Article

Farewell, '`Mr. Kiosk'

It was just three years ago that I attended my first kiosk conference and met Craig Keefner, a man known far and wide as "Mr. Kiosk." Our company initially viewed this dedicated, gregarious man as a significant competitor.

July 14, 2003

Editor's Note: Fryrear, chairman of NetWorld Alliance and executive director of Kiosks.org Association, has written this column about former executive director Craig Keefner, who has left the association.

It was just three years ago that I attended my first kiosk conference and met Craig Keefner, a man known far and wide as "Mr. Kiosk." Our company was exploring a business venture in this industry, and we initially viewed this dedicated, gregarious man as a significant competitor.

Alan Fryrear, executive director, Kiosks.org Association

As I met the industry's leaders and observed Keefner in action, it occurred to me that he was a magnetic and dynamic figure, attracting lots of attention everywhere he went. I was told that Keefner's knowledge of all things kiosk was unsurpassed, and that his Web site, Kiosks.org, was a sort of online Bible among kiosk peers.

The more I heard about Keefner at the conference, the more I began convincing myself that NetWorld's kiosk venture would be much more successful with Keefner as a partner than it would be with him as a competitor. And the more I got to know him, the more I liked him.

Craig, we learned, is a man of many talents. Foremost among them is a knack for figuring out all sorts of technology and talking about it intelligently. The Web site he built and managed, all alone, for seven years was and still is a success, any way you measure it. As I got to know him, I learned Craig has a gift for guitars and golf clubs, and have since seen him wield both with some expertise.

Once we were convinced that teaming up with Craig was the right move for NetWorld, all we had to do was negotiate an agreement to acquire Kiosks.org and, with it, the services of Keefner. It was no small obstacle that he lived in Minnesota. Given our location 715 miles to the south, this recruiting effort would require buy-in from Craig's wife Carolynn, who would ultimately decide whether or not to move. Thanks to some friendly persuasion from the wives of my partners and the lure of spending winters sans snow, well, the rest is kiosk history. Still, it took five months of negotiating and it was another year before the Keefners settled into a new Kentucky home.

Keefner brought plenty of new ideas to Louisville and NetWorld. He was instrumental in assisting Dick Good in the formation of Kiosks.org Association, now a thriving and growing industry organization, and recruited influential and knowledgeable people, including Rick Rommel and Mike Mayer, for leadership roles. He was its first Executive Director, and established the "pavilion" program for gaining member companies exposure at major trade shows. See related story, "Kiosk, self-serve pavilion highlight June Retail Systems show." He was put in charge of installing new servers for our firm, and developed our search engine optimization program that continues to pay dividends.

Times change, and Craig has decided to move on to a new life in Colorado and a new job with Kiosk Information Systems. See related story, "KOA appoints Fryrear executive director." I'm sure that Kiosks.org Association members haven't heard the last of him. He's genuinely excited about the changes ahead, and I'm happy for him. He remains a NetWorld investor, and recently reminded me that he'd be watching us closely.

Craig's place in kiosk history is secure as the founder of Kiosks.org and the first executive director of Kiosks.org Association. I'm betting, however, that he'll have a hand in the industry's future as well. We'll be watching "Mr. Kiosk" and wish him success.