you need to know. And as an event organizer, we always know they’ll do a great job updating folks and providing some wonderful interviews and recaps.
One last word, about Calvin himself, I’m very impressed with what he’s done with his foundation. Giving back is so admirable and he’s done that. In 2017 after Hurricane’s Maria and Irma decimated the Caribbean and particularly Barbuda (Antigua’s sister island), I had the pleasure of putting my US disaster experience to work there and help the foundation determine the most critical needs for their resources. They continue, to this day, and are assisting with the islands meet their virus-related needs.
So good on ya’ for that, Calvin.
Kate Chambers, Managing Director for Clarion Gaming
10 years! Where has the decade gone? Huge congratulations to the team at CalvinAyre.com for achieving this fantastic landmark.
Coincidentally, I joined Clarion Gaming around the same time as CalvinAyre.com launched and throughout the good times and most importantly, the less so good times, the brand has been a true ally. Fulsome and generous in their praise they have also had the courage and candour to let me know when things have not gone as well as perhaps they should – and that’s the measure of a true ‘critical friend’.
There’s no doubt their contribution has added greatly to our events and on behalf of the entire team at Clarion Gaming I would like to raise a (virtual) glass and toast the success of the last 10-years and look forward to the next. I look forward to seeing you at our next in-person event to celebrate with you properly!
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder at SBC
Huge congratulations to Calvin, the legend himself, for the 10-year anniversary of CalvinAyre.com. The news portal has grown into one of the most important and trusted news sources in the betting and gaming industries, thanks to the awesomeness, hard work and creativity of Becky, Bill and the Team.
CalvinAyre.com has and will always be an integral part of our journey here at SBC, and we are incredibly proud of the close partnership we share. Becky and Bill have been an immense support right back to the days of the very first Betting on Football conference we organised at Stamford Bridge, helping us to reach an ever wider audience as we’ve built our events business.
Personally I believe that Becky’s video interviews set the benchmark for our industry many years ago, and have rightly so earned her legendary status. And yes, I have been lucky enough to have been featured plenty of times over the years, so CalvinAyre.com is the place to go if you want to see how I’ve aged while running SBC!
