Page 51 - AVN May 2016

Photos by JFK/FUBARWEBMASTERS.com
everyone in the industry to become members of the FSC—annual dues are tax
deductible as a “business expense”—and to get involved.
The panel brought up the importance of preparing for potential visits from Cal-
OSHA inspectors looking for areas of non-compliance.
“It’s a bad idea to ignore Cal-OSHA. It’s a bad idea to give Cal-OSHA the
finger,” Tynan said, suggesting producers retain an attorney and keep a letter from
that attorney accessible should a visit ever come about. “Be prepared. Be nice…”
“If you get a call from Cal-OSHA let us know,” Leue added. “Let us help. Let us
guide you through the process.”
On February 18, Leue led an adult industry contingent to Oakland, Calif., where
the state’s Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board voted against proposed
new rules for adult film production. The proposed regulation known as § 5193.1
would have mandated condom use in sex scenes as well as barrier protection such
as goggles and dental dams to protect against potential infection, which could
have been devastating to the future of adult productions in California.
The vote marked a huge victory for adult in a six-year fight, but doesn’t mean
it will never come up again. Tynan likened the breakthrough to “kicking the can
down the road.”
Meanwhile, Silverstein pointed to the “privacy policies” on websites being a
target for the Federal Trade Commission.
“If you misrepresent things in your privacy policies they can be criminal
offenses,” Silverstein said.
But the last day was mostly about leisure and social activities, such as Beer Pong
by the Pool and a Wet Underwear Contest hosted by Flirt4Free and Mr. Skin/Mr.
Man; the return of JuicyDodgeBall, which featured all-girl teams repping JuicyAds
and Affil4you squaring off in a friendly game that involved public nudity; and the
closing party, “Casino Secrets,” presented by ImLive and CCBill.
On Day 2, Sean Christian discussed the importance of physical fitness when it
comes to building a healthy company culture.
The Sacramento native returned home to launch Revolution Force last year
and is now leading a team of 10 affiliate marketing veterans who have all gotten
behind his progressive approach to management.
“We are a no-drive shop,” Christian said. “Everyone either walks or rides their
bicycle to work. And three times a week we all walk to the park and eat lunch in
the park like a bunch of hippies.”
Christian made strong remarks during the entertaining panel titled “7 Habits
of Highly Effective Leaders,” which was inspired by the bestselling self-help book
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.
The panel featured a diverse group of web-tech executives including Brad
Mitchell (MojoHost), Michael Reul (TrafficPartner), Shay Efron (ImLive), Mia
Hyun (Mobius Payments), Alec Helmy (XBIZ) and Ron Cadwell, the founder
of CCBill, the host of The Phoenix Forum. Jay Kopita of YNOT moderated the
session that highlighted a full day of education and networking just a few blocks
away from the sprawling campus of Arizona State University.
The wisdom from the panel came early and often and Christian wasn’t the only
boss to share a thoughtful revelation.
Brad Mitchell recalled that about seven years ago MojoHost saw “a turning
point” when he decided to join the Entrepreneurs Organization, a global non-
profit that helps leading entrepreneurs grow through peer-to-peer learning.
“It was a sounding board,” Mitchell said, noting his group of fellow business
owners met confidentially once a month. “I got to the point where I couldn’t work
any harder; I needed to work smarter.”
Revolution Force’s Christian can relate; the former executive VP of
AdultFriendFinder and co-founder of Cams.com has visited “a business coach”
once a week for the past eight years.
“Like a business therapist,” Christian revealed.
Mitchell said that early on he decided to set a higher price and handle a lower
volume of clients.
“Because we wanted to provide a higher level of service,” said the Detroit-based
Mitchell, whose 16-year-old company is now recognized as an industry leader.
“You can’t be everything to everybody.”
Shay Efron said it’s important to know “A to Z by heart” everything about
your own company first and foremost, adding “I’ve never made a good deal with
someone I don’t know.”
continued on page 52
Phoenix Sun Opposite page, top from left, Ron Cadwell and Kathi Stout of CCBill; Gary Jackson of CCBill with
Tony Rios and Beth Noonan of AVN. Entertainment included Grand Slam Media’s House of Slam concert, late-
night poker, a wet underwear contest and naked dodgeball. This page, the days were spend with seminars (such
as Gay Business 101, at top) and networking with colleagues outdoors.
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