Individuals- Marc Lefkowitz

Candidate’s Name
Marc Lefkowitz

Candidate’s NCPG Membership Group
Individuals

Candidate’s Address (State)
AZ

Nominated by
Self

What is your Interest in serving on the Board? What skills can you bring to the Board?
My interest on serving on the Board is to represent the Recovery and Treatment communities. I’ve been an NCPG member for over 15 years and have facilitated workshops in most of those years. For the past 2 years I have been the chairperson of the NCPG Recovery Committee. I have directed and created inpatient/outpatient gambling programs, and have trained hundreds of therapists and counselors for the past 20 years in helping problem gamblers and affected Individuals. I served on the California Council’s Board of Directors for 25 years, mostly in an Executive position. In conjunction with the California Council I have trained over 100,000 casino employees and created responsible gambling content. Personally I have over 37 years of recovery and am an active member of the 12-Step community. I consult and represent problem gambling technology entities. My intention is to represent the Recovery and Treatment communities while working in harmony with the other stakeholders.

What is your vision for NCPG, and what goals do you have for the organization?
My vision for NCPG is continue to bring the stakeholders together to use both new technologies and standard practices to help problem gamblers and affected individuals through prevention, education and treatment. My goals are to expand access to multiple treatment strategies, continue to keep the recovery community in the conversation, encourage new technology, and expand responsible gaming messages.

What relevant leadership and/or committee roles have you held in NCPG, state Affiliate or related organizations?
I was on the California Council’ Board of Directors and received a 25 year service award. For the California Council I served as Secretary, Executive Vice President and Acting Executive Director. I’ve been Chairperson of the NCPG Recovery Committee for the past two years continuing the work of Jeff Beck. While working for the UCLA Gambling Studies Program I was outreach coordinator for California’s free treatment programs. I was Chairman of the International Board of Directors of gambling’s 12-Step Program and served many years on the Board, as well as a National Trustee.

What ideas and experience do you have that can help NCPG grow its membership and fundraising?
I have many connections in the 12-Step Community and treatment industry and always encourage all to become a member of the NCPG. In gambling’s 12-Step Program I started a semi-annual fund raiser (walk-a-thon) that has raised over a hundred thousand dollars to date. One idea to bring on new membership would be to create a “tell-a-friend” campaign to have current NCPG members recruit new candidates.

Do you have any personal or professional conflicts that would prevent you from engaging fully in advocacy or fundraising? If so, please describe them.
No

How long have you been a member of NCPG and what led you to join initially?
I went to my first NCPG Conference over 15 years ago at the Biltmore Hotel in Arizona as a representative for the California Council on Problem Gambling. I’ve been a member since. At the Conference I realized I can do a lot more on the national public level than with the constraints of anonymity in the 12-Step community. I remember at that Conference meeting Keith Whyte for the first time and asking him, “How can I help?”

Biographical Statement
Marc Lefkowitz ICGC-II has been a certified gambling counselor for over 20 years. He spent over 15 years working for the California Council on Problem Gambling as their lead trainer, facilitating 30-hour gambling certification training as well as presentations on other problem gambling subjects. Marc worked for the UCLA Gambling Studies Program and was part of a team training therapists to treat problem gamblers and their families. He also helped in developing a state-funded gambling inpatient treatment program and an intensive outpatient treatment program. He taught as an adjunct instructor in 2 community colleges teaching the required materials for gambling counselor certification. Marc was Program Director for one of the few dedicated inpatient gambling treatment in Prescott, Arizona and continues to work and consult in inpatient/outpatient programs. Marc has extensive knowledge in responsible gaming, creating and facilitating training programs in over 50 casinos, and has trained over 100,000 casino employees. Marc is a national speaker facilitating problem gambling trainings and workshops on topics including financial recovery, treatment, Gamblers Anonymous, technology and responsible gaming. In 2012, Marc received California’s Lifetime Achievement Award for working with problem gamblers and their families. He is a recovering gambler with over 37 years of recovery.