“If I had known how challenging it would be to create a good poker show, I would never have done it”

With seemingly humble aspirations of televising a poker tournament for the “common” player, Todd Anderson walked away from his career as a television executive in 2005 and partnered with buddy Greg Lang on a wild ride of ups and downs.  With little to no production experience, the pair created a brand that is now recognizable throughout the United States and abroad.

Anderson’s typical workday takes place in a casino or airport, in drastic contrast to his upbringing as a pastor’s son in rural Minnesota communities. After graduating from a Lutheran private college, Anderson proved himself in the cut-throat media industry.  Landing his first professional job in radio sales, he eventually made the switch to television and climbed the ladder to general manager before establishing All In Productions with Lang.

Carving a niche with the mission “Real People, Unreal Money”, The Heartland Poker Tour continues to grow with sold out events crisscrossing the nation and ink-still-wet sponsorship deals.  During the first season of the tour, Anderson relied on his own poker winnings to keep the company afloat.  Still playing on a casual basis, his highest major tournament finish was fourth place at a World Series of Poker Circuit Event in Las Vegas.

   Follow Todd on Twitter @HPTTodd

“Anyone can achieve the dream of winning big on TV”

Executive Producer Greg Lang is no stranger to dreaming big.  With an entrepreneurial spirit since childhood, Lang successfully launched a number of franchise businesses before co-creating Heartland Poker Tour.  When he and poker buddy Todd Anderson struck on the long-shot idea of creating a poker show for the common man, Lang tackled “all the moving parts,” as he is known to say. 

With no experience in the TV industry, Lang’s innovation and notorious attention-to-detail evolved into a finished product worthy of widespread distribution.   Scouting and orchestrating a first-class creative team, Lang currently coordinates all aspects of production and the overall look of each episode. 

Investing blood, sweat, tears, and cash, Lang built the HPT family as his own family grew at home.  Lang and his wife, Sara, have two young daughters.  On set every time HPT awards life-changing money, the thrill of the job is not lost on his family at home in Fargo, North Dakota.   When his preschool daughter took her turn answering the question, “What is your favorite game,” Lang proudly recalls that she was the only three-year-old in the class to answer, “Poker”.    

   Follow Greg on Twitter @HPTGreg

“It’s more than a job, it’s a lifestyle”

With a background in marketing and public relations, Jen joined the HPT family just in time to kick start Season 5 in January 2009.  Highly caffeinated, Jen coordinates media interviews for on-air talent, writes and distributes press releases, initiates PR campaigns, manages an extensive database, and executes special events for HPT and our charity partner, Disabled American Veterans.  WSOP media giant Nolan Dalla kindly said of Jen, “Outstanding work…I have some catching up to do on creativity.”    She puts her bachelors’ degrees in both mass communication and merchandising to good use, overseeing web, print, and TV ads as well as HPT-branded merchandise.   “New media” is a growing focus in her role with live tournament updates and social networking initiatives.   Spending much of each year in casinos, Jen’s game of choice is video keno, accumulating over sixteen dollars in career winnings to date.

    Follow Jen on Twitter @HPTJen

Email: jen@heartlandpokertour.com

Mobile: (701)793-0380