Play Meter

COIN-OP NEWS
Chris Felix to depart coin-op industry
Chris Felix, the current national amuse-
ment OEM sales manager at Crane Payment
Innovations, is leaving the position to become
the company’s director of sales of its public
transportation and parking division, managing
Canada, the U.S. and Latin America.
Felix announced the move in a Face-
book post just a week after completing his
two-year term as president of the American
Amusement Machine Association. His new
position will shift his focus away from the
Chris
coin-operated market, which he has been
Felix
part of for 12 years.
“I will be working in my current role
until the end of the year,” Felix said in a phone call with Play
Meter. “I will have plenty of time to say goodbye to every-
body in person.”
Before the year closes, Felix will attend
several industry events including the Interna-
tional Association of Amusement Parks and
Attractions Expo this month.
Elected president of AAMA in 2015,
Felix oversaw the creation of the associa-
tion’s Fair Play Pledge, which requires all
U.S. members manufacturer, distribute, or
operate games/cranes that are 100 percent
skill-based. He’s also been honored with the
association’s Joe Robbins Award.
“I have had an incredible time over the
past 12 years in the amusement industry
and it wasn’t in any way an easy decision to
move into the new role,” Felix said. “The industry has hon-
estly become like family to me and I cannot thank everyone
enough for the experiences I have had along the way.
“My time on the [AAMA] Board of Directors was a learn-
ing experience like no other, and it was an honor to serve
as the president for the past two years. That said, I am very
excited to accept the challenges of a new industry and the
opportunity to take with me the lessons I have learned.”
IAAPA elects new
second vice chairman
The board of directors of the International Association of
Amusement Parks and Attractions elected Amanda Thomp-
son, Order of the British Empire, second vice chairman
during a meeting on Sept. 25 in
Berlin, Germany.
“Amanda’s firsthand knowl-
edge of leading a successful
family-owned business and her
diverse industry experience make
her the perfect person for this
role,” said Mario Mamon, chair-
man of the IAAPA Governance
Committee. “She is a third-gener-
ation attractions industry leader
and a long-time IAAPA volun-
Amanda
Thompson
teer. All of this, coupled with her
passion for the industry makes
her the right leader at the right time for IAAPA.”
Thompson is the first woman from Europe to chair the
global trade association, and the third woman in IAAPA’s
100-year history to lead the organization.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to give back to this
industry I love. It’s been a part of our family and our family
business for many decades,” said Thompson. “I hope to serve
as a role model for the increasing number of young women
leaders in the attractions industry.”
For more information, visit (www.IAAPA.org).
PLAY METER
Pinball Expo recognized
as longest-running
pinball event
Now in its 33rd year, the Pinball Expo in Chicago has
officially been recognized as the longest-running pinball
event by Guinness World Records. Expo organizers Rob
Berk, Mike Pacak, and Bill Kurtz received a plaque during
an awards banquet on Oct. 14.
Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day surprised expo
attendees by announcing the distinction after he took the
stage to accept his own award.
Day contacted Guinness World Records prior to the
expo in hopes of convincing them to honor the event’s
longevity. He submitted evidence, and after Guinness
World Records verified his findings, three copies of the
award were issued to Berk, Pacak, and Kurtz.
“The [Pinball Expo] is a pioneer for the pinball indus-
try and was influential in bringing the pinball hobby
international acclaim, inspiring a tradition of contests,
and making pinball a serious rival to the world of coin-op
video games,” said Day. For more information, visit (www.
pinballexpo.net).
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NOVEMBER 2017