Many people may know me from  AMWSO but most may be unfamiliar with the story behind my
journey into becoming involved with Affiliate Marketing.



So where did my journey begin, and what led to my current position within the
industry at the ripe old age of 37? I would have to say that it all began when
I was 16 years old and I left school to join the British Navy. Yes, that would
mean that I hail from a...

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Many people may know me from  AMWSO but most may be unfamiliar with the story behind my
journey into becoming involved with Affiliate Marketing.



So where did my journey begin, and what led to my current position within the
industry at the ripe old age of 37? I would have to say that it all began when
I was 16 years old and I left school to join the British Navy. Yes, that would
mean that I hail from across the pond: Reading,
England, to be
exact.

Two years later, I left the British Navy to get a taste of American
life and to travel around in the United States. Unfortunately, my
stay in America
was cut a bit short, but more about that in just a moment.  In order to eat and to sleep somewhere, I worked
selling magazines door-to-door for about four months.  It is quite ironic that some 20 years later I
am again selling magazines.

I traveled extensively in the US,
and during my time there I experienced many locales and cultures. One of my
stops was in the fair city of New Orleans; however,
it is not one of my fondest memories of my time in the US. In light of
what came next in my journey, it didn't reflect a particularly positive light
on New Orleans.  Hopefully, I will be able to return to the
city and try to experience it as it is meant to be experienced.

At 18 I was young and adventurous and had not exactly crossed into the US on very
"correct" terms. While I was traveling on a Greyhound bus bound from
LA to Miami, the US
border patrol stopped the bus for a routine check when crossing into Texas. I groggily awoke
and dutifully complied with the request to my papers and I turned over my
passport. I had no idea what Visa looked like , so when I was questioned
regarding where my Visa was, I thought rapidly in a semi-conscious frame of
mind. I confidently smiled and reported to the Agent that my Visa must have
fallen out of my passport. My statement led to being promptly escorted from the
bus.

I then experienced El Paso
for six weeks courtesy of the United States Government in a deportation camp.
Most people would probably not look back on such an event with very fond
memories. However, I enjoyed my stay in El
Paso "very much." Not only did I get three
meals a day, but also it was during this time that I learned about and played
American football, basketball, and learned the finer rules of baseball. In the
end, the United States Government extended me another courtesy and flew me home
to Great Britain.

Upon my return to England,
I worked in a pub and a casino for a couple of years. I then spent a year
working and teaching at a school for abused and neglected children. Later in
the year I moved to Denmark,
to teach students from Mozambique,
and to continue with my own studies.



I have been fortunate to have traveled around the world by participating in
educational outreach programs for children with Tvind. An interesting side note
is that Tvind is considered by many (including the FBI) as a cult. I spent a
few years engaged in these educational outreach programs traveling to such
places as Angola, Norway, Zambia,
Denmark,
Bangladesh and India. I did
fail to enter Zimbabwe
after arguing with the local immigration officials.

It was during an overland passage to India that I experienced another
encounter with local authorities. I was traveling by bus through Iran and we
stopped for fuel. While refueling the bus, we saw a rather remarkable sight: a
camel in the back of a pick-up truck. One certainly cannot argue that this is a
common sight for a Brit, so I really cannot be blamed for wanting to capture
the Kodak moment. The problem seems to have been the Police Station that was in
the background of the photograph. Apparently photographing Police Stations is
against the law in Iran.
Therefore, me and the group I was with found ourselves arrested in Iran.
Obviously, everything turned out well since I'm not running the AMSWO programs
from an Iranian jail. The detention was brief and I found my arrestors very
hospitable.

After I finished working with Tvind, I returned to England and worked in pubs again
for about 6 months.

I then moved to Thailand
and taught English for five years. It was while I was teaching in Thailand that I
became involved with the Internet. I began working with WebStudio-1.com and
subsequently Mondera in 1999, although I wasn't working with the Affiliate
Program at Mondera. I left Mondera for a while, but continued to have contact
with them. Overtime, I recognized that the Mondera Affiliate Program was in
need of assistance. In 2002, I returned to Mondera in the capacity of working
with just the Affiliate Program, which has matured and grown.



Currently, I have the title of Head of Affiliate Marketing Operations at Itorama.com.
Founded in 1996, Itorama is located in Bangkok,
Thailand and
currently boasts over 50 highly trained staff. We specialize in web site design
and applications for businesses worldwide. Our extensive client list includes
Exxon, Accor Hotels, Audi, Mondera, British Council, and Chiva-Som. In 2002, Itorama
started providing Affiliate Management and Marketing services for our clients.

In January 2004, AMWSO (a subdivision of Itorama) launched in order to provide
improved support and focus for the Affiliate Marketing clients of WSO. I manage
this aspect of the company. Itorama is currently involved in the management of
over 15 Affiliate Marketing Programs. I like to remain very "hands
on" and I'm actively involved with affiliates and our clients.

I also try to stay very active in the Affiliate Marketing community by participating
on several Industry forums and in Industry Events. One of the better accolades
I have indirectly received is when the Affiliate Marketing Community at
Abestweb.com voted Mondera the Best Affiliate Program 2002. More recently, we've
managed programs that have received five nominations in the first annual Golden
Link Awards sponsored by LinkShare.

I continue to reside in Thailand.
I am happily married with two children. Two dogs and a cat complete my family.
In whatever spare time I have I run the largest expat casual soccer league in Thailand.