GMTG BANNER MEET THE TEAM

Daniel Chang - Founder, President & CEO 

daniel profiel pic Daniel Chang starting collecting in 1989 by opening his first pack of 1989 Donruss Baseball Cards.  His hope, like many other collectors was to get that all, but elusive Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card.  That day, he didn't pull a Griffey, but he eventually did after several attempts in later months.  At the onset, condition was top priority, and preserving the quality condition was his primary concern.

Mr. Chang began his interest in collecting Magic: The Gathering (MTG) in 1994.  His friends and classmates were playing the game and he noticed the amazing artwork.  Asking his friends, "Why are you playing with these cards, they are beautiful pieces of art?"  This sparked an interest to collect the sets of MTG and find the best condition quality cards.  His favorite cards of all-time are the Chaos Orb, Underground Sea and Shivan Dragon.  Like most collectors, the art work was beautiful and magnetic - it was impossible not to fall in love with the beauty of the cards and detail of each piece.

During his college years at the University of Washington, Mr. Chang started an online Baseball Auction Business - Teddy's Ballgame Company with his business partner.  For five years, while in college he transformed to what started as an eBay consignment house, to broker some of the most expensive sportscards in the world.  To this date, some of Mr. Chang's sports card sales are unbroken - such as the BGS 9.5 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Sticker Rookie - selling for over $41,000 (Featured in Beckett Basketball Spring 1996 / Kobe Bryant Cover).

After working in Field of Logistics & Transportation Sales for the last five years, MTGStores.com was an idea that became a reality in 2009.  Having been recognized as one of the foremost authorities in Graded Magic Cards (PSA, SMR Article March 2007), Mr. Chang has sold, purchased, traded or brokered nearly every important MTG card in the world.  Following his passion with collecting and MTG collectibles, MTG Stores (www.mtgstores.com) will be opening in August 5th, 2010 to the public.  MTG Stores will become the Global Marketplace and Community for MTG collectors, players, investors dealers & artists.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to Mr. Chang, please contact him at:  daniel@mtgstores.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

 

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Debra Farmer - Vice President & COO

debraprofileDebra Farmer, our COO and Vice President, hails from Seattle , WA .  Over the last 3 years, she has become a huge fan of MTG art work.  She is intrigued by the intricate illustrations and loves the creativeness.

Debra graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Health Informatics and Health Information Management. She has over 7 years experience with CRC Insurance Services, Inc. in commercial insurance as an Assistant Broker.  She professionally manages over 250 accounts, where she helps her clients with complex insurance placements and provides exemplary customer service.  Working in insurance has provided Debra with an immense amount of knowledge and experience with accounting, finance, human resources, business management and data analysis, just to name a few.

She is very excited to be part of the MTG Stores family and looks forward to working with all of you.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to Ms. Farmer, please contact her at:  debra@mtgstores.com or follow her on Facebook.

 

 

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Troy Wiltbank - Vice President of Sales/Marketing

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Troy Wiltbank our Sales and Marketing VP from Tacoma, Washington took an interest in card collecting and trading in the late eighties and early nineties in baseball cards. Nearly every card he purchased he still owns to this day. This was one of many hobbies that Troy enjoyed throughout his youth but the joy of purchasing a new pack of cards is something that he carries with him in his passion for MTGStores.com.

The unique diversity of MTG in collecting, playing and retail was a big driver in coming aboard with MTGStores.com. The other was partnering with Daniel Chang’s experience in grading and passion to create such a dynamic website for the MTG community.

Troy has 14 devoted years with Tyco Fire Suppression and Building Products in distribution and logistics management as well as Regional Account Management for the largest fire protection engineering and manufacturing company in the world. Troy has assisted in developing and practicing many program and procedural programs that has helped drive our personal approach and dynamic program function at MTGStores.com.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to Mr. Wiltbank, please contact him at:  troy@mtgstores.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

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Dennis Joe - Director of Sales & Marketing

DENNIS JOE PROFILE PICDennis was introduced to Magic in 1995.  He immediately found a passion for the game, and a social love for the camaraderie and competition it created amongst his network of friends.  This passion was enjoyed and further nurtured over a 5 year period, when responsibility slightly removed him as it beckoned him to develop other professional directions.  In 2008, the intricacy and talent in the artwork of Magic cards brought him back once again, however, now fully involved in the collecting aspect of the industry.  Dennis acquired a high percentage of the Beta Set, his most precious possession – The Beta Black Lotus.

Dennis offers a well-rounded professional experience that has kept him in touch with the audience and network of Magic players.  He worked in the field of academics for 2 years, in Computers and Logistics for 3 years, and has been more intently focused on developing his skills and talents in Sales/Account Management, for the past 5 years while working for a toy manufacturing company.  Dennis holds a degree in International Business and Marketing.

Dennis first became acquainted with Mr. Daniel Chang in 2009, and in 2010 joins him at MTG Stores.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to Mr. Joe, please contact him at:  dennis@mtgstores.com or follow him on Facebook.


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Tyler Griffin -  President & CEO of Mindshift Media

TYLER GRIFFIN PROFILE PIC

Tyler Griffin, President and Creative Director of Mindshift Media has been working in the mass media industry for the past 11 years. Last year, Tyler was awarded the “Emmy” of the industry for a non-broadcast/corporate video production, and received the coveted Telly Award, the highest honor in the video production field. His work in the television broadcast world has been nationally recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hearst Foundation.

Tyler has worked for various television broadcast affiliates, including (ESPN, ABC and CBS). He has taken on many roles on a variety of top rated shows, including “The Emmitt Zone” with the NFL’s leading rusher of all time, Emmitt Smith. From working on a sports entertainment program to reporting, shooting and editing for CBS-Television, Tyler has been involved in numerous Television news and entertainment programs which have aired throughout the nation. Tyler’s experience has also taken him around the world on various trips to Africa to shoot, produce and edit documentaries for various non-profit agencies. Today, Tyler owns and operates a multimedia, website development and graphic design agency in Bellevue, Washington.

Mindshift Media has made its mark on the website design and multimedia world, gaining recognition for outstanding web campaigns and innovative ideas for online marketing. Mindshift Media features an integrated team of web consultants, multimedia specialists, creative designers, writers, programmers and marketing professionals that know how to get online results – on time and on budget! Tyler is excited to be a part of the MTGStores.com team, and looks forward to bringing the world of Magic: The Gathering the most exciting and innovative multimedia marketing opportunity in the industry!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to Mr. Griffin, please contact him at:  tyler@mindshift-media.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

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Chris Lee - Chief Technology Officer and Editor-In-Chief

chrislee_pscChris Lee currently works as a Principal QA Engineer for financial software company Investment Technology Group (ITG). He has 16 years of work experience in high-tech/software engineering, and has spent the last five in financial software, including two years of managerial- and five years of team-leading experience.  His current project is a single-stock trading replacement  integrating to trading algorithms, which will eventually be the company’s Execution Management System replacement, written in Windows Presentation Foundation and a variety of other recent technologies.

Chris has collecting Magic: the Gathering ™ since the Beta edition and used to own at least 4 copies of every card from Beta edition through Ice Age, but has since sold his sets to more worthy collectors who will enjoy his cards, rather than having them collect dust on his shelves.  He has traded, bought, and sold cards and collections, and have helped a dozen friends and friends of friends to help them get out of Magic: the Gathering.  Chris holds onto his PSA-10 “Gem Mint” Betas, as he really enjoys the original artwork.  He would love to finish off his signed Beta edition set, which he has been slowly building up over the last fifteen years.

Chris was on the board of directors and is the executive director on a different non-profit website and has helped to edit and to write various articles.

Chris' interests include real-time strategy computer games, the occasional facebook application such as Farmville and Evony.  He also enjoys playing ice hockey, keeping fit, and sailing. He also translates dead languages for fun, and has some theological interests such as Ecclesiology (Theology of the Church), Marketplace Ministry / Theology of Work, and rhetoric/oratory/persuasion.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to Mr. Lee, please contact him at:  chris@mtgstores.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

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David Ryder - Director of Web Design & Development

DAVID RYDER PROFILE PIC

David Ryder currently resides in St George, Utah and is working full time as the Director of Web Development. He has more than ten years experience in computing including an education at the University of Utah in Computer Science.
 
Previously working as a freelance programmer, David was attracted to something more permanent and long term. Thus, his new relationship with MTG Stores. David is passionate about programming and design and is enthusiastic to take charge of something that will grow his professional experience and expertise as well as having a way to express his personal interest in MTG Stores in code. 

David takes an immense amount of pride in his work and fully intends to help MTG Stores realize it's full potential as the web's #1 authority on all aspects of Magic: The Gathering.  Having a successful history of becoming closely and personally involved in his work - MTG Stores is proud to have David's passion and drive for web design & development.
 
 





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