Quick Facts:
Military Branch/Service: U.S. Air Force
Current Gaming Role: Head of Business Development at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming
Favorite Military Travel Location: Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait
🇺🇸 Military Service Summary
A 1997 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, DJ served in a defense acquisitions finance role in the GPS program office in Los Angeles. He also deployed to Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait during 9/11, experiencing intense, 24/7 operations at the “tip of the spear.”
🤝 Mentorship & Influences
His Air Force Academy head football coach, Fisher DeBerry, was a major role model who significantly shaped DJ’s approach to personal conduct, family values, and managing deep professional relationships.
🎰 First Role in Gaming
DJ entered the gaming sector through of chance and military pedigree. DJ was hired at Roth Capital Partners, a small cap-focused investment bank in Newport Beach, CA, to work on the Sales & Trading team. An Academy classmate, Todd Eilers, was at Roth as an analyst covering Gaming Equipment Suppliers. Given the career overlap at both the Academy and on active duty (both earned the MBA at Loyola Marymount while on active duty) he naturally gravitated to Todd’s work. While at Roth Capital, Todd partnered with industry legend Frank Fantini to launch the industry’s largest quarterly slot manager survey, providing unique insight into slot floor trends and industry developments. Through a series of management roadshows and capital raises, industry relationships developed within the gaming industry. The survey quickly became a must-have for equipment suppliers and institutional investors alike. In 2012, Todd Eilers launched Eilers Research, which would become Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, and brought in DJ to lead business development efforts in 2014.
💡 Advice for Fellow Veterans
Don’t get “myopically focused” on one career lane; broaden your experience across different sectors to increase your value. He also encourages veterans to always mention their service to quickly build rapport, disarm conversations, and level up networking.
Listen and watch our short interview
Thank you DJ for your service to the nation!
DJ is the MAN!!