Open to conversations · Spring 2026 Yakima Valley, Washington

Profile № 01 — General Manager

David Flink.

Thirty years of operations leadership across community media, charitable gaming, and small-business consulting — currently General Manager of Yakima Valley Publishing.

D. FlinkPhoto · 2026

Currently

General Mgr. · YVP

Tenure

19 yrs at YVP

Based

Yakima, WA

Education

Seattle U. '90

An operator built in rooms most executives never enter.

I've spent 30+ years running operations across industries most executives never touch — charitable gaming, regulated entertainment, community media, and small-business consulting. What ties it all together is a simple reality: complex operations with real compliance stakes, real budgets, and real teams don't manage themselves.

At twenty-five, I became the youngest bingo hall manager in Washington State. By the time I left the gaming industry, I'd helped a linked-bingo company generate over $34 million in sales, raise $8 million for charitable organizations, and reduce operating expenses by $80,000 through technology and process improvements. I also worked directly with state legislators to draft rules that legalized linked bingo — the kind of regulatory work that takes equal parts patience, relationship-building, and deep industry knowledge.

For the past 20 years, I've served as General Manager of Yakima Valley Publishing, overseeing editorial, production, advertising, and operations for a community-focused media company. Different industry, same job.

A working life across regulated industries & community media.

2006 — Now 19 yrs, 10 mos Yakima Co., WA

General Manager

Yakima Valley Publishing

Oversee daily operations for a locally owned, community-focused newspaper — managing and hiring staff, coordinating sales, editorial, and production for the paper and its related publications. Ensure timely printing and USPS delivery, handle advertiser invoicing and account follow-up, and run subscription renewals and mailing list updates to keep readership growing.

20Years running

4Functions owned

USPSLogistics partner

2015 — 2017 1 yr, 11 mos Yakima, WA

Project Manager

Sharky's Pizza Shack

Owned bookkeeping and prepared detailed monthly reports for the owner, ensuring financial accuracy and transparency. Provided management and operational guidance, conducted QA checks on facility operations and product quality, and ran a parallel advisory role for Yakima Valley Publishing's ownership.

2011 — 2012 1 yr, 3 mos

Director of Bingo Operations

Super D Bingo

Built and implemented strategic marketing plans to grow sales and net profit. Prepared the annual budget and presented to the board. Audited pulltab and bingo sessions to surface discrepancies, ensured full Gambling Commission compliance, owned hiring, training and annual reviews, and negotiated vendor pricing across operations.

“I helped a linked-bingo company generate over $34 million in sales, raise $8 million for charitable organizations, and reduce operating expenses by $80,000 through technology and process improvements.” — On Washington Charity Satellite Bingo, 1999–2006

1999 — 2006 6 yrs, 10 mos Kent, WA

General Manager

Washington Charity Satellite Bingo, Inc.

Ran day-to-day operations for the premier linked-bingo company in the U.S., serving as liaison to the Washington State Gambling Commission. Built and supervised a 10+ person team, conceived statewide marketing, oversaw product distribution, and visited participating organizations quarterly. Worked directly with legislators to draft rules and regulations that legalized linked bingo in multiple states.

$34MTotal sales

$17MPrizes awarded

$8MRaised for charity

$80KExpense reduction

1998 — 1999 11 mos

General Manager

Super D Bingo

Day-to-day operations of the bingo hall on $3M+ annual sales. Built and ran marketing plans to grow awareness and customer base. Supervised product ordering and brought deep auditing expertise to an all-cash business. Attended monthly Gambling Commission meetings to brainstorm improvements to the industry.

1995 — 1998 3 yrs, 3 mos Bow, WA

Casino Supervisor

Harrah's Skagit Valley

Original team member who helped open the casino — specifically the bingo hall. Supervised table games and bingo operations, kept company assets safe and in compliance with state, tribal, and federal law. Direct supervisor for six bingo workers; took every game class and was certified to supervise all casino games.

1992 — 1995 3 yrs, 6 mos

General Manager

Yakima Greenway Foundation

Youngest bingo hall manager in Washington State at twenty-five. Ran a hall that became #1 in Yakima by gross sales, reported directly to the board on fundraising, and supervised up to 15 employees. Board member of the Washington Charitable and Civic Gaming Association; graduate of the Leadership Yakima program.

1982 — 1992 10 yrs

Sales Associate

Seattle Junior Hockey Association

Started in the snack bar and worked up to pulltab salesperson over a decade. Used proven sales techniques to drive profits for a charitable bingo hall, and earned the platform to speak in front of large crowds — the foundation everything else was built on.

Formal & professional credentials.

1986 — 1990

Seattle UniversitySeattle, Washington

B.A. Business Mgmt.

Graduate

Leadership YakimaCommunity leadership program

Program Graduate

Board

WA Charitable & Civic Gaming Assoc.Industry board membership

Board Member

What I'm known for, in plain English.

— 01 / Top Skills

The headlines

Government & regulatory relations
Project coordination
Sales management

— 02 / Operations

Day-to-day

P&L & budget ownership
Lean team hiring & reviews
Vendor negotiation, cost reduction
Bookkeeping, AR, mailing-list ops

— 03 / Compliance

Regulated environments

WA State Gambling Commission liaison
Cash-business auditing
State, tribal & federal compliance
Legislative drafting & testimony

— 04 / Media

Community publishing

Editorial & production coordination
Advertising sales & AR
Subscription renewal & circulation
Marketing plan design & execution

I'd enjoy a conversation.

If you're hiring an operations leader who's built and managed teams across multiple industries, navigated regulatory environments, and kept businesses running through decades of change — get in touch. Email is fastest.