Pictured Above Are Left To Right: Josh Blanchard, Dave Leverage, And Craig Spencer.
Helping People Become Successful, Has Always Been The Main Objective For Dave Leverage.
But, Since Selling His Pro Shops, He Has Found Success In The Private Sector Himself.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com- Director Mesa Metro Association
Scottsdale - - - There is a lyric in the Kenny Rodgers' hit song 'The Gambler', that goes something like this: 'you have to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them'. But, in Dave Leverage's case. It was not knowing when to fold them, but knowing when it was time to sell them.
In the valley's version of the 'shot that was heard around the world'. Mr. Leverage, of Scottsdale, caught the bowling community by surprise when he announced that he was selling his pro shops and getting out of the pro shop business.
One year later, he has zero regrets on selling his pro shops. And, he is at peace with his decision to get out of the bowling business.
"I was only in the pro shop business for eight years. It came to the point where I just wasn't enjoying it enough to stay in it anymore," said Dave, on his decision to sell his three pro shops. "Coaching and teaching is what I have always loved the most."
He opened his three pro shops in September of 2007, and sold them in 2015. His three pro shops were located at: AMF Union Hills, Tri City Bowl, and AMF McRay Plaza.
When he announced that these locations were up for sale, it was imperative that he sold his pro shops to someone who would continue to take good care of his customers. The same way he did.
"Yes, it was important for me to sell the three shops to the right people. Two of the three shops I sold over the years, were to the managers who ran them for me. I was happy to help them get into the business," he said, of the people he sold the shops to. "The third was sold to Craig Spencer, who also had managed the Chandler shop for me. As far as I know, they are all doing fine."
For those of you who are self-employed, you know it takes being at your business a lot of hours per week, in order to be successful. He also held another job with Traeger Grills, to help support his shops and family. He would put in 110 hours per week with Traeger, which amounted to being on the road for 10 days straight. He would then get eight days off in-a-row, where he would then work in his shops.
"I am now a Mortgage Loan Officer for Carrington Mortgage Services in Scottsdale, and it is going great. Hardest part is only working 40 hours per week," he said, of his new occupation. "More money, less hours, and I am home every night for dinner. I also get to see my kids' practices and games. I love the mortgage business, because I get to help people here also."
Dave and his wife, Machelle, are the parents of five boys. His two oldest sons are currently in college. Mychal is an actor and attends AMDA on Broadway. Brandyn got a music scholarship and attends NAU in Flagstaff. His wife, is a liaison for the AZ Oncology Group.
Dave, himself, went to school at St.Johns for two years. And then transferred to Arizona State, where he graduated with a BA in Communications. With the newly elected 45th President of the United States set to take office on January 20, 2017, he is hopeful that Donald Trump can get things done for the country.
"I don't think anybody knows whats going to happen under President Trump. He is not the status quo, so we need to let it unfold and support our President," he said, of our new leader. "He has the house and the senate under his control, so he should be able to get more done than any President in my lifetime."
He feels the reason why he was successful in the pro shop business was because of three factors. Offering fair pricing with the equipment he carried in stock. Teaching his customers how to bowl. And most importantly, being nice to his customers. A trait that he no doubt, has carried over to his new occupation to help him become even more successful.
"It was not that hard at all. Jim Pratt helped me in the beginning, when he was managing my first shop for me," said Dave, on what it was like to learn how to drill a ball and do ball layouts. "I had never drilled a ball in my life before this. But, I know the game and how to teach it. I also had earned an exemption on the PBA National Tour, so it seemed like a natural fit."
He also states its hard to pick out his best bowling accomplishments over the last 30 years, but there are two that he is most proud of. The first would be earning an exemption out on the PBA tour in 2007. And the second one is, winning three straight PBA Regional Titles on three consecutive weekends. To this day, he is still the only one ever to accomplish this.
"I won the points race in 2007 in the Northwest Region, thus giving me an exemption on the tour for a year," he said, of his accomplishment. "Basically, an exemption is a guaranteed $1,800 check each week. It was a chance of a lifetime, and I had to take it."
Like the rest of us who have bowled for a long time, Dave has a favorite era in bowling as well.
"For me, my favorite era in bowling was the early to mid 90s, because I was fresh out of college. And a rookie on the PBA National Tour," he says, of his favorite era in the game. "As a fan, it had to be the 80s, when bowling was actually on TV and not on the internet. And, the bowlers could actually make a decent living."
Mr. Leverage has been bowling since he was eight. He has yet to be elected to any of the valley associations HOF. He only bowls once a week these days, and still averages 238. He has not averaged under 200 in probably 30 years. His resume includes: six PBA regional titles, 62 300 games, a PBA exemption, and 14 800 series.
"I bowled on the PBA tour in 1995, and finished behind Billy Myers Jr., for Rookie of the Year. My best year on tour, had to be in 2007, the year I won the exemption on tour," said Dave, of his tour accomplishments. "I also bowled on the Exempt Tour, and I think I finished in 51st or in 52nd place on the points list."
Arizona has had its share of bowling talent compete on the PBA National and Regional Circuit. Among those are: Jakob Butturff, Josh Blanchard, Michael Haugen Jr., Stu Williams, Andrew Cain and Brett Wolfe.
"Arizona has always had a tremendous pool of bowling talent," he said. "Its a shame though, that scratch bowling is dying on the vine."
Mr. Leverage has also been on the Bowlers Journal Magazine Top 100 Coaches list for the last six years. He also wrote a column for the Desert Bowler.
"I still do lessons in the valley," he says. "When I wrote the column for the Desert Bowler, it was basically to help educate bowlers."
And, it was a column that bowlers always put to practical use on the lanes.
Arizona State Bowling News - November 14, 2007