Officially – Cristopher Boyer is Chief Executive Officer of the Variant Interactive Corp., a media development organization and current chairman of the International Game Developers Association in Detroit. Previously, he was a community manager for America OnLine and a mortgage banker for Quicken Loans. He has been a guest lecturer for multiple schools and universities in Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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Still official, though decidedly less so – I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan in the spring of 1981. I am the son of a Filipino immigrant nurse and a career military man-turned-car salesman. We weren’t wealthy by any means, but we lived well due to the sacrifices my parents made, and the sound decisions they would make.

I attended the now-extinct Royal Oak Kimball High School, and matriculated from the still-enduring Troy High School. One result of these years is that I have been a fierce proponent of public education. From there I entered Michigan State University in the fall of 1999, despite the double-barreled expectation of being an Air Force doctor, which is the intended fate of all Asian military children. In fact, I walked away from an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy to avoid such an end.

After a graduation ceremony in 2003, I spent some years working various jobs, until I landed in a position as a mortgage banker at Quicken Loans, helmed by local billionaire entrepreneur and fellow Spartan Dan Gilbert. From him I learned how to run a company, and with whom I enjoy the occasional email exchange to this day. I am continually grateful for his advice and guidance.

Today I run my own company at Variant Interactive, as well as spending time as a blogger, a youth volunteer, world traveler, and hockey & baseball fan. It’s exciting work, and I love the people I get to work with. I’m forever thankful for the path I’ve walked. Maybe you’ll come join me!