How did you start working with Accredit?

It was a classic case of serendipity. I had recently left an exhibitions business I’d worked at for 7 and a half years and was out sharing a coffee with Andy Center, the former CEO of that business and one of Accredit’s investors. Andy and I were discussing opportunities in the exhibition industry, but I explained I wanted a break from the event industry and then Accredit came up; before long I was sharing a Thai lunch in London with Peder and Nicola, hatching a plan on landing and expanding in the USA and the rest is history.

What does your role entail at Accredit?

I’m President of Accredit Solutions USA. My job is to grow the US business, including the team, customers, and revenues. We’re already pretty much a self-supporting business with a locally based client service and developer team but, have plans to expand even further in line with the rapid client and team growth we are enjoying.

Tell us something interesting about yourself?

Outside of Accredit, I’m a handy cook, which is a hobby I enjoy too much. One thing I’m looking forward to expanding in the US is my knowledge and practice of Q – American smokehouse BBQ – bring on the brisket!

What is your biggest personal or professional achievements?

Building successful teams and products from the bare ground up – my best achievements have always started with me as the first boots on the ground understanding the market and properly identifying and meeting customer needs.

If you could change something from your past what would it be?

Nothing. I do not believe in looking back and what-ifs – I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and am not perfect but I live for the day and what’s Infront of me, making the best of what we have and what those around can offer, learning from the past and making a great here, now and future.

Who is the person you admire the most and why?

A random one and possibly contentious, Gordon Ramsay, he is a real renaissance man and dad. It might be media spin but in the last few years, he seems to have found a balance of growing his business and keeping his family very much at the front and centre, including pulling his kids through tough times. I admire how he has kept himself relevant, adapting to new trends and media, whilst still not losing sight of what got him there in the first place – his world-leading cooking.

Also I don’t think he’s a crazy angry dude – this is just a sign that he cares, wanting everything he touches and the people he cares about to be the very best they can be.

How would your friends describe you?

Loud, larger than life, generous and fun – I’d hope!

How do you think the accreditation process for stadium teams will evolve in the coming year?

Consolidation and integration. There are still teams and venues running multiple accreditation processes and platforms that can do something just about ok. But the word is out, people are recognising they can transform their processes with a platform like Accredit, consolidate, and integrate several systems, which ultimately will help them save time and boost security – sounds simple, it is for Accredit. But it amazes me how many teams are still using spreadsheets, web forms or systems that don’t easily integrate into access control, other processes, and systems – but change is happening quickly.

What is the most interesting project you have worked on in your time at Accredit?

There was a project we delivered recently in partnership with Alvarado and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Our access control technology runs natively alongside Ticketmaster scanning on the Buccaneers’ Alvarado’s turnstiles and access scanners. It’s a neat solution, where the Buccaneers get the instant and full secure credential validation result on the same scanning device or turnstile they are running fans Ticketmaster tickets through.

What is your favourite functionality aspect of the Accredit platform?

The Responsible Organization portals – we have sales calls where the client suddenly has that a-ha moment – when they realise this feature is going to make their job easier and less time consuming; then they get more excited again when they realise this feature also ensures data capture and security isn’t going to suffer, and in fact, it’s actually going to be better.

If you could spend 5 minutes with any person alive or dead who would it be and why?

Dr Seuss, to do my best to influence him to change the narrative of some of his books – I’m still traumatized From Green Eggs and Ham for all the times I had to repeat Sam-I-Am. In fact, I think I’d rather eat a big plate of green eggs and ham instead of repeating Sam-I- Am ever again.

Tell us a joke…

I took out a loan to pay for an exorcism. If I don’t pay it back, I’m going to get repossessed.