Training Library

Liz Lanza is the Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling. As Director, Liz administers the state’s Self-Exclusion Programs, oversees casino and iGaming licensees’ Compulsive and Problem Gambling Plans, develops responsible gambling regulations and collaborates with state, national, and international agencies and organizations on gambling disorder prevention, education, awareness and outreach. Liz is the Chair of the NCPG Membership Committee.

Derek Longmeier is the Executive Director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio. He serves as Treasurer on the National Council on Problem Gambling Board of Directors, Chair of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Affiliate Committee. Derek is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant. He obtained an MBA from Ohio Dominican University and a BA in Psychology from The Ohio State University.

Matthew Courser is a Senior Research Scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE). He is an evaluator and research methodologist who works in the areas of substance use prevention, treatment, and community systems development. He has supported and evaluated state-level and community-level problem gambling prevention and treatment initiatives in Ohio since 2015. Dr. Courser specializes in working with Appalachian and rural communities to build community capacity and to address the social determinants of health. His work has been funded by NIH, SAMHSA, HRSA, and ACF.

Cait Huble originally served as NCPG’s first Communications Manager from 2017 to 2019 and returned in December 2021 as Director of Communications. In this role she is responsible for leading communications strategy, including public awareness and education, media relations, and brand partnerships.

Caitlyn Matykiewicz is a Community Health Educator with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. She is involved with several grant-funded projects for capacity building and outreach activities, including supporting Massachusetts addiction treatment providers to increase their capacity to provide problem gambling treatment. Mrs. Matykiewicz conducts in-person and multimedia trainings for health providers and community groups and manages various education and outreach activities, including the Division’s Gambling Disorder Screening Day.

Kira Landauer is a Community Health Educator with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. She is involved with grant-funded projects for capacity building and outreach activities, including supporting Massachusetts addiction treatment providers to increase their capacity to provide problem gambling treatment. Ms. Landauer conducts in-person and multimedia trainings for health providers and community groups and manages various education and outreach activities, including overseeing the Division’s Gambling Disorder Screening Day.

Haley Brown is a Certified Prevention Specialist and the Primary Prevention Services Coordinator for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Problem Gambling Services. She is certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Suffolk University’s Center for Continuing and Professional Education. Haley is the former President of the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals and the former Project Director of the Wolcott Citizens Against Substance Abuse (CASA) Drug-Free Communities Coalition. She has been working in the prevention field since 2011.

Ms. Vanessa Fernandez is Treatment Director and Vice President of the Clinical & Forensic Institute, Inc. (CFI), with offices in Broward and West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and an ICGC-II providing therapeutic services in both English and Spanish. She has over 15 years’ experience working with diverse populations including those suffering from Gambling Disorder, substance use disorders, paraphilic disorders and severe and persistent mental illness. She serves as Co-Chair of NCPG’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee.

Carolene Layugan is the Director of Responsible Gaming at Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and has been with the company since January 2000. Carolene helps administer RG strategy and oversees training on its RG Program. Caroline currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the NCPG and is a board member with the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. Caroline served as a board member with Caesars Entertainment’s HERO Volunteer Committee, the Nevada Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, and the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce. She is active in local and national AAPI organizations.

Jonathan Crandall is the Veteran Outreach Coordinator for the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG). He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Keuka College, is a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate (CRPA), certified in Veteran-Supported Recovery (VSR), co-chair of the military committee for the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), and a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Amanda Quintana is the Program Manager at the National Council on Problem Gambling, where she is responsible for sustaining and strengthening NCPG’s programs and provides leadership and expertise in problem gambling prevention, education, responsible gambling, treatment, research, and recovery. Prior to her current position, Amanda managed a regional network of licensed mental health professionals, ensuring individuals and families impacted by problem gambling received the necessary treatment and support. She has a rich background in community-based addiction services and recently graduated from the esteemed Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a Master’s degree in Population Health Management.

Sarah Ramanauskas works with regulators, gambling operators, lottery operators and NGOs worldwide, helping to enhance and improve player protection and reduce gambling harm. In particular, she is the assessor for NCPG’s iCAP certification. She also provides pro bono support to charities and social enterprises which aim to reduce gambling addiction and its associated harms. She is a frequent speaker and judge for responsible gambling events and awards. She holds a Masters in English Literature from Oxford University.

Currently in his 25th year at NASPL, Andrew White has served as the VP Operations since 2013. In this role, he works closely with the Executive Director to ensure the association continues to be innovative, stays true to its mission, and serves the lottery industry. White’s current focus includes CSR, RG, Standards, and Best Practices. Other areas of work include Membership Services, Electronic Media and A/V Production, Government Relations, Event Planning, and Tradeshows. White is a graduate of Edinboro University.

Keesha Garrett is the Corporate Responsibility Director at the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery with over 20 years dedicated to public service. Prior to joining the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery in April 2022, Keesha was a Civil Rights Manager with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, responsible for protecting the civil rights of Michigan residents. As the Corporate Responsibility Director of the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery, Keesha oversees Michigan Lottery’s responsible gaming program, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, and ADA compliance.

Matt Smith is Head of External Affairs for Betknowmore UK. The charity is part of the National Gambling Support Network and runs peer support services, women’s only programmes, community outreach work across the UK as well as preventative training and consultancy for the industry through its global arm. Matt amongst other members of the team has lived experience of gambling harm with over 8 years in sustained recovery. His background is in the media industry where he spent well over a decade.

With a background in academia, Liz leads on Betknowmore UK’s research activities, conducting applied research that helps shape the charity’s support services, as well as partnering with a wide range of universities and other organisations on diverse research projects that improve our understanding of gambling harms.

Anna Niemczewka is the Director of Operations at Betknowmore UK, a UK charity dedicated to tackling gambling harms by building on the expertise of those with lived experience. Anna works to make sure that the operational barriers in creating services built on lived experience – administrative, technological, organisational and personal – are removed. She’s excited to share how Betknowmore UK does this and to learn from others how they work to ensure this!

Ben worked in the gambling industry in the UK for over 15 years before joining Betknowmore to head up the Safer Gambling Training program. Using his industry knowledge and experience he helped to develop the program that has since grown across globally. Ben is now the Director of Commercial Affairs, overseeing all commercial programs within Betknowmore Global.

Christina has over 30 years’ experience leading teams across all aspects of the global betting and gambling industry holding senior roles with some of world’s leading brands. She is currently Principal Consultant at 1710 Gaming Ltd working with start-ups, investors, established operators, regulators, law enforcement and industry groups and associations across the world, advising on all aspects of betting, gaming and gambling, and continues to serve as a practicing Compliance Officer and trainer with particular focus on Responsible Gambling and AML.

Michelle Malkin, JD, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at East Carolina University. Dr. Malkin’s research interests focus on problem gambling, gambling-motivated crime, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the carceral system. In 2018, she received a research fellowship for her work on women and gambling-motivated crime from the Center for Gaming Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her dissertation on the Problem Gambling, General Strain Theory and Gender received the 2022 Dr. Durand Jacobs Dissertation Award from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Cole Wogoman joined NCPG in November 2021. He focuses on advocating for NCPG’s legislative agenda of problem gambling and responsible gambling policies to both the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch. Cole also works with NCPG’s Board of Directors, state affiliates, and members on proposed state and local legislation and regulations across the country. Cole is a licensed attorney in the District of Columbia. Previously, he served as legislative counsel for D.C. Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, advising her on a wide range of issues, including sports gambling, transportation, and agency oversight. Before his time in public service, Cole worked as an associate for the law firm of Willkie Farr and Gallagher. He holds a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a BA in Political Science with a minor in Business Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

Dorothy Chaney a Master Trainer with CADCA and is also the Founder of Impact Community Planning Group, an organization committed to supporting coalitions, agencies and individuals to improve the health of their communities and the environments in which they live. Dorothy is committed to equity in community health and works with communities both nationally and internationally to address health disparities and support the development of local solutions to complex problems. For more than 20 years, Dorothy has worked with community-based coalitions to improve community health.

Kelly Leppard is a Certified Prevention Specialist and the Primary Prevention Services Coordinator for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Problem Gambling Services Division.  Kelly has been working in the prevention field on the local and state level since 2008.  Kelly was formally a Prevention Coordinator for a Drug-Free Communities Coalition and is a Past-President of the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals.  She has a BA from Western New England University and is graduating this May with a MPA from the University of Connecticut.

James P. Whelan, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Memphis and Director of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. Within The Institute he has overseen the both the research lab and the treatment clinic for over 20 years. Presently, he is the principle architect of The Institute’s initiative to develop a research center responsible for all individuals living in the state of Tennessee – a project funded by Tennessee’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. His research spans prevention, assessment, and treatment of gambling related harms.

Dr. Daniel King is an Associate Professor and clinical psychologist in the College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University. His expertise is the study of digital technology-based problems, with a focus on online gaming, simulated gambling, and social media. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, including the first scholarly book on gaming disorder, and received funding from the Australian Research Council to study maladaptive gaming. He has provided consultation on gaming and gambling for national and international authorities, including the World Health Organization, and is an Associate Editor for Addiction and Journal of Behavioral Addictions.

Annie Peters is Director of Research and Education at the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). She is Executive Director of the NAATP Foundation for Recovery Science and Education, leading the national FoRSE Addiction Treatment Outcomes Program to further understand substance use disorders through collaborative quality improvement and research. Dr. Peters is a clinical psychologist who has been working in the field since 2006, with experience in assessment, psychotherapy, process improvement, compliance, counselor education, and clinical leadership.

Zina Rodriguez is a social worker, certified addiction professional, and certified diversity executive whose mission is to collaborate with organizations with creating inviting, intentional, and inclusive healing spaces for individuals to achieve mental wellness while creating pathways for success for individuals from underrepresented communities. She is passionate about bringing awareness to the vast disparity in mental health and substance use treatment services for BIPOC and LBGTQ+ communities and the need to address how racial and identity trauma impacts individuals and communities.

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.

Fiorigio (Fred) Fetta, has provided clinical oversight for the treatment and integration programs for Problem Gambling Services with the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) in Connecticut since 2014. Prior to his work with DMHAS, he provided treatment for individuals impacted by gambling disorder and affected loved ones in the roles of supervisor and clinician of a Bettor Choice Gambling Treatment Program. Fred is the chair of the National Council on Problem Gambling’s Treatment Committee.

Tana Russell became Assistant Director at Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling in 2019. She holds certifications as a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP), Washington State Certified Gambling Counselor II (WSCGC-II), Nationally Certified Tobacco Treatment Provider (NCTTP), Certified Gambling Disorder Trainer (CGT), and completed extensive training on video/internet gaming disorder. She serves on the NCPG treatment subcommittee and is a member of the Washington State Gambling Counselor Certification Committee and was a part of the Washington State Problem Gambling Task Force.

Curtis Dorsey is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Curtis is a counseling educator, with 20 yrs. in clinical and instructional counseling experience and is a Certified Clinical Supervisor, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor, Board Approved Clinical Consultant, Substance Abuse Professional/Dept. of Transportation, and Medically Assisted Treatment Specialist. Curtis provides clinical supervision for initial and re-certifications.

Lori Rugle, Ph.D. has worked in the field of problem gambling treatment and research since 1984. Her career has included the treatment of problem gamblers and their families in both public and private inpatient, residential and outpatient programs. She has provided consultation for state funded problem gambling programs throughout the US and internationally. Her research has included treatment outcome, attention deficits among pathological gamblers, neuroimaging and pharmacotherapy with problem gamblers, coping skills among homeless problem gamblers and PTSD among pathological gamblers. Currently, Dr. Rugle is Director of Problem Gambling Services (PGS) with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the State of Connecticut.

Dr. Rachel Volberg is a sociologist by training and has been involved in research on gambling and problem gambling since 1985. She has directed or consulted on numerous studies internationally, published extensively, and advised governments and private sector organizations on issues relating to gambling legalization, the epidemiology of problem gambling and public policy approaches to developing and refining services for problem gamblers and their families. In addition to her independent consulting company, Dr. Volberg is currently a Research Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on the faculty of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. In this position, she is the Principal Investigator on two major studies funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission: the ongoing Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) study and the completed Massachusetts Gambling Impact Cohort (MAGIC) study.

Julia Brunson joined the National Council on Problem Gambling in May 2022 as a Communications Administrator. In this position, she assists in the development of multi-channel content, manages social media accounts and helps execute communications strategy across all NCPG digital channels.

Caitlyn Matykiewicz is a Community Health Educator with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. She is involved with several grant-funded projects for capacity building and outreach activities, including supporting Massachusetts addiction treatment providers to increase their capacity to provide problem gambling treatment. Mrs. Matykiewicz conducts in-person and multimedia trainings for health providers and community groups and manages various education and outreach activities, including the Division’s Gambling Disorder Screening Day.

Kira Landauer is a Community Health Educator with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. She is involved with grant-funded projects for capacity building and outreach activities, including supporting Massachusetts addiction treatment providers to increase their capacity to provide problem gambling treatment. Ms. Landauer conducts in-person and multimedia trainings for health providers and community groups and manages various education and outreach activities, including overseeing the Division’s Gambling Disorder Screening Day.

Matthew Courser is a Senior Research Scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE). He is an evaluator and research methodologist who works in the areas of substance use prevention, treatment, and community systems development. He has supported and evaluated state-level and community-level problem gambling prevention and treatment initiatives in Ohio since 2015. Dr. Courser specializes in working with Appalachian and rural communities to build community capacity and to address the social determinants of health. His work has been funded by NIH, SAMHSA, HRSA, and ACF.

Tessa Miracle earned her PhD from the University of Cincinnati in Health Education. She has focused her professional efforts on decreasing substance misuse by supporting community-based intervention, and evaluation. She has served as coordinator and evaluator of statewide initiatives across Ohio to develop statewide and community capacity for the implementation of evidence-based strategies. Through these efforts she facilitated research to improve statewide systems and community health.

Keith Whyte became the Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in October 1998. NCPG is the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. NCPG was founded in 1972 and is the oldest and most objective organization on gambling issues.

Previously, Mr. Whyte served as Director of Research for the American Gaming Association where he 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. He 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.

Phil Sherwood brings 21 years of experience directing advocacy, government relations, and communication programs across New England. He has led more than 75 advocacy, electoral, public health, and responsible and problem gambling communication campaigns throughout the region. Additionally, Phil has extensive experience managing and directing fundraising efforts for non-profits, issue advocacy, and membership-based organizations. As Director of Communications & Marketing with the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, Phil manages the public relations and communications efforts and recently led the organization through a major rebranding process.