NCPG National Conference

2021 Presenter Main Conference Bios

04.26.21ncpgadmin

SPEAKER BIOS

MAIN CONFERENCE

July 14 – 15 and 21 – 22, 2021 (Wed. – Thurs.) from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT

Alphabetical order by last name
Click here for the latest information on schedule and session descriptions (abstracts).

Jody Bechtold, ICGC-II, BACC is a highly regarded gambling addiction expert working extensively across the globe with individuals, organizations, and associations. She is the CEO of The Better Institute, a group practice located in Pittsburgh. She is the co-author of The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and 2 chapters in the Social Work Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2021. She serves as the Vice President of the board for the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB). Jody holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and has certifications as a Board-Approved Clinical Consultant (BACC) and Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor Level II (ICGC-II) with the IGCCB. When Jody isn’t working, you can find her providing pet therapy with her dog, Hanna, and supporting her husband’s business, Pittsburgh Guitars. 

Michael Buzzelli is the Associate Director at Problem Gambling Network of Ohio. In addition to Problem Gambling specific trainings, Mike trains on mental health awareness, ethics and professional development. His professional interests include working with university students and policy makers, program development, implementation and evaluation and building interdisciplinary partnerships.    

Craig Carton is a co-host for afternoon show “Carton & Roberts” on WFAN 101.9 FM / 660 AM (WFAN-FM/AM) in New York. He also is the host of “Hello, My Name is Craig,” a new Saturday morning program on the station.  

Carton rejoined WFAN in November 2020 after previously serving as co-host of the station’s morning show “Boomer & Carton” from 2007 to 2017. Carton began his broadcasting career in 1991 with a brief tenure at WGR Radio in Buffalo, NY, before moving to WWWE in Cleveland in 1992, and later to Philadelphia’s Sports Radio 94WIP (then WIP-AM, now Entercom sister station) in 1993. Carton’s program soared in the ratings during his four-plus years at WIP, earning him a place on Philadelphia Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 list. He also served as a reporter covering the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1997,

Carton was heard nationally on 40 stations throughout the country as he hosted a syndicated sports talk show on the Sports Fan Network. He later joined KKFN-FM in Denver as morning show host, where in his first year his show became the highest rated show in KKFN’s history. His success continued for cross-town rival KBPI-FM, and within one ratings period had the highest rated local morning show in Denver. Following a stint at WNEW-FM (now Entercom sister station New 102.7 FM) in New York, Carton joined WKXW-FM to host “The Jersey Guys” afternoon show. 

Career accolades include: nominated and finalist for multiple Marconi Awards; multiple Cynopsis Sports Media Award winner; ranked as the second most important and influential sports talk show hosts in the country by Talkers Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Important and Influential Talk Show Hosts in the Country” multiple times; 9th most politically influential personality in New Jersey by PoliticsNJ.com (2007); and Radio and Records’ “Talk Show Host of The Year” nominee (2006). A strong advocate for children, Carton founded the TicTocStop Foundation, which donated hundreds of thousands of dollars towards research and the funding of a camp for children with Tourette syndrome.  

Jeffrey L. Derevensky, PhD is James McGill Professor and Director of Clinical Training in School/Applied Child Psychology and Professor, Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. He is a clinical consultant to numerous hospitals, school boards, government agencies and corporations. Dr. Derevensky has published widely in the field of gambling, adolescence, and developmental psychopathology. . Dr. Derevensky and his team have helped governments establish research priorities and have been instrumental in the development of responsible practices, the development of treatment centers, prevention programs and social policy recommendations. 

Brianne Doura-Schawohl serves as Vice President of US Policy and Strategic Development for EPIC Risk Management. She most recently served as Legislative Director for the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Her experience includes a decade of leadership in advocacy, public policy, government affairs, communications, and member relations. Doura-Schawohl’s experience spans a wide range of work with executive and legislative branch officials and private sector stakeholders at the international, federal, state, and local levels of government. She has a history of experience and achievements in United States Congressional legislative work, including a diverse portfolio of complex problem gambling policy issues. This continues to be invaluable in her ability to make a difference on behalf of people with gambling problems around the world. Doura-Schawohl works with Congress and many state legislatures to provide expert advice on gambling policy. She continues to work with stakeholders on both sides of the aisle in state legislatures across the country. Additionally, she has been featured in numerous local, state, national, and international media. In 2019 she was appointed as a member of the Digital Gaming Advisory Group for the State of Hawaii and served on numerous coalitions. In 2020 she was a guest faculty member for Seton Hall Law School at their Gaming Law, Compliance and Integrity Program. She continues to speak at many conferences and other public events on gaming policy in the United States and Europe. Prior to joining NCPG, Doura-Schawohl served as Director of Policy and Communications for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. She also worked as the Associate Director of Operations & Development at the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) in McLean, Virginia prior to joining the Massachusetts Council. Mrs. Doura-Schawohl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington. She resides in Fairfax, Virginia with her family. 

Don Feeney is a consultant on gambling policy and responsible gambling and past president of the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance, the Minnesota chapter of the National Council on Problem Gambling. He was co-founder of the Alliance and has served on its board since 2001. Feeney served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling from 2002 to 2016 and was president from 2011 to 2013. From 1991 to 2017, he served as Research and Planning Director at the Minnesota Lottery. His research interests include public opinion and gambling policy, public awareness of problem gambling, and gambling and popular culture. Feeney holds master’s degrees in public policy from Harvard and in statistics from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics from Brown University.

Tim Fong MD, is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and he is board certified in adult and addiction psychiatry. He is the Co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program.  The purpose of this program is to examine the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of gambling disorder in order to develop effective, evidence-based treatment strategies.  Dr. Fong is part of the Steering Committee of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative whose mission is to address the most pressing questions related to the impact of cannabis legalization through rigorous scientific study and discourse across disciplines. 

Lynne Goodwin MPA, is currently leads as the Administrator of the statewide California Friday Night Live Partnership, guiding youth development-based programs to success.  Lynne travels the country as a trainer and speaker, sharing her passion for community change through youth partnerships and empowerment, community organizing and policy development.  Lynne has a wide range of experience at the local, state and national levels.  Her experience ranges from local programming to her present work at the state and national level with a focus on youth development underage/binge drinking, policy, environmental prevention and youth traffic safety issues. 

Deborah Haskins, PhD, ICGC-II, BACC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor-II, BACC, and Clergy Lay ministers Problem Gambling and Spiritual Outreach credential. I am a retired Associate Professor in Counseling and Director of Counseling Programs at Trinity Washington University (DC) with over 25 years as a Counselor Educator. My expertise is in cultural community wellness, disordered gambling, and substance use disorders, sexual abuse trauma, pastoral counseling, grief and loss, and childhood adversity and trauma. I am the President of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling and we have the Faith Initiative Contract for the State of Maryland (Behavioral Health Administration). 

Jon Heller has been developing leaders of character at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as both an active-duty officer and later as a federal civil servant for over 20 years in the academic classroom, the military barracks, the service wide reaching leadership training command, and now as the Director of the Admiral James M. Loy Institute for Leadership responsible for systemically integrating the leadership development efforts across the academic, military and athletic programs.  He also taught Financial and Managerial Accounting at University of Connecticut Avery Point for 15 years.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the U.S.  Coast Guard Academy, an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, completed doctoral course work requirements for in management at the University of Rhode Island and educational leadership at Central Connecticut State University. He is a Partnership for Public Service Excellence in Government Senior Fellow, a certified college counselor and an International Coaching Federation accredited corporate coach.  

Stefanie Hui, MSCP, LADC is currently the Specialty Court Coordinator for Clark County’s Gambling Treatment Diversion Court. With over 10 years of experience in mental health and addiction Stefanie has been coordinating treatment courts for the past three years, also coordinating Clark County’s Juvenile Drug Treatment Court, selected as one of ten JDTCs in the country to create the guidelines for all JDTCs. Beyond treatment courts, Stefanie is in private community counseling, on various non-profit boards, and is the founding board member for a statewide advocacy association for mental health and addiction professionals. Stefanie is a Las Vegas native.

Roxann Jones has been in the field of prevention for more than 30 years and has over 10 years’ experience in Problem Gambling Prevention and management of Problem Gambling Services at the County and State level.

Patrick Kelly, PhD, has been teaching college students for the past 30 years. He is a Professor in the Department of Accountancy at Providence College, where he serves as the Director of the Ethics in Business Education Program. He served as Accountancy Department Chair for ten years and is also the former Chair of the Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association. He teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs and his courses include Accounting Ethics, Cost Accounting, and Government & Nonprofit Accounting. His research interests include accounting ethics, education, and public interest issues. 

Marc Lefkowitz, ICGC-II has been a certified gambling counselor for over 20 years. He worked for the California Council on Problem Gambling as lead trainer and facilitated 30-hour gambling certification trainings. He worked for the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, training and coordinating outreach for California’s gambling treatment programs. He was Program Director for an inpatient gambling treatment program and still develops gambling inpatient/outpatient programs. He currently is Director of Program Management for Kindbridge, a tele-therapy company treating problem gamblers and gamers. Marc has been in recovery for over 38 years and recently received the Jeff Beck Recovery award. 

Judge Cheryl Moss has served on the bench for over 19 years. In 2001, Judge Moss was the first judge to implement problem gambling assessments in domestic relations cases. In November 2018, Judge Moss became the first judge to preside over Nevada’s first Gambling Treatment Diversion Court (GTDC). In addition to her judicial duties, Judge Moss has volunteered her time to serve as a member of the Subcommittee on Legal Issues, created by the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling. Judge Moss graduated from the George Washington University, Washington DC, then attended the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University

Luis Del Orbe is a problem gambling prevention specialist for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ, Inc. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Organization Management, and a BA in Social Work; both from Rutgers University-Newark. He is a dual-language speaker who travels across New Jersey visiting schools and events bringing the message to educators, parents, and students about the consequences of illegal, and underage gambling. Luis specifically searches out to work with the Latino/Hispanic population to ensure that this community is well informed on the dangers and challenges problem gambling can possibly create within the family unit, and where information and help can be found.

Jessica Palma is a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) and the Problem Gambling Prevention Coordinator for Lincoln County Public Health; Jess Palma makes personal connections to build local problem gambling awareness. With a wide range of experience in her community and various roles in public health, she enjoys working to improve health and quality of life in her rural community. Providing community and agency updates, hosting classes and workgroups, and working with local coalitions are just some of the tools Palma uses to gain local support for prevention initiatives.

Declan Raines is responsible for the strategic planning of TransUnion’s US Gaming business. TransUnion has serviced the global gaming industry, including the well-established UK market, for over twelve years.

Now, TransUnion is bringing this global expertise to the US Gaming market offering KYC, fraud prevention & responsible gaming services to US operators. Prior to joining TransUnion, Declan spent eight years in the UK Gaming industry across risk & trading, compliance and product development functions.

Loreen Rugle, PhD, ICGC-II, BACC brings 30 + years of experience in the field of problem and responsible gambling including treatment, prevention, research and responsible gambling to her current positions. She has managed problem gambling programs within the Veterans Administration, in the private sector and within state systems. She has participated in research on brief screening for gambling problems, as well as a broad range of other problem gambling related research projects. She has provided consultation and training on gambling disorder throughout the United States, for the military and internationally. 

Sasha Stark, PhD is a Senior Researcher at the Responsible Gambling Council and RG+ in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Stark has more than a decade of gambling research experience in both academic and non-profit settings to guide her work. In her role, she conducts primary research initiatives as well as benchmarking, program and product design, and evaluation activities. Some of her recent projects focus on assessing the impacts of COVID-19 on online gambling behaviors and harm, re-envisioning youth gambling prevention, and exploring the implications of cannabis expansion.

Roger Trott is the Director for Problem and Responsible Gaming and Casino Licensing Coordinator the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission. He has extensive experience in public health education, program development, project management, legislation, regulations, and policy development. Prior to working for the Commission, Roger worked in the private and public sectors as a Clinical Director, Clinical Supervisor and Program Manager, where he designed and managed new clinical programs. In his current role Roger is executing best-practice public health focused problem and responsible gambling programs. Roger has a certification in supervision and management, and is an internationally certified substance abuse treatment counselor. He also holds B.Sc. degrees in Theology and Psychology, and a B.A. in Religion from Atlantic Union College. 

Rachel Volberg, PhD has been involved in research on gambling and problem gambling since 1985. She has directed or consulted on numerous studies around the world, published extensively, and advised governments and private sector organizations on issues related to gambling legalization, the epidemiology of problem gambling, and public policy approaches to developing and refining services for problem gamblers and their families. Dr. Volberg is currently the Principal Investigator on two major studies funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission: the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) study and the Massachusetts Gambling Impact Cohort (MAGIC) study. 

Ellen W. was born and raised in a close-knit, loving family “in the heights “ of Manhattan (NYC). She married her college sweetheart and eventually moved to a suburb of NYC in 1979, where they raised their daughter and son. Ellen taught high school and was also a stay at home Mom. Subsequently, she became an outside sales/marketing representative. She received an extensive education in the free market, selling advertising space, varied products, services and membership in a nonprofit lobby.

Ellen found strength she didn’t know she possessed when she became a young widow and a single parent. She learned that a sense of humor is an infinite blessing when dealing with hard times and an amazing gift for life in good times.

She has the utmost gratitude for her loving husband and family, wonderful friends and her cherished Gam-Anon fellowship. “Enjoy each day, take nothing for granted, keep laughing and always be grateful” are hers for her nuggets for a happy life. Ellen wishes to express her gratitude to NCPG for the opportunity to participate in this esteemed event.

Marlene Warner has been with the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health since 2001 and Executive Director since 2011. Marlene led the development and implementation of Responsible Gambling (RG) programs for Wynn, Penn National and MGM Casinos. She has worked with the Mass Gaming Council to launch Voluntary Self-Exclusion programs in the Commonwealth. She has initiated and delivered RG training for sales agents and retailers at US lotteries throughout North American State and Provincial Lotteries Association (NASPL). Marlene is a passionate expert & advocate for problem gambling (PG). She was the previous board president and current board member of the National Council on Problem Gambling. She is a chair of the regional NE PG organization and has delivered PG consulting services nationwide. Marlene often advises state lawmakers considering expansions of gaming legislation. She received her M.A. from the George Washington University and B.A. from Gettysburg College. She lives in Salem, MA with her husband and three children. 

Jamie Wiebe, PhD is an advocate for global public health, research and development and is most passionate about utilizing evidence-based policies to create impact. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from the Department of Medicine, Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and has more than 20 years of direct experience in gambling harm prevention, treatment and operationalization of player health programs. Throughout her leadership, Jamie has provided strategic direction and guidance in the design, analysis and interpretation of countless research projects to help the gambling industry understand ways to reduce potential harm to players. She is currently the Director of Player Health at BCLC, a Crown Corporation that conducts and manages gambling in the Province of British Columbia in Canada. In this role, she oversees the operation and continuous improvement of player health programs including research, the GameSense Advisor Program, Player Health Marketing and Product Assessments, Voluntary Self Exclusion program and policies, as well as the New Horizons Conference. Jamie’s portfolio of experience also includes several research positions at organizations across Canada, including the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Prior to her role at BCLC, Jamie was the Director of Advancement and Best Practices at the Responsible Gambling Council in Ontario.

Keith Whyte became the Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in October 1998.  Previously, he served as Director of Research for the American Gaming Association where Whyte was responsible for research and public policy issues, including problem gambling.  His prior experience includes the American Bar Association’s Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities where he dealt with policy issues relating to civil rights, human rights, healthcare, and immigration law. Whyte began his career working on healthcare policy in the office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Keith graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Certificate in International Relations.  He also studied at Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Patrick Willard is the Director of Policy and Advocacy for the National Council on Problem Gambling. He has worked for the last 15 years in health care advocacy supporting consumer health care funding and coverage on the state and federal levels. Prior to joining NCPG Willard was the Senior Director for State and National Strategic Partnerships, at Families USA, overseeing the organization’s work with state and national advocacy partners. He also directed its annual Health Action conference for state and national consumer health advocates. He provided training to grassroots organizations on advocacy and engagement strategies to address disparities in health care coverage.

Willard also worked for AARP in Tennessee and Washington, DC. He worked with the organization’s state offices in support of Medicaid expansion efforts and initiatives to assist family caregivers.
Willard also worked as counselor to Mayor Bill Purcell in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, he served on the Metro Nashville Social Services Commission. Willard holds degrees from Vanderbilt University and Columbia University in New York City.

Alyssa N. Wilson, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Southern California. Dr. Wilson has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on interdisciplinary approaches to gambling etiology, assessment, and treatment. She has delivered over fifty national and international presentations related to gambling assessment and treatment. Dr. Wilson serves as an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice and is an editorial board member for Journal of Contextual Behavior Science and Perspectives of Behavior Science. 

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