Dakota Roemer’s last name often precedes him. As the son of former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer (1988-1992), he comes with a certain southern notoriety. Given his father’s background, too, it seems as though politics might have been a natural arena for Roemer. After all, children so often follow in a parent’s footsteps. Yet the younger Roemer pursued a different course.
“It was interesting, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I certainly wouldn’t put my kids through it,” he says of his political childhood.
Roemer’s own interests turned, in his younger years, to sports—especially soccer. Whatever political aspirations he now exhibits remain limited to his neighborhood.”The biggest thing I’ll run for is my homeowner’s association,” Roemer says, his good-natured demeanor coming through in his laugh.
Roemer pursued a rather circuitous route back to his initial athletic interests. He grew up in Baton Rouge but attended Suffolk University in Boston. He remained in that area after graduation, taking a position with Circles, a company contracted by American Express to handle the concierge needs of its high-end credit card members. That level of customer service prepared the way for his Baton Rouge return.
“My dad wanted me back here, and he tried for a number of years to get me back,” Roemer says. “He saw customer service potential in me and thought I’d be a good private banker.” He eventually took a job as marketing coordinator at Business First Bank. “I saw a need that wasn’t being filled in marketing, and thought I could fill that gap.”
In 2012, Roemer was approached by Denver Benton to help establish GoAthlete, a company based in Baton Rouge. “This is home,” Roemer says of their choice to establish the company in the Capital City.
Benton adds, “We selected sports because we love sports.” Both he and Roemer played soccer in high school, a passion they continued after graduating and one that persists to this day through local adult leagues. Roemer played defender during college, while Benton played striker at Wales. Benton and Roemer can bond over their equally competitive natures.
GoAthlete primarily works with sports organizations that host athletic or competitive events by streamlining those events and increasing revenue potential. For example, when an interested runner signs up to participate in a marathon, he or she usually must visit a separate website to book travel or a hotel. GoAthlete merges everything into one website so that sponsoring organizations see a return on the tourism they bring to a particular area. The company currently oversees more than 35 events nationwide, including the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, Ohio.
With experience hosting and promoting events, Benton saw how athletic organizations continually missed out on certain revenue streams despite the fact that they brought in big tourism numbers to the cities where they were operating.
“If you have a thousand people traveling, you may only make money off of a few hundred hotel rooms,” Benton says. “We’re providing a service that makes people’s lives easier without charging them for it.”
For Roemer, the opportunity came at the perfect time. He had just met his wife, who worked in the HR Department at Business First Bank. “It’s tough if you’re dating HR—you need to find a different job,” he says, laughing. “When Denver came to me with the idea of GoAthlete in its infancy, it was easy to transition. It allowed me to marry my wife and my passion.”
“We spent the past two years bringing GoAthlete to where it is now,” Roemer says. “We give these events an ability to tap a revenue source that they typically wouldn’t be able to manage on their own.”
Where so many partnerships, especially friendship-based partnerships, can falter, Roemer and Benton find that their naturally competitive history lends itself to creating a stronger business relationship.
“In sports, you’re not afraid to tell someone they’re screwing up,” Benton says.
Roemer agrees. “It’s a certain level of accountability that you just can’t get elsewhere,” he says.
Despite Roemer’s aversion to politics, he does feel his father’s influence. “My dad helped make me the man I am, and that’s a real positive,” he says.
The two share many traits, even though they pursued different avenues. “I know my father better than most. He comes from a real earnest desire to save the world,” Roemer explains. “I want to give people the opportunity to develop a better product. Buddy does that every day.” goathlete.com
