Get to Know…Curtis

What is your role at Vovia?

I am an Accounting Coordinator and the newest addition to our “bustling” accounting team…now there are two of us! I recently made a career change after years in banking to start working with even more numbers.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

The biggest addition to my life, besides my new job, is my daughter Kira, who is currently just over nine months old. Besides all the time devoted to her, I love to spend time with my wife Alison, usually being homebodies but occasionally getting out and checking out local food spots. Alison’s love of adventurous foods has definitely rubbed off on me.

I love watching sports…hockey, football and baseball in particular. I love the Calgary Flames and I’m always hoping that next year will be the year we win again (pay no attention to the picture of me in the Leafs jersey. I was young and naive).

I’m also a lifelong music fan and moonlighted for years as a mobile DJ and entertainment provider. I still host a trivia show weekly to keep my geek status as up to date as possible. I also love to sing karaoke. I hosted for many years and still love when I get a chance to grab a mic and sing a little “Walking in Memphis” or maybe some Barenaked Ladies.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people?

I love to play poker, although I don’t play much anymore. About 10 years ago, I turned 50 dollars into over $25,000 playing online tournaments in about a month and a half. I then played my first live tournament at a Calgary casino and won that as well. I got an opportunity because of that win to play a tournament for a chance to get a free seat at the World Series of Poker and came in ninth at that tourney with over 250 players who had won a tournament before. Sadly, I was never able to quite replicate that success again. I do dream of playing in the WSOP at least once in my life.

What are you most passionate about? 

The answer to this question will always be family. I love many things in life, but I want to give the most I can to the people I care about. I’m also big on trying to enjoy all the moments that life has to offer. I’m not always good at doing that but I try to remember to live in the moment to be sure I am not letting it all pass me by.

What is your favorite part about working at Vovia? 

The people. The atmosphere. The work-life balance. The actual striving to live what the company preaches.

Oh….and there are dogs here…and a ping pong table…How can you go wrong with that!