Professional
poker player Jeremy Ausmus has always had a talent for games that
require planning and patience.
The youngest of three, Ausmus grew up in the small town of Lamar,
Colorado. His interest in poker was sparked when he watched the movie
“Rounders” as a Colorado State University student in 2002. His desire to
learn more about the game led him to devour poker books, hone his skills
at online poker sites and grind out wins in cash games at small casinos
and card rooms. In 2004, he was making more in poker than his job,
making it a somewhat easy decision to rely on his poker skills as his
sole income for his final year of school.
In 2005, Ausmus graduated with a degree in Economics from Colorado State
University and relocated from Fort Collins, Colorado to Las Vegas, where
he could play poker full-time as a professional.
Jeremy started out playing small no limit hold'em games around town.
Within a few months, he was doing quite well both online and playing
bigger games in casinos, however online proved more profitable. He spent
the bulk of his hours over the next few years on the virtual felt, under
the screen name, "TheTaker." Feeling the need to expand his poker
horizons, Jeremy began adding more tournaments and mix games to his
repertoire.
Throughout 2011, while still focusing primarily on cash games, he piled
up nearly $300,000 in tournament cashes. The 2012 World Series of Poker
has brought him close to record-breaking notoriety, cashing in nine
events and outlasting nearly 6600 people to earn a seat at the final
table of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event. Jeremy finished
fifth earning over two million for his efforts.
While poker is a way for Jeremy to provide for his family, his family is
his best supporting cast. His beautiful wife of three years, a
two-year-old daughter, and his new baby boy is where his heart lies.
Eugene Castro has been
an avid poker player for the better part of twenty five years, whether
playing with friends and family or to help cover his college and law
school tuition -- the game has been a constant in his life. After
delving into tournament poker in 2007, Mr. Castro has earned the highest
degree of respect from his fellow players following dozens of tournament
cashes and several impressive 1st place finishes.
Always seeking the betterment of anything to
which Gene dedicates his time, he began to ask himself what he could do
to improve the poker community. Upon meeting Randy Kasper and Eric
Siegel they found their common purpose. Upon careful consideration of
the state of the poker world, and after examination of their collective
strengths and experiences, they devised the goals, objectives and
mission statement in forming Poker PIayers International. In forming PPI
the trio has focused on establishing relationships that are beneficial
to a PPI member's quality of life and to creating an Online and Offline
environment to enhance member's results.
Eugene has a diverse business background. Among
his accomplishments are the establishment of the largest non hospital
based sleep disorder clinic in the Midwest , the development of an
Internet green product loyalty based program, establishing several
health and tennis facilities and the development of numerous ground up
residential and commercial real estate projects both local and abroad.
Eugene has been very involved in charitable
initiatives emanating from poker. Eugene was instrumental in the
formation of NephCure's All In' for a Cure - Pledge Program and is
committed to continuing his support. Eugene is on the advisory board
member of Prevent Cancer foundation's Bad Beat on Cancer division and
encourages PPI members to join him in taking and fulfilling a minimum 1%
pledge of their winnings.
Eugene resides in Nevada with his wonderful wife
Kristine and his two daughters Karma and Katie.
Nolan Dalla is probably
best known for his longtime association with the World Series of
Poker
and Caesars Entertainment. He has served as WSOP Media Director
since 2002. In that role, he has covered more final tables and
witnessed more prize money awarded than anyone in history. Nolan first became known to
the poker industry back in 1993, when he started as a regular columnist
for Card Player Magazine. He created
Card Player’s "Player of the
Year" race, which is still in use today. Dalla's previous positions
have included Director of Public Relations for legendary Binion's
Horseshoe Casino in Downtown Las Vegas, as well as Director of
Communications for PokerStars.com, the world's largest poker site. He
is also author of the best-selling biography, "One of a Kind: The Rise
and Fall of Stuey 'The Kid" Ungar." Today, Dalla lives in The Lakes
section of Las Vegas along with his lovely wife Marieta, and two lazy
cats.
Lauren Failla is the
Co-Founder & CEO of Empire Industries, LLC and is the founder of the
High Heels Poker Tour and Academy. As an avid player since college,
Lauren turned her love of poker into a passion and full time career as
both a business owner in the industry and a player. Lauren gives women
the opportunity to expand their skills at the poker table by providing
an outlet for nurturing the next top female poker player. Growing up
and living in Washington D.C. for most of her formative years and as the
daughter of a lifelong politician, she realized that politics was not
her future and began her career in public relations and corporate
communications as a corporate event planner, for the largest health
care provider in the U.S. After many years Lauren struck out on her
own and opened a gourmet food/event business in 1994 and worked with
such clients as Carnival Cruise Lines, Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers
and Perfumemania. In addition to her career, Lauren has chaired and sat
on the boards of many charities including; Take Stock in Children,
Family Central, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Education Committee
and the Dade County Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Her
philanthropic efforts have led to her passion for giving back and
raising monies to help fund charities across the country. In 2010
Lauren was nominated for The Rising Star Award at the International
Women in Gaming Awards in London and is also a feature writer for Ante
Up Magazine (and on the cover in March of 2010) . As a mother of one
son, Tyler and wife, Lauren juggles career and family to live out her
passion for poker and business.
Lupe Soto has a
background as a professional therapist and social services
administrator. However, she is best known for her involvement in the
promotion of women in poker. In 2003, she founded Poker Chix, an online
poker forum. Poker Chix was met with an overwhelming positive response
from women poker players. This led to the creation of the first woman's
poker tour called Ladies International Poker Series - LIPS Tour - which
now has events in more than 16 states and 60 land-based casinos. After
meeting so many accomplished women who helped shape the poker industry,
Lupe realized the need to honor the women who have excelled in the
industry as a player or as an industry professional. In 2008, she
founded the prestigious Women in Poker Hall of Fame. Induction into the
Women in Poker Hall of Fame is one of the greatest honors in the
industry.
Nancy Todd is a
political consultant and president of Nancy Todd, Inc., an international
strategic consulting firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Todd cut her
political teeth in Louisiana where she attended LSU law school and
volunteered in political campaigns. She started with the legendary Matt
Reese in 1979. Since then, Todd has been a consultant to over l96
campaigns in 42 states and six countries, with a winning record of 98
percent. Nancy Todd, Inc. has worked with candidates and projects both
nationally and internationally and has received several national awards
for creativity in political advertising. In 1995, Todd completed a
successful hostile takeover of a rural electric cooperative in
Louisiana, the first such takeover in the country. As Treasurer of the
board of directors of the International Association of Political
Consultants and past President and Chairman of the American
Association of Political Consultants, Todd was inducted into the
prestigious Hall of Fame of the AAPC in March, 2008, the first such
woman to be so honored. Her articles and commentary have appeared
nationally in newspapers and professional publications. She is a
frequent speaker both nationally and internationally for governments,
heads of state, key leaders in emerging democracies and major
universities including Harvard, the John F. Kennedy School of
Government, George Washington University, Georgetown University and
Vanderbilt University. Todd authors a monthly column for
Casino
Journal entitled "The Politics of Gaming". Nancy Todd, Inc. specializes
in controversial issues with special emphasis on promoting integrity and
responsibility among all involved parties. Her success rate for
assisting clients deemed “Davids” to defeat “Goliaths” is legendary. Her
corporate site can be viewed at
www.NancyTodd.com.
Nancy 's record is unsurpassed, and her induction
into the prestigious Political Hall of Fame in 2008 is a true
recognition of her accomplishments. After losing her son, Hayden, in
2005, she began playing poker the next year. Her poker winnings help
fund The Hayden Scholarship, a Foundation Nancy started in her son's
name to help students get an education.
