League Operator Spotlight: Walter & Alix Jarrett – Blue Mountain PA
APA: How long were you APA members before deciding to become League Operators?
Walter: I joined APA in 1996 and played regularly. My wife, Alix, started playing about two years before we bought the League in early 2012, and I like to think it was because she wanted to see more of me. In reality, I think she wanted in on the fun.
APA: What made you decide to look into becoming League Operators? Was the process of becoming a League Operator difficult?
Walter: Alix suggested we should look into buying an APA franchise because it looked like a fun way to make a living. I said I didn’t see that happening, only because we were unable to relocate and there was nothing available in the area. Then, suddenly, one of our teammates came to pool and said he heard our APA League was up for sale. The next day, we contacted the APA and started the process.
The process wasn’t difficult, but we definitely had to prove ourselves and show APA how much the opportunity meant to us. It was clear from the beginning that the APA cares deeply about who they select as League Operators, and this made us even more confident in our decision to pursue this business.
APA: Briefly describe life as a League Operator.
Alix: You never know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. One day you’re running these amazing tournaments and the next day you’re someone’s marriage counselor—it’s all good! The ability to set your own schedule while growing an APA pool community is amazing. We sincerely enjoy meeting and talking to people. When it’s been a hard day, all we have to do is go out to a match and talk to our players and suddenly everything seems right with the world again.
APA: What do you most enjoy about being League Operators?
Walter: The transition from a solid daily routine with predictability wasn’t necessarily easy, but now we wouldn’t trade APA for anything. There’s never a dull moment. It’s like being Charlie in your own chocolate factory with the diversity of people and stories. It’s a privilege to be part of the League Operator community. We feel like a part of one big family with one common goal: to promote fun, meet interesting new people, and play lots of pool—and make a living doing it.
For more info on becoming a League Operator visit poolplayers.com/franchise!