“Everybody’s got to be happy.”
George Varanakis has been killin’ it behind the curtain for years. Get to know him a bit and you won’t be surprised at why he’s been so successful.
“I’ve always had a huge level of respect for all the instructors in our industry.”
1:17 The Drink Ticket Guy
5:09 Top of the Mountain
7:41 The Guy Behind the Curtain
10:30 Before WPPI
13:05 The Key to Sales
15:15 How Big Can This Get?
19:05 The Common Denominator
21:48 Better on Small Boats
27:50 They All Mesh Together
“I’m having more fun in my life than I ever have.”
As an EVP, George Varanakis oversaw the largest photography conference and trade show, WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International). With over 16,000 attendees and over 400 exhibitors and sponsors, George grew the show over 400% in the eight years he was there.
In 2011, WPPI was sold to Nielsen Expositions, where a new opportunity arose to move from the conference world to the online education world.
As GM of the Photo Channel at CreativeLive, a live online educational network, George helped grow the channel to a multi-million dollar business. By instituting new platforms and strategic alliances, George helped facilitate rapid growth. His creative approach, along with a sales mentality, helped CreativeLive grow into the #1 online educational network.
Today, George oversees Sue Bryce Education with a membership of 10,000 photographers. He also runs The Portrait Masters online education and conference. The conference has sold out in 24 hours since it’s launch in 2017.
George also enjoys long walks on the beach, puppies, and candle light dinners.