The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the results of its 2019 Board of Directors election. Returning to the board of the advocacy organization for people affected by problem gambling and gambling addiction for a second term are Carolyn Hawley of Virginia (Affiliates Seat) and Chelsea Turner of Connecticut (Organizations Seat).
Executive Director Keith Whyte commented: “NCPG extends gratitude to the board members stepping down while building excitement about weaving in new perspectives on the board to work on raising awareness of problem gambling by leveraging resources and building relationships. Collectively, both the newly elected and re-elected board members bring an abundance of knowledge, ideas, and expertise to NCPG.”
Hawley currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University with over a decade of experience in counseling, training, research, and education. She is an active advocate for people and families affected by problem gambling, while expanding education, treatment, and research resources.
Turner is the Vice President at CT Lottery Corporation (CLC) with extensive experience in government affairs, corporate responsibility, and advocacy. She works to support the mission of NCPG by securing stable funding sources, creating informational resources, and growing stakeholder networks.
New to the Board are Jeffrey Wasserman of Delaware (Affiliates Seat); Julie Hynes of Massachusetts (Affiliates Seat); and Jody Bechtold of Pennsylvania (Individuals Seat).
Wasserman currently works as the Judicial Outreach and Development Director of Delaware Council on Gambling Problems (DCGP), while also being a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and an International Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC-I).
Hynes is the Director of Responsible Gambling at the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, with previous experience in problem gambling prevention in Oregon and as a frequent speaker on the topic all over the United States.
Bechtold is both a clinician and business owner with deep clinical experience, as well as extensive knowledge of technology. In the Individuals Seat, she will carry over her success from the NCPG Membership Committee, where she served for two years, by focusing on raising awareness about online gambling through creative communications.
NCPG also offered thanks to the departing board members: Marlene Warner of Massachusetts, Steve Crosby of Massachusetts, and Roger Olsen of Alabama. “All their efforts contributed positively to NCPG and each will be missed,” said a statement.
