About Mary Kurek

*5 yrs Professional Networker

*Columnist, IGDA

*Writer/Advisor, Casual Connect

*Advisor, World Gaming Executives

*Owner/Mgr, Game Industry Networking Group

*Linkedin: 1100+ industry contacts

Networking is one playground with which I'm well familiar.

On the NC Governor's Press Staff, I traveled with the Governor, gathering bites that could be fed out later to every form of media throughout the state. I knew every member of the Capitol Press Corps and networked with key state and local decision-makers.

At the International Visitors Council in RTP, I scheduled professional appointments for visiting dignitaries who were selected by their countries. This required me to network with the types of people that a tribal chief from Botswana, women legislators from Johannesburg and a financial editor from India would like to meet.

While leading a Chamber of Commerce, I had to be as good at networking with small businesses and military hierarchy as I was at working all levels of politicians.

Who knew that networking muscle I was building would one day be put to virtual use on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.

After ten years as a marketing consultant, I met and fell in love with an industry that was the perfect match for my need to be around those high energy-high viz sorts--an industry that embraces entrepreneurs, crazy ideas, and even crazier people. It thrives on newness and requires a steady diet of networking. What a romance this was gonna be.

So, having claimed the games industry as my own, I service clients by contract, working social media to engage and introduce clients to collaborators, publicity opps, sponsors, endorsers/spokespersons, distribution channels, and potential publishers.

I also conduct consulting sessions and am often contracted to make business introductions for attendees of game industry conferences, like GDC, E3, and PAX.

While I will attend cons for and with clients, I generally attend "virtually" - helping clients who are on the floor. I've made meeting contacts for a Comic-Con exec at GDC 2011. For E3 2011, I made contacts for the Lead Sound Designer for a major studio as he was packing to go. I didn't stop making intros until the event was almost over. I'm often so busy making connections that people in my network often confuse me for actually being at the event.

For clients with a particular market, I've been known to build a network for the purpose of servicing their needs. As a result, I've developed a strong mommy blogger network, and maintain several key relationships in that space.

With a very healthy Linkedin network and over 2500 followers in my @gamemarketing Twitter account, I am in a good position to draw the right resources and experts for articles that I write for Casual Connect and IGDA. I purposefully keep those networks growing daily with extreme diversity in mind.

My work lends itself quite well to helping clients build JVs, collaborations, and partnerships. I've easily made 8 intros inside of a week for a client seeking a particular type of partnership with a game developer.

I have a special affinity for pro gamers and gamer personalities, and have made connections for some that have resulted in endorsement and representation deals.

I have worked with marketing companies to create special PR deals with organizations who could help promote to the right audience.

There's more, but that's enough biz talk. As for me personally: I'm a big Yankees fan, practicing yogini, Parrothead (live at the beach - it's required), and a dark chocolate lover.