New WPA Chairman Forging Ahead with Plans

April 4 - Wendeen Eolis, the newly appointed chairperson of the powerful World Poker Association is definitely putting her personal philosophy - discipline, desire and determination - to work as she forges ahead with an impressive list of new plans and ideas with one thing in mind: To put poker on the map as a professional sport with uniform rules and standards of conduct.

Eolis, who served as the vice-chairman of the World Poker Association during course of 2007, said: "I plan to keep my foot on the pedal and our collective feet to the fire so as to provide concrete results that serve our memberships' interests - sooner rather than later."

One of the first plans on Eolis' list is to put into practice the idea of the First Annual World Poker Association Conference. Eolis, and her fellow director, Annie van Berber, who has extensive experience in events planning, will be collaborating with Rio and Harrah's executives to secure a space for the event that should be one of the most important dates in the poker industry's calendar.

Next in the pipeline is the expansion of developing uniform tournament rules. WPA Director, Thomas Kresmer, together with his Rules Committee has already made substantial progress in this area, including gaining passage of ten new tournament rules.

Eolis was all praises for her co-workers in the association. "[This is] the most diversified group of accomplished volunteers I have met in any boardroom," she enthused. "Collaborative leadership has been the key to an incredibly productive first six weeks on the job as chairman."

Returning the compliment, Executive Committee member, Henry Thomas said: "Wendeen has been the workhorse of the Executive Committee. Seldom have I seen someone do in the private sector for money, what she has done for this organization gratis... We owe her a debt of gratitude."