Keith Meyers has been in the game industry since the late 1980's. He has designed more than 2 dozen published games, he teaches classes in game design, has authored a book on game design, and speaks at various events and gatherings about finding the passion to design games and turn it into a money-maker.
He has worked for The Game Works (small niche market game manufacturer), The Game Keeper (largest chain of independent game stores) which was consequently purchased by Wizards of the Coast and then by Hasbro.
Meyers has been designing games since he began in the industry, but has become a full time designer since 2000.
His website is www.gamedesigncentral.com which offers helpful information and sources for beginning game inventors.
You will find a free quarterly inventor newsletter there.
http://www.gamedesigncentral.com/inventors/newsletter.htm
A series of 10 Questions with established inventors and game companies
http://www.gamedesigncentral.com/inventors/10Qs.htm
Info on his book, "Paid to Play: The Business of Game Design"
http://www.gamedesigncentral.com/inventors/book.htm
And an extensive list of game companies around the world with links to their websites
http://www.gamedesigncentral.com/inventors/gamecos.htm