Webinar Series

Valerie Tebbetts has been in recovery from disordered gambling for over 14 years. She has been a trainer in the State of Connecticut and has presented at previous NCPG convention’s on “Mindfulness Based Recovery” and “Financial Issues and Problem Gambling”. She is an Internationally Certified Gambling Recovery Specialist and a Board Approved Recovery Advisor. Valerie worked as a Peer Counselor for the Bettor Choice treatment program for four years and is currently the Helpline, Training and Recovery Manager for the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.

Jaime Costello joined the National Council on Problem Gambling in April 2022 as Director of Programs where she leads NCPG’s national programs and serves as a national spokesperson for problem and responsible gambling, championing solutions that work. With nearly 20 years in addiction and public health, Jaime is passionate about harnessing partnerships, strategy, and evaluation to ensure programs achieve measurable outcomes and deliver lasting impact. Jaime earned her Master of Public Health from the University of New England and calls the Adirondack Park home, where she enjoys the balance of meaningful work and life surrounded by nature and family.

T Schweimler is a Research Manager at Omni Institute, providing project leadership, data visualization, and evaluation support. T has established expertise in supporting problem and responsible gambling projects across numerous states and leads efforts supporting NCPG in managing national helpline data. Their background in community organizing and public health has developed a passion for equitable evaluation practices and a dedication to uplifting the voices of all communities through data. Born and raised in Germany, they currently live in Ann Arbor, MI, with their partner, dog, and two cats. T enjoys rowing with their local rowing club during their free time.

Kim is President of Parents Standing Together and a high school science educator. After discovering that her son experienced gambling-related harm beginning at age 11, she committed to learning about gambling disorder and how it impacts families. In 2025, Kim organized a small support group for parents that grew into Parents Standing Together, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about youth gambling and supporting affected families. She has completed coursework toward the International Gambling Recovery Specialist certification and is currently accruing hours toward full certification. She is committed to education, connection, and prevention to protect young people.

Jo Sanchez joined the National Council on Problem Gambling in July 2023 and serves as Grants and Development Manager. In this role, she oversees the Agility Grants Program and manages NCPG’s conference scholarships, volunteer initiatives, and development efforts. Jo brings more than a decade of experience in corporate philanthropy, along with a background in nonprofit grant-writing and fundraising. Having worked on both sides of the funding process—as a grant seeker and a grant maker—she brings a practical, real-world perspective to the grant application process. She especially enjoys supporting organizations as they design, apply for, and implement community-level prevention programs.

Mackenzie Slade is the Chief Executive Officer of Gaming Public Policy Consulting (GPPC). A public health expert and trained implementation scientist, Ms. Slade specializes in markets with addictive risk potential, including gaming, cannabis, and psychedelic markets. Her work focuses on translating original research into practice; identifying opportunities for program improvement, designing and testing policy and program interventions, and evaluating outcomes through applied methodologies.