PITTSBURGH, July 24, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Paintball, Mr. Bob Gurnsey will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award on August 1 at the 2001 Paintball Industry Conference. Held in conjunction with The International Amateur Open, the conference offers a full day of marketing and business workshops, but the highlight will be an opportunity to hear firsthand about the very beginning, the creation of paintball.
Long before there was an industry there was a company. Well before there was a company, there was a game. Months before there was a game, there was just an idea. And before the idea, there were just three men who were the best of friends, hanging out and shooting the breeze about life. But after all the ideas and talk, there was one man who turned it into a reality. Bob Gurnsey poured his blood, sweat, tears and money into a company called The National Survival Game. The year was 1981 and the word "Paintball" hadn't even been thought of yet.
By 1984 The National Survival Game had 750 dealers and more than 20,000 registered card-carrying members. The dealer network was supported with safety, marketing and promotional material that even today doesn't exist for field owners. Paint was indelible, toxic, and non-biodegradable. By 1989 the company faced more than $35 million in lawsuits.
"I'm looking forward to speaking to the industry," said Bob Guernsey. "I've read a lot of articles over the past decade about the beginning of this industry that weren't exactly accurate. I think the industry needs to get the record straight and will enjoy hearing about the massive amount of obstacles we had to overcome to finally see paintball evolve."
According to Debra Dion Krischke, producer of the conference, "I am so thrilled that Bob is willing to make the trip into Pittsburgh and not only accept The Lifetime Achievement Award, but more importantly, speak to the industry about those early days. It's an amazing phenomenon that one man's vision and perseverance ultimately affected so many lives. Very few people in paintball have had the pleasure of talking with Bob Gurnsey in person, but I can tell you that his stories are riveting and you'll be surprised and amazed at some newly disclosed facts about the very beginning days."
The 2001 International Paintball Industry Conference is sponsored by Zap Paintball, Brass Eagle and Severe Paintball. Registration is $60 per person in advance and $80 per person at the door. Marketing Guru Jeff Tobe will be a featured luncheon speaker following New Products on Parade and a full afternoon of business workshops.
For more information or to register call Team Effort Events (724) 935-6100 or go to the Website, www.teameffortevents.com.
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CONTACT: Team Effort Events
Debra Dion Krischke, Owner
(724) 935-6100
www.teameffortevents.com
E-Mail: ddion@sgi.net