Dan is the man, and not just because today is his birthday. He’s the creative glue that holds EventBooking together and without him, we’d be toying with Microsoft Paint–trying to make cool graphics and tasteful interfaces for our website and software products. If you ever need a crash course in the Adobe Creative Suite, he’s got you covered. And although this entire post could be dedicated to the hundreds of ways he contributes to this company, this Coffee & Conversation focuses on Dan Lipe both inside and outside of EventBooking. Because he’s a pretty interesting guy when he’s not in the office, too.
Q. If you could have any super power, what would it be?
A. I think laser eyes would be cool, but not quite so practical. Maybe the ability to find stuff just by thinking about it. Like Google search for real life. “Where did I put my keys? Oh there they are, in the pocket of my pants from yesterday.”
Q. What’s something about you that might surprise people?
A. I make skateboards as a side hustle. Maybe minus the hustle, but I make longboards and cruisers from reclaimed materials–old barns for the most part. Slowly, my buddy Billy and I are working on inching the business forward and hopefully we’ll be rolling out a new web site soon where people can buy online. We’ve got 7 models in different sizes and shapes. My favorite is probably my 36″ cherry pintail. Also, I love facts. Trivial knowledge, but not about pop culture. I’m terrible at Trivial Pursuit.
Q. What is one of your favorite places that you’ve traveled to?
A. Vancouver, BC. I love the big city, and Vancouver is one of the cleanest, friendliest places I’ve been.
Q. What’s your favorite movie? Favorite book?
A. Favorite Movie: The Matrix. The first one. It reset the bar for movie special effects and the story challenges the viewer to bend their mind around the notion of reality. There is no spoon. I also love Gone in 60 Seconds. The Nick Cage version. The original is a snooze fest. My favorite book is probably Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford. In it, Crawford attributes the downfall of society to the lack of tangible skills kids are learning in school and otherwise.
Q. What do you love about your role at EventBooking?
A. I love the fact that I get to work with people who are each amazingly talented in their own right. Each of us has multiple gifts that we are allowed to apply on a daily basis. You don’t find that everywhere.
Happy Birthday, Dan! We hope today is as awesome as you are.