Our Team
ZACHARY SNADER - CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR
Zach is an independent developer and community manager, last seen managing his startup Upgrade Acquired in addition to being one of the Directors of FIG. He was born and raised in Phoenix and, after attending Arizona State University and the University of Advancing Technology, became engrossed in the culture of game development.
Zach has a passion for alternative education, a small part of why FIG has come to be. In the future, he would like to see Upgrade Acquired support indies all across the world and would also like to create a student-focused game education institute.
Oh, and he wouldn't mind making a narrative-centric football game.
"A man can do all things if he will." - Leon Battista Alberti
Zach is an independent developer and community manager, last seen managing his startup Upgrade Acquired in addition to being one of the Directors of FIG. He was born and raised in Phoenix and, after attending Arizona State University and the University of Advancing Technology, became engrossed in the culture of game development.
Zach has a passion for alternative education, a small part of why FIG has come to be. In the future, he would like to see Upgrade Acquired support indies all across the world and would also like to create a student-focused game education institute.
Oh, and he wouldn't mind making a narrative-centric football game.
"A man can do all things if he will." - Leon Battista Alberti
TYLER COLEMAN - CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR
Tyler is currently the CEO and Creative Director of Retora Game Studios, an independent game developer in Phoenix, Arizona. In the past year, he has worked on multiple titles, with over 5 mobile releases and multiple side projects. He is currently developing mobile and social apps for third party clientele.
While active in the local developer community, his passions include procedural generation, Lua, game jams, game education, and management games.
Tyler is currently the CEO and Creative Director of Retora Game Studios, an independent game developer in Phoenix, Arizona. In the past year, he has worked on multiple titles, with over 5 mobile releases and multiple side projects. He is currently developing mobile and social apps for third party clientele.
While active in the local developer community, his passions include procedural generation, Lua, game jams, game education, and management games.
AARON TREGUBOFF - MEDIA AND SPONSOR RELATIONS
Aaron is the social media manager, community manager, and videographer at the University of Advancing Technology. An avid gamer since the SNES, he is interested in ways that games can become a greater art form, and is eager to help students and start-up companies succeed in their endeavors. He is also establishing a game website, Indie Game Source, to help promote developers and their creations. In his small moments of spare time, he enjoys playing games, spending time with his wife, and anything hockey.
Aaron is the social media manager, community manager, and videographer at the University of Advancing Technology. An avid gamer since the SNES, he is interested in ways that games can become a greater art form, and is eager to help students and start-up companies succeed in their endeavors. He is also establishing a game website, Indie Game Source, to help promote developers and their creations. In his small moments of spare time, he enjoys playing games, spending time with his wife, and anything hockey.
BEN REICHERT - ADVISOR
Ben is an internationally published and award-winning entrepreneur with experience in video games, transportation, and conflict management. Previously, Ben worked on advocacy and fundraising for the international peace-building efforts of Nonviolent Peaceforce, developing and managing the European communications strategy for the International Road Transport Union, and, most recently, he served as the first Assistant Director for the ASU Center for Games and Impact. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Abeona Games and Co-Founder of Game CoLab, a Phoenix-based co-working space for game developers.
Ben is an internationally published and award-winning entrepreneur with experience in video games, transportation, and conflict management. Previously, Ben worked on advocacy and fundraising for the international peace-building efforts of Nonviolent Peaceforce, developing and managing the European communications strategy for the International Road Transport Union, and, most recently, he served as the first Assistant Director for the ASU Center for Games and Impact. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Abeona Games and Co-Founder of Game CoLab, a Phoenix-based co-working space for game developers.
TRISTAN MOORE - EVENT OPERATIONS
Tristan Parrish Moore is a game designer and 3D artist who has been a part of THQ, Massive Black, and most recently Redacted Studios. Tristan has contributed worked on numerous games; one of his university projects, The Afflicted, was featured at GDC Play in 2013.
Tristan is a firm believer in pushing creativity to his limits and cares deeply for the development community at large.
Tristan Parrish Moore is a game designer and 3D artist who has been a part of THQ, Massive Black, and most recently Redacted Studios. Tristan has contributed worked on numerous games; one of his university projects, The Afflicted, was featured at GDC Play in 2013.
Tristan is a firm believer in pushing creativity to his limits and cares deeply for the development community at large.
NOAH DYER - ADVISOR
Noah Dyer is a digital marketer and frequent conference speaker on topics such as Social Media, SEO, Email Marketing, CRM. He's a founding partner of the boutique marketing agency Sure Spark Internet Marketing, based in Scottsdale, AZ.
He can bench press a semi-truck.
Noah is a professor of business and programming at the University of Advancing Technology. He has an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU and a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Noah is also a hobby game programmer. He is looking to more fully integrate in the game industry as a marketer or producer, ideally through Sure Spark.
He has walked on the moon without a space suit.
His primary responsibility with FIG is to ensure that industry professionals who want to know about the event are made aware of event details and kept up to date.
Noah Dyer is a digital marketer and frequent conference speaker on topics such as Social Media, SEO, Email Marketing, CRM. He's a founding partner of the boutique marketing agency Sure Spark Internet Marketing, based in Scottsdale, AZ.
He can bench press a semi-truck.
Noah is a professor of business and programming at the University of Advancing Technology. He has an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU and a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Noah is also a hobby game programmer. He is looking to more fully integrate in the game industry as a marketer or producer, ideally through Sure Spark.
He has walked on the moon without a space suit.
His primary responsibility with FIG is to ensure that industry professionals who want to know about the event are made aware of event details and kept up to date.
ANDREA SMALL - EVENT ORGANIZER
An avid gamer, Andrea works in all sorts of fields -- event coordination, theatre production, stage management -- she finds a way to do it all. Since graduating from the University of Arizona, Andrea has helped provide organizational insight into setting up events that are convention-sized.
An avid gamer, Andrea works in all sorts of fields -- event coordination, theatre production, stage management -- she finds a way to do it all. Since graduating from the University of Arizona, Andrea has helped provide organizational insight into setting up events that are convention-sized.
VINCENT CIMINO - EVENT ORGANIZER
With 4+ years experience in sales and marketing plus nearly 2 years in the hospitality industry, Vince has expertise in taking a project from concept, to copy, to the design and presentation of the final product. He has a knack for writing and telling stories, and a natural ability to producing simple and persuasive marketing materials.
Although Vince doesn't have a full-time job in games, he plays plenty of them and interacts with the community through his YouTube channel, NGFC TV.
With 4+ years experience in sales and marketing plus nearly 2 years in the hospitality industry, Vince has expertise in taking a project from concept, to copy, to the design and presentation of the final product. He has a knack for writing and telling stories, and a natural ability to producing simple and persuasive marketing materials.
Although Vince doesn't have a full-time job in games, he plays plenty of them and interacts with the community through his YouTube channel, NGFC TV.
BRITTANY DEATHERAGE - PRESS ADVISOR
Brittany, better known as 8 Bit Brit, has been playing games since the beginning of time (or Centipede.) After having played on a competitive Call of Duty team and being a part of Pandora's Mighty Soldiers, she moved onto a quieter life, albeit one still centered around games!
Brit now works as an online reputation specialist and games journalist, frequently covering games on her blog as well as working with The Game Fanatics.
Brittany, better known as 8 Bit Brit, has been playing games since the beginning of time (or Centipede.) After having played on a competitive Call of Duty team and being a part of Pandora's Mighty Soldiers, she moved onto a quieter life, albeit one still centered around games!
Brit now works as an online reputation specialist and games journalist, frequently covering games on her blog as well as working with The Game Fanatics.
SPECIAL THANKS / FRIENDS OF FIG
Thanks to our friends, families, partners, speakers, and sponsors, and especially the following people:
IGDA Phoenix
Alan Hromas
Mayor Greg Stanton
Ron Haberle
Retora Game Studios
Asymmetric Publications
Chad Stafford
Winston Powell
Andrea Small
Ara Shirinian
Alon Waisman
Rick Buonincontri
Sean Kauppinen
Rami Ismail
Robin Arnott
The Indie Game House
Team Colorblind
Lightning Octopus
Gaming Blend - Ryan Winslett
AZ Tech Beat
Phoenix Business Journal - Hayley Ringle
IndieViddy - Mary Kish
Andy Maul
Brittany Deatherage
Matt Wegner
Steve Swink
Terence Lee
Asher Vollmer
Mattie Brice
Lorne Lanning
Marcus R. Brown
Matt Quirk
TwinSky Games
WIGI
E-Line Media
Melissa Cox-Pasqua
Game CoLab
And once again, our speakers, families, friends, fans, and everyone else who supported us!
Alan Hromas
Mayor Greg Stanton
Ron Haberle
Retora Game Studios
Asymmetric Publications
Chad Stafford
Winston Powell
Andrea Small
Ara Shirinian
Alon Waisman
Rick Buonincontri
Sean Kauppinen
Rami Ismail
Robin Arnott
The Indie Game House
Team Colorblind
Lightning Octopus
Gaming Blend - Ryan Winslett
AZ Tech Beat
Phoenix Business Journal - Hayley Ringle
IndieViddy - Mary Kish
Andy Maul
Brittany Deatherage
Matt Wegner
Steve Swink
Terence Lee
Asher Vollmer
Mattie Brice
Lorne Lanning
Marcus R. Brown
Matt Quirk
TwinSky Games
WIGI
E-Line Media
Melissa Cox-Pasqua
Game CoLab
And once again, our speakers, families, friends, fans, and everyone else who supported us!