Play Meter
Issue: 2016 June - Vol 42 Num 6 - Page 16
NEWS FEATURE
Gustafson takes reins of AAMA
Passion for the industry and the association shines through.
sonality index, and more criteria.
Pete brings a life’s career (36 years)
in the industry to his new post along
with unbridled enthusiasm and a can
do/will do attitude, attributes that con-
tributed to his election as AAMA Pres-
ident for a two-year term 2013-2015.
In a Facebook posting, Pete said,
“To say I’m overwhelmed by every-
one’s kind messages is a giant under-
statement. I cannot express in words
my gratitude for everyone’s acknowl-
edgements. And I cannot accept it
without thanking ‘all of you’ who have
been so generous toward me over
the years, seeing in me what I did not
know was there and allowing me the
space to achieve the next thing.
“I have a lot to pay forward and
will do so happily. The organization
I’m stepping into could not be in bet-
ter shape and all the credit for get-
ting it there goes to John Schultz, Tina
Schwartz, and Ashley Davis. And for
that, I am incredibly grateful. I can’t
wait to get this party started. This is
gonna be fun.”
At the AAMA Annual Meeting & Gala 2015: Pete Gustafson (c) accepts the Joe Robbins
Award from Chris Felix (l) and John Schultz.
Pete Gustafson is the new Execu-
tive Vice President of the American
Amusement Machine Association
(AAMA), effective June 1. He succeeds
John Schultz, who led the association
for the last seven years and retired at
the end of May.
AAMA conducted a thorough
search for the right person and nar-
rowed the field from 11 candidates
to the top two. Candidates came from
within the industry and outside the
industry with extensive association
management experience.
The search committee included
PLAY METER
Board of Directors members Chris
Felix of CPI, President of AAMA;
Holly Hampton of Bay Tek Games,
Vice President of AAMA; and David
Cohen, a Past President of AAMA and
current President of the American
Amusement Machine Charitable Foun-
dation (AAMCF).
Felix said, “It was a long process
with several great candidates. We feel
that we have really made the right
choice.”
The selection process was thorough,
taking into consideration leadership,
character, communications skills, a per-
26
NEW CHAPTER
Pete is the sixth person to be at the
helm of the association. He told Play
Meter, “I will continue the work that
the association has begun. Thanks to
Rick Kirby of Betson and David Cohen
of Firestone Financial, we are in a
good place legislatively. John Schultz
has done a great job of getting the
house in order. I will build on the foun-
dation that has been laid.”
Being a Past President of AAMA
has put Pete in a unique position as he
takes on this demanding job. “I have
been intimately involved with the asso-
ciation and its activities for many years.
We want to grow membership and
create relevance for as many segments
of the industry as we can. We do that
by providing a space where people
JUNE 2016
Gustafson takes reins of AAMA
Passion for the industry and the association shines through.
sonality index, and more criteria.
Pete brings a life’s career (36 years)
in the industry to his new post along
with unbridled enthusiasm and a can
do/will do attitude, attributes that con-
tributed to his election as AAMA Pres-
ident for a two-year term 2013-2015.
In a Facebook posting, Pete said,
“To say I’m overwhelmed by every-
one’s kind messages is a giant under-
statement. I cannot express in words
my gratitude for everyone’s acknowl-
edgements. And I cannot accept it
without thanking ‘all of you’ who have
been so generous toward me over
the years, seeing in me what I did not
know was there and allowing me the
space to achieve the next thing.
“I have a lot to pay forward and
will do so happily. The organization
I’m stepping into could not be in bet-
ter shape and all the credit for get-
ting it there goes to John Schultz, Tina
Schwartz, and Ashley Davis. And for
that, I am incredibly grateful. I can’t
wait to get this party started. This is
gonna be fun.”
At the AAMA Annual Meeting & Gala 2015: Pete Gustafson (c) accepts the Joe Robbins
Award from Chris Felix (l) and John Schultz.
Pete Gustafson is the new Execu-
tive Vice President of the American
Amusement Machine Association
(AAMA), effective June 1. He succeeds
John Schultz, who led the association
for the last seven years and retired at
the end of May.
AAMA conducted a thorough
search for the right person and nar-
rowed the field from 11 candidates
to the top two. Candidates came from
within the industry and outside the
industry with extensive association
management experience.
The search committee included
PLAY METER
Board of Directors members Chris
Felix of CPI, President of AAMA;
Holly Hampton of Bay Tek Games,
Vice President of AAMA; and David
Cohen, a Past President of AAMA and
current President of the American
Amusement Machine Charitable Foun-
dation (AAMCF).
Felix said, “It was a long process
with several great candidates. We feel
that we have really made the right
choice.”
The selection process was thorough,
taking into consideration leadership,
character, communications skills, a per-
26
NEW CHAPTER
Pete is the sixth person to be at the
helm of the association. He told Play
Meter, “I will continue the work that
the association has begun. Thanks to
Rick Kirby of Betson and David Cohen
of Firestone Financial, we are in a
good place legislatively. John Schultz
has done a great job of getting the
house in order. I will build on the foun-
dation that has been laid.”
Being a Past President of AAMA
has put Pete in a unique position as he
takes on this demanding job. “I have
been intimately involved with the asso-
ciation and its activities for many years.
We want to grow membership and
create relevance for as many segments
of the industry as we can. We do that
by providing a space where people
JUNE 2016
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).