Terri & Bruce Retire

Terri Markle and Bruce La Fleur announced their retirement on stage at La Fleur’s 2024 Austin Conference on November 19. There were a few gasps in the audience followed by a standing ovation. It was quite an emotional moment (watch here).

Terri founded TLF Publications in 1991 after a 12-year career as a lottery editor working for Public Gaming (1980-1982) and Gaming Business (1983-1992). Bruce joined the company in 1992 as EVP and co-owner. (You can watch their retirement speeches at the Austin conference on our website.)

“TLF Publications is a family business so we included our children (Byron and Claire) in all operations (mailings, conferences, painting thank you cards). So it is with great joy that we announce Byron is the CEO of TLF Publications,” said Markle.

La Fleur’s put together a short selection of industry friends’ comments on LinkedIn regarding the retirement announcement.

• “To say you will be missed would be an all-time understatement. No one got excited about cool new things like you did and you gave hundreds of us the forum to share ideas in an industry that can benefit from others’ successes. It’s one hell of a legacy you’re leaving behind. Best wishes to you and Bruce.”

—Adam Caughill, National Innovation Director, Interprovincial Lottery Corp.

• “Congratulations and a big hug to two of my favorite people! Very excited for you both and I know that the future will be filled with great adventures for you. Thanks for taking a chance several years ago and making Austin one of your flagship locations. Very fitting you would make the announcement here!”

—Gary Grief, Former Executive Director, Texas Lottery

• “Congratulations on your amazing career. I’ll never forget your keynote address at the Intertoto conference we hosted in Perth in 1995, or Byron doing an internship with us at Lotterywest when he was still a college undergraduate, and now he is CEO of TLF.”

—Jan Stewart, Former CEO, Lotterywest

• “Congrats on a stellar career and thanks for the impact you’ve had on the industry. You’ve helped make us all better.”

—Harold Mays, Director, Illinois Department of the Lottery

• “What a wonderful career you have had! Thank you for your tremendous contributions to the lottery industry throughout the decades.”

—Mark Michalko, Executive Director, North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL)

• “You all have been a tremendous asset to our industry, and I know Byron will carry on the tradition of excellence and relevance.”

—Tom Seaver, Director, Colorado Lottery

• “Y’all are awesome! Thank you for your vital contributions to our industry and for another great La Fleur’s Conference [in Austin]!”

—Alec Thomson, CEO, Arizona Lottery

• “You should be so proud of your contributions to the lottery industry. You created an exceptional sharing forum that allowed all of us to learn from the best in the business.”

—Brent Scrimshaw, Former President, Atlantic Lottery Corp.

• “You created a great forum for lottery companies that we all appreciate!”

—Jim Lightbody, Former President, BCLC

• “You have made amazing contributions to our industry. Best of luck and enjoy this new chapter.”

—Jim Kennedy, Former Chairman/CEO, Scientific Games

• “Many good wishes for your next chapter. You have made an indelible mark in the history of the lottery industry.”

—Jaymin Patel, Former President & CEO, GTECH Corp.

• “End of an Era! So many memories over 30+ years. So many conferences, interviews, presentations, and laughs. A veritable lifetime. And now, the baby who I first met swaddled in a baby backpack at a conference somewhere is now taking over the reins at TLF. Good luck, good health, and continued energy to all three of you in the next chapter of your interesting lives.”

—Ray Bates, Former Chief Executive, An Post National Lottery

• “I’m so excited for you, Terri! I can already imagine the wonderful adventures you will have. You have always been a force in the lottery world, and you did so much to bring the community together, especially the connections you made amongst women. I’ll never forget going to my first La Fleur’s Conference and you took me under your wing and ensured that I met incredible women that I still call friends. Thank you for your contributions to our industry, and my career.”

—Heather Black, Senior Manager, Lottery Products, BCLC

• “You have such enthusiasm for what you do, your support and passion for the industry and the people in it are incredible. Since my first La Fleur’s, you’ve gone out of your way to be welcoming, and I’ve always felt valued and heard by you. Thank you a million times over. I so appreciate you!”

—Kelley-Jaye Cleland, Chief Product and Program Officer, New Hampshire Lottery

• “Your La Fleur’s Almanacs and magazines have been invaluable, connecting us all for such a long time. I started in lottery in 1997 and I can’t remember a time when you didn’t make us feel like one big family, sharing ideas and connecting those who speak the same language!”

—Jessica Barclay, Head of Hybrid Games, The National Lottery (UK)

• “Congratulations and enjoy your retirement! Thanks for everything you have done for the lotteries! Bonne retraite!”

—Isabelle Jean, EVP & COO, Lottery Games, Loto-Quebec

• “Terri, you are truly the master of developing and grouping content in short, easily digestible segments. I have enjoyed presenting at your conferences for the past 24 years. First time we met was in New Orleans at LaFleur’s in 2001 and I presented on our new game at the time, Texas Two Step. It has been an honor and I’m glad to say I know without a doubt our friendship will continue.”

—Robert Tirloni, Lottery Operations, Texas Lottery

• “You both have been stalwarts in the industry for many years. Thank you for your dedication and all you’ve contributed to this industry’s success. You both left TLF Publications in good hands!!”

—Greg Bowers, CFO, NCEL

• “Congratulations to you both and call the next phase anything you like, but take it from me, you’re going to find yourself calling it ’wonderful.’”

—Tom Delacenserie, Former President & CEO, Kentucky Lottery Corp.

• “Your reports, stellar and professional. Your conferences, always interesting. Congratulations to you both and thanks.”

—Michael Jones, Former Director, Illinois Lottery

• “You have initiated something truly remarkable and I am sure that Byron will continue to build on the solid foundation you both have accomplished!”

—Peter Paul de Goeij, Managing Consultant, Quod Bonum

• “Congratulations on your retirements! Your contributions to the lottery industry were epic and we all owe you two a huge debt of gratitude. Enjoy your next adventures.”

—Ken Schulzke, Former VP, Marketing, WCLC

• “A big congratulations to both of you! It’s bittersweet; you created a company dedicated to the evolution of this industry.”

—Foster Krupa, Senior Director, Innovation, IGT/Northstar New Jersey

• “What an incredible journey and career. So much to be proud of and you deserve the time to rewire for the next chapter. No matter what, you never gave up your dream. Pushed to make it an even bigger dream and crushed it.”

—Jenna Rankin, Family Friend and Former TLF Publications Employee