From conception to today, ACE National founding members and industry leaders reflect on their years of service.
(NOTE: This story appears in the September 2024 issue of ED Magazine.)
It was in 1999 in a Chicago hotel suite that some of the power players in the adult club business gathered 25 years ago to form ACE National.
The room was filled with leaders of multi-unit chains such as Jim St. John (then of Déjà Vu), David “Slim” Baucom of MAL Entertainment, Scott Burch of Burch Management, David Fairchild of The Men’s Club, along with bosses of medium-size chains like the late Jerry Reid of Pure Gold, individual club owners like the late Don “Weasel” DalPonte of Weasels and Chip Walker of Odyssey Entertainment, plus premier club operators like Dennis DeGori, who today is a partner in Club E11EVEN.
The late Don Waitt, founder of ED Publications and the Gentlemen’s Club Owner’s Expo, organized the meeting that ultimately earned him the title Founder of ACE National.
Together, these club owners and Waitt defined ACE’s mission statement:
“To provide and share information concerning the political and legal status of the adult nightclub industry, and to further provide a platform for strategic planning of initiates to combat negative challenges.”
“After 25 years with ACE National, I can confidently say the strip club industry is like a circus – except with more glitter, fewer elephants and way more interesting legal battles,” says David “Slim” Baucom, ACE Board member. “Here’s to another quarter-century of keeping the show on the road! It’s the women and all of us working together that keeps freedom alive and dancing.”
As ACE National celebrates its 25th anniversary, we reflect on our adventure. ACE has grown from a modest assembly of iconic industry leaders to a formidable adult club advocate.
“I’m very proud to be part of such a great association that has done so many positive things for our industry,” says Ed Anakar, ACE National board member and President of RCI. “I encourage all club owners to get involved and be a part of ACE. The knowledge and resources are invaluable. Happy Anniversary!”
In its early days, ACE faced monumental challenges. While the board members were powerful, they were few. The association fought tirelessly against restrictive legislation aimed at crippling adult clubs across the US. Former executive directors like Larry Kaplan and Jeff Levy were instrumental in navigating these turbulent waters, laying the groundwork for the robust organization ACE is today.
After 25 years with ACE National, I can confidently say the strip club industry is like a circus – except with more glitter, fewer elephants and way more interesting legal battles.
– David “Slim” Baucom
“The success of ACE National over the last 25 years in providing essential political, legal and industry news and information and music licensing discounts is a testament to Don, who sadly passed away earlier this year, and to its board members, attorney advisors, industry sponsors and executive director Angelina Spencer,” Kaplan shares. “If not for ACE National’s efforts, the adult nightclub industry would not be where it is today.”
After that first Chicago meeting, Stephen McWilliams, Director of Operations for the Men’s Club in Dallas was voted in as ACE National’s founding president. He played a pivotal role in steering ACE through these formative years with a vision for a united and stronger industry.
“My primary goal was to present a strategic agenda and ensure objectives were achieved,” McWilliams explains. “This approach served ACE well in its infancy, but now the association required visionaries — people who could take the foundation we built and add monumental successes. This came in the form of two exceptional people: Micheal Ocello and Angelina Spencer.”
Ocello was elected in 2001 as the new President of ACE. Spencer-Crisp became the Executive Director in April 2003, after serving as an ACE National board member. Years later, the adult club industry has faced new and complex challenges, from unionization votes for dancers led by the National Labor Relations Board to Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuits, and rebranded Community Defense Acts that claim to fight rampant sex trafficking in strip clubs. Yet, through it all, ACE has remained steadfast, guided by some of the nation’s brightest legal minds.
“It’s been a learning curve for sure,” says ACE National Acting President David Fairchild. “When we initially started ACE, we weren’t sure what we wanted to do or be. Today, ACE National is a community of intelligent competitors who lay their differences aside to work together. We’ve gone from trying to figure out how to appropriately fund the association to creating valuable programs, building resources, offering referrals and sharing legal and legislative information.”
“I’d say we’re a whole lot better educated as an industry than when ACE National began 25 years ago,” he adds. “And while we still suffer some setbacks, we’ve also earned some wins.”
Including McWilliams, ACE has had seven presidents in the past: Scott Burch (Burch Management, TX), Micheal Ocello (VCG Holdings, MO), Ed Anakar (RCI), Jim Saint John (Spearmint Rhino), Jason Mohney (Déjà Vu, the Larry Flynt Hustler Clubs and GoBest!), Don Waitt (ED Publications) and David Fairchild (The Men’s Club, TX).
When I started my club, I was clueless about where to turn. My ACE membership has saved me tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, which could have put me out of business.
– Jim Halbach
The association’s commitment to its members is evident in the wide array of programs and initiatives it has developed, including:
- ACE National BMI and ASCAP music licensing discount program
- Certified COAST (Club Operators Against Sex Trafficking) Outreach
- The ACE National Club Mentoring Program for new club owners
- Active Shooter Training (Civilian response to active shooter scenarios)
- De-escalation training (Coping and communication skills for management and workers to minimize potential crises and elevate hospitality)
- ACE National premier industry provider discounts
- Attorney referrals
- Industry specific research and analytics, political education and legislative tracking
“The programs are a team effort,” Spencer-Crisp explains. “I give a lot of credit to Micheal Ocello and the board members who consistently step up and lead or host our outreaches. Ocello probably has twenty million flight miles by now!”
Additionally, ACE National members have health and safety advisors — but not just anyone. ACE secured Tim Davis, M.D., National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (USU/NCDMPH) and Asst. Professor Emeritus of Emergency Medicine, Emory.
Joining Dr. Davis is Michael Hopmeier, President of Unconventional Concepts, Inc. Mike has been a technical advisor and operational consultant to numerous agencies, including the DARPA Defense Sciences Office, US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, United States Surgeon General, the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense and the World Health Organization.
Each of our advisors, whether in health, safety or legal, is available for all member questions.
Unfortunately, despite ACE’s successes, its journey has not been without loss. The association mourns the passing of influential leaders like Greta Shamy, Jerry Reid Sr., Don “Weasel” DalPonte and John Weston, whose contributions left an indelible mark.
“Jerry Reid Sr. was the quintessential Southern gentleman,” says Spencer-Crisp. “He picked me up for a meeting once in his brand-new limo after my flight had been delayed. I was starving. The only open restaurant was a Waffle House. He refused to take a lady there. I told him I wasn’t a lady — he laughed, and we shared a midnight breakfast talking about the industry.”
Most recently, the deaths of advisory attorney Clyde Dewitt and ACE National founder and president Don Waitt have been unexpected blows. Their legacies, however, continue to inspire and guide ACE National’s mission.
Additionally, the association weathered Covid-19 closures between 2020 and 2022.
“Serving as President of ACE during the pandemic was both tough and incredibly rewarding,” shares Jason Mohney, past President of ACE and Déjà Vu/Hustler Clubs/GoBest! executive. “I believe helping our industry navigate these challenges was my biggest accomplishment, as I saw firsthand how ACE supports and strengthens gentlemen’s clubs. As our industry evolves, we must unite and adapt together, ensuring we continue to thrive and innovate.”
Greta Shamy was the first female board member of ACE National. A powerhouse and owner of Delilah’s in Pennsylvania, she took Spencer-Crisp under her wing when Angelina became the second female board member.
“Greta was an ardent proponent of ACE,” says Spencer-Crisp. “After her unfortunate death in 2008, her daughter Jenn, a lawyer, took over Delilah’s. What many people don’t know is that Jenn still pays Greta’s annual ACE National dues as a tribute to both her mother and her belief in ACE National.”
Don “Weasel” DalPonte was a proud club owner for over 30 years and a board member of ACE. He died in April 2014 at the age of 63.
“Every time we had an Expo, Weasel insisted I meet him at the blackjack table,” shares Spencer-Crisp. “We’d play cards as we talked about ACE and his hopes for the association. If we won, he made me keep the money. If we lost, I didn’t owe him. He was such a great guy with a fascinating history.”
Sometime after that, founding member Chip Walker, owner of Red Barn, Grand Rapids and Odyssey Entertainment in Muskegon, left ACE National. “Chip was outspoken and feisty,” says Spencer-Crisp. “I remember one meeting where things got heated — we were discussing whether or not to approve a program, and I thought he was going to throw a chair across the room. But he too, was a proponent of ACE and always encouraged people to get involved.”
On September 11, 2020, John Weston, one of ACE National’s first advisory attorneys, passed away after five decades of practice. He worked, like our other advisory attorneys, fighting for the important constitutional principle that speech should not be prohibited based on the message. His was a lifelong battle against government censorship and overreach.
ACE’s most recent disappointment occurred this year when another advisory attorney, Clyde Dewitt, succumbed to complications of metastatic cancer one week before ACE National founder Don Waitt died suddenly from a heart attack — only a couple of weeks after Kathy Vercher, CEO of Spearmint Rhino, left the ACE board.
“This year had to be one of the most difficult for ACE National in terms of valuable losses,” Spencer-Crisp expresses.
Clyde spent over four decades in Houston, Los Angeles and Las Vegas as a nationally recognized champion of free speech. He’d served as an ACE National advisory attorney for over twenty years.
“I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to ACE’s advisory attorneys,” conveys Spencer-Crisp. “Their support ensures that ACE and the industry consistently operate with the highest integrity. They are always there when needed.”
Likewise, Don Waitt was there too, with an outlaw spirit, one that initially led him to award-winning crime reporting.
“Don Waitt will always be the Godfather of our industry,” declares Jim St. John, acquisitions director for Spearmint Rhino and past ACE National president. “He was always there when the industry faced its biggest challenges. I spent hours with him in February discussing the past, present and future of the business we love. The future is now in the hands of all of us because the original hand that helped get us here is gone.”
“Don Waitt was a good friend of mine,” shares Baucom. “He will be sorely missed and was a great asset to the adult club community. He cared deeply about steering ACE and the industry in a positive direction.”
As for Vercher, Spencer-Crisp misses her greatly. “Kathy and I didn’t speak much but she was a listener, an observer and a class act. Years ago, she gave me some of the greatest professional advice I still carry with me today.”
As we celebrate ACE’s 25th anniversary, we remember the passion and dedication of every board member and vendor who has helped shape ACE through the years.
“I’ve been proud to be one of the first premier industry providers for ACE,” shares Warren Cato, owner of Club Control Systems. “It’s a great organization and I’d recommend it to any adult club owner.”
“Our journey of 25 years is a testament to innovation, resilience and excellence. Together, we build the future,” says Lisa Hinds, ACE Board member and owner of Scores Chicago.
Micheal Ocello, a stalwart of ACE National since its inception, echoes this sentiment. “ACE has been and continues to be the erudite voice for people who work in a world where their voices are too often silenced by those who believe we shouldn’t exist. The association’s achievements, from educational programs to legislative victories, are a testament to the collaborative spirit of its members.”
Likewise, at the heart of ACE’s success is Executive Director Angelina Spencer-Crisp, Ocello states, whose dedication and drive are pivotal. “Without Angelina, ACE would be but a shadow of itself. One cannot say the words ‘ACE National’ without including Angelina.”
Jim Halbach, the proprietor of Wisconsin Dolls and an ACE board member, also serves as ACE’s small club liaison. “ACE brings significant advantages to small clubs by leveraging the resources of larger clubs. To the adult entertainment industry, ACE is like Google. You can call Angelina, and she will provide an answer or guide you to find the solution you need. The primary reason all small clubs should be ACE members is the wealth of available knowledge.”
“When I started my club, I was clueless about where to turn,” Halbach continues. “My ACE membership has saved me tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, which could have put me out of business. I feel too, that one of the most crucial roles of ACE is improving the industry’s image. ACE’s willingness to engage with Homeland Security and attorney generals has positively influenced government perceptions. While not everyone is always on board, we’ve earned considerable respect, reducing negative scrutiny. As I tell my counterparts, ACE is the place to find answers.”
The journey of the past 25 years serves as a foundation for continued success, ensuring that ACE remains a powerful and unifying force for many years to come.
“Being a part of this amazing group of people that sacrifice time and effort for the industry has provided our clubs with top-notch vendors, guidance and friendships,” shares Joey Bien, CEO of the Treasure Clubs and ACE National Board member. “We wish ACE another magnificent 25 years and offer a heartfelt thank you to all past and present ACE members for all you do in support of our industry.”
In this landmark year, let us celebrate the past, embrace the present and look forward to a future shaped by unity and unwavering commitment to our industry. Here’s to the next 25 years of ACE National!
For more information, visit www.acenational.org.
