As part of XBIZ World’s “Execs of 2018: The Year in Review,” prominent members of the digital media community share their thoughts on the trends and strategies that drove success in 2018.
Each of the executives we spoke to below has one thing in common — they are among the finalist nominees for Community Figure of the Year in the digital edition of the 2019 XBIZ Exec Awards.
These individuals represent the spirit of the adult industry and are a shining example of strength, character and business acumen.
How did you help build a more united sense of community this year?
Corey D. Silverstein
Silverstein Legal
“About 14 years ago, I started working in the adult industry. I went from becoming an affiliate to a website operator to an affiliate program manager and finally to a lawyer. I’m very proud of being part of an industry that so loudly stands for the freedom of speech and expression and it’s a privilege to work with and represent some of the most creative, innovative and hard-working people in the e-commerce world. I’ve always made myself easily accessible to my clients, friends, and members of the adult community and will continue to do so. Ultimately, participating in and attending industry events throughout the world and contributing to the various message boards and resources remains important but most imperative is helping fellow industry members, including providing motivation and sharing suggestions and ideas. That’s what gives strength to a community.”
Kathi Stout
CCBill
“With all the mental health issues that have affected our industry as a whole this past year, I have tried to make sure everyone I come into contact with knows that I am available to listen. Most times, this is simply just saying “I am here for you.” You never know what someone needs — they are not wanting to burden anyone with their problems. We get so busy with life we forget we may be needed to do more for our fellow man. I am here for anyone that needs an ear.
Michael Plante
QWEBEC Expo
“Being connected and having over 3,900 industry-related Facebook friends is one thing, but I believe maintaining a good network quality is something you need to work on personally, on a regular basis. I am a strong believer that in today’s society, personal/human relationship is even more important as people seem to be connected only through their smartphones. Going to many events in our industry since 1996, helped me to develop strong relationships with a network of key people and decision-makers over the years, which is something that I wouldn’t be able to achieve only through digital communications such as Skype and message boards, etc. I always keep in mind that many people are shy by nature, so either at our own event (QWEBEC Expo) or at any other events I attend, I really do my best to talk to everyone, knowing that they will be grateful that I offer them the chance to tell me about their company and what they’re doing, so I can make sure to introduce them to someone in my network who might have an interest in what this person needs or has to offer.”
Ela Darling
PVR.Fun
“This year I helped build community by helping to create a brand new one. It’s a new community, but I am in the process of creating an expert team for PVR that includes thought leaders and bad-asses consisting of VR experts and ex-performers. I am proud to say that I have committed to filling hiring opportunities with people who have been adult film performers whenever applicable. I believe as an industry, we owe it to our community to hire from the transitioning performer pool whenever possible.”
“The hardest part about working as a performer isn’t the industry itself, the work, the consumers, or the risk, but rather the stigma we face from the rest of the world when we attempt to move to new careers. That’s why I hired the woman previously known as Ryan Riesling as my first hire at PVR and why I make sure to reach the adult performer pool, both current and past when I hire for my company. I think this is an important responsibility of adult industry companies; we depend on performers to create the product and generate an engaged fan base. We simply must support these performers when they make the decision to transition to new careers when they’re ready to move on. It’s all too common for performers to feel trapped by a job they once loved to the point that they grow to resent it. By committing to reaching out to adult performers in the hiring process, we ensure that we take care of our own as they move forward and we help change the narrative of the “typical” adult performer to a story of growth rather than one of victimhood. Additionally, we deprive the people who would harm our industry of a voice they could use to preach our ills and shortcomings.”
“I’ve been fortunate to have been given the chance to flourish as a professional off camera, and I am proud and excited to have the chance to work with other performers of diverse and exceptional backgrounds to create a growing team of leaders at PVR. I’m still getting started in that regard but I am thrilled to have the chance to start this new chapter.”
Morgan Sommer
Cybersocket
“It’s not about me. I remind myself of this idea daily and sometimes many times a day. The things that drive my day to day actions are more often than not, responsibilities to others. Recognizing that I find meaning in being responsible to others, and in working for the wellbeing of my team, my clients, my family, and my community. This is not the same thing as selflessness. I am selfish. I do these things and prioritize these things because it makes me feel good! When we recognize that we are a community, an industry, and that cooperation gets done more efficiently than ruthless competitiveness, we see the general level of well-being rise.”
Kristel Penn
Grooby
“The trans adult industry is a small, but growing community. This year my focus has been on providing more resources to support our trans performers and cultivating more connection between the LGBTQ community and mainstream adult. Through Grooby, I positioned our company and our performers at events that lacked trans representation in an effort to promote inclusivity and diverse representation of our industry as a whole. Strengthening community sometimes goes back to basics — building up those in our community, welcoming everyone to the table, and encouraging open dialogue.”
Tim Henning
ASACP
“I always do my best to build community within the industry because it’s a core function of what I do as ASACP’s executive director on a daily basis. Fighting child sexual exploitation and providing the tools and education to help safeguard children in their digital lives is something everyone in the industry can and should rally around, which also helps build a sense of community. Industry companies can be highly competitive but still they understand the need to set competitive ambition aside and work together to protect children in their digital lives. This is a point I work hard to convey through personal interaction and participation in industry events. To this end I attended many industry trade shows and events where I engaged industry members regarding community and the value of community supported child protection. I moderated and spoke on many panels at these events, informing, educating and advocating industry supported, community based, child protection.”
Alex Lecompte
7Veils
“I think it’s very important to build a sense of community within our industry, especially since we have to fight numerous and unfair stigmas. In my humble opinion, the best way to help each other is to pay attention to what is said but also what is unsaid without expecting any kind of ROI. It’s very important to show some real support and keep feeding our businesses with humanity. The constant pressure from media and society can be very hard to carry, in particular for those who feel isolated.”
Eric Paul Leue
Free Speech Coalition
“My motto this year has been #UnitedWeStand. Because if we let our differences divide us, we always fall. The adult industry now operates in every country on earth — on set, on cam, on our phones and on demand. We work in different places and create different types of content for different audiences, but the issues we face are still the same: stigma, censorship, discrimination and lack of access to services, like banking and healthcare, that others take for granted. As the head of the national trade association for the adult industry, my team and I worked hard this year to help foster a community where no one is left behind. That meant partnering with benefits providers to increase access to legal and medical services. That meant working with mental health providers to make sure those in our industry have judgement-free resources. That meant building tools to better educate newcomers and create safer sets. Most of all, in today’s political climate, it means speaking up for our rights whether it be to legislators, regulators, law enforcement, educators or journalists. We may have internal disagreements as a community, but a strike against one of us is a strike against all of us. And we will not be divided under my watch.”
