Gamers Who Give: Ethan Towne
Ethan Towne is a long-time friend and supporter of Gamers Engaged, showing up year after year to judge the annual Gauntlet charity tournament.
Ethan is a seasoned software leader based in Washington state, currently working as a Software Development Manager at Card Kingdom. Each day, he channels over 15 years of full-stack development and managerial experience to shape the digital storefront for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts, leading a team at Card Kingdom that designs the e‑commerce tools behind one of tabletop gaming’s favorite retailers.
Before joining Card Kingdom, Ethan sharpened his expertise during a six-year tenure at Amazon. There, he took charge as both a software development engineer and manager, guiding projects that powered the Kindle Non‑Fiction search index and orchestrating the technical landscape for Kids Fire Tablet features, always with an eye on user satisfaction and scalable systems. Earlier in his journey, Ethan steered software teams at Inntopia as Lead Developer and built e‑commerce and enterprise systems at Competitive Computing. Before that, he sculpted Burton Snowboards’ ASP.NET-based websites and developed online insurance quoting platforms for Union Mutual of Vermont.
A proud alumnus of Arizona State University, Ethan earned his B.Sc. in Computer Systems Engineering between 1998 and 2004 . Throughout his career, he has consistently bridged high-demand consumer platforms and immersive e‑commerce environment, now steering Card Kingdom’s technical vision into its next chapter in the gaming world.
Gamers Engaged is excited to feature Ethan Towne as a Gamer Who Gives.
Keep reading for our interview with Ethan.
Raffael with other tournament judges and team members at the 2025 Gauntlet
Why do you keep coming back to the Gauntlet year after year?
Board games are a favorite hobby of mine. I love how it brings people together from all different backgrounds and provides a shared experience strangers can bond over. The Gauntlet event is a shining example of this. It provides an opportunity for people to gather and share our love for the hobby while giving back to the community. I am honored to be able to be a part of this event.
What's your favorite Gauntlet memory?
My favorite memory was from 2023 when I ran the market for the final meta game. I had to quickly take orders and give the players their goods since time was of the essence. If I slowed down, I could negatively impact their game. Keeping everything organized was key. It was chaotic fun from start to finish and a memory I will always cherish.
What's a nonprofit you love that we should all know about and support?
Food Lifeline is an organization I have had volunteer opportunities. Families are struggling and this organization is key to helping put food on the table for families around Washington. I have seen the capabilities of this organization, and it is impressive. They are worth supporting.
What game are you currently playing that you can't stop? Why?
One of my favorite games right now is Spirit Island. You play as a spirit guarding against invading colonists, flipping the colonization board game trope on its head. It is a fantastic co-op board game that takes a little bit to learn but is very rewarding for those who put the effort in.
If you were an in-game character - what game and what role would you play?
I would be a farmer in Stardew Valley. I’d be happy attending the various festivals that happen throughout the year.
Why are you a fan of Gamers Engaged?
Gamer’s Engaged is an organization that provides opportunities for those in our hobby to give back to the community. It shines a light on the positive impact tabletop gaming can have and I’m here for it.
What's your alignment?
I like to think of myself as Neutral Good.
