Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT 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 (2021) and 2 chapters in the Social Workers Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2022. She serves as an Advisor to several startup and non-profits organizations including GamFin, Birches Health, and Seagulls Flock in the Philippines. She also serves as an Emeritus board member 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 several certifications with the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, CGT).

 When Jody isn’t working, you can find her providing pet therapy with her dog, Hanna, and supporting her husband’s business, Pittsburgh Guitars. Please email jody@betterinstitute.com or visit www.BetterInstitute.com to contact Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT.

Alyssa N. Wilson, PhD., BCBA-D, LBA is an Associate Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fresno. She received her Ph.D in Rehabilitation with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) and is a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Missouri and Nevada. She is the co-author of The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and chapter in the Social Work Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling Disorders. She is also the co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Gambling Disorders, a guide for clinicians. Dr. Wilson has delivered over fifty national and international presentations related to gambling assessment and treatment, and her research has been showcased on Netflix’s Bill Nye Saves the World.  When she is not working, you can find her spending time with family, painting, or cooking a vegetarian friendly meal.

Robin Witt is the director of relationship dynamics at The Better Institute.  She believes relationship improvements lead to family system improvements.  She is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Pennsylvania and is a certified alcohol and abuse counselor as well as a level 1 internationally certified gambling counselor. 

Christina Cook is a passionate advocate for recovery from disordered gambling, drawing from her own journey of challenges and resilience. With personal experience as her foundation, she now dedicates her time to helping others navigate the challenges of gambling harm using storytelling through her podcast and offering a safe and supportive space for women to connect and work together to overcome gambling harms. Her mission is to empower women to reclaim their lives and build a future they don’t want to escape from.

 Christina currently sits on the boards of:

-       Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (LEAP) Board - Member

-       International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) - Secretary

Matt Missar, LSW, ICGC-I, IGDC, is a licensed social worker with The Better Institute and a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work. Matt holds a Master of Social Work degree with a focus in Direct Practice and certificate in Mental Health. Matt has certification as an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor Level I (ICGC-I) and has also obtained his International Gaming Disorder Certificate (IGDC). In his clinical practice Matt works with individuals with various mental health concerns, including but not limited to problematic gambling and gaming. Much of Matt’s recent clinical work and research has focused on the convergence of gambling and gaming.

Deirdre Querney, BA/BSW, MSW, is a Registered Social Worker who has provided outpatient addiction treatment services for the past 23 years at the City of Hamilton’s Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Services. Her clinical experience includes individual counselling, group work and couples/family counselling. Deirdre is certified by the Canadian Problem Gambling Certification Board (CPGCB) and the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF). Since 2003, Deirdre has also been a part-time instructor with McMaster University’s Professional Addiction Studies Program.  She has conducted workshops on a variety of topics including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), problem gambling, relapse prevention and assessment/treatment of addictive behaviour. Deirdre’s research interests, conference talks and publications focus on addiction knowledge translation, the ethical integration of spirituality into addiction treatment and motherhood and addiction.

Iris Balodis, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University and Associate Director of the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research. Her research focuses on motivational processes influencing maladaptive decision-making, including gambling disorder. Iris is a founding member of OGRS (The Ontario Gambling Research Society). She is affiliated with the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and a core instructor on the Science of Cannabis courses.

Bill Johnson has worked in the addiction treatment and prevention field for over 45 years. His experience has spanned the continuum of care, from detox to residential services. He has served on several boards over the years, to many to mention in this short bio. He was certified as an addiction professional for over 34 years, receiving his first credential in 1978 in Illinois.

He has served as the Executive Director of a large rural treatment program for over 10 years. He then served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA) for 17 years. After leaving that position in 2011 he has established a consultant business. He served as the Executive Director for the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG).

He has provided training across the United States and served as an advocate for those wishing pursue addiction credentialing internationally. He was part of an international group that provided credentialing in Nepal. He continues to support excellence in training and education of those wishing to enter the addiction treatment profession.

He is most proud of the fact that he has over 46 years of continuous recovery from addiction. What that means is that he has not used any alcohol or illicit drugs during that time

Brianne Doura-Schawohl is founder and CEO of Doura-Schawohl Consulting LLC, a boutique global government relations firm that specializes in problem and responsible gambling policy. She most recently served as Vice President of US Policy and Strategic Development for EPIC Risk Management, a global harm prevention consultancy, conducting work in over 24 countries. Prior to her role at EPIC, Brianne served as Legislative Director for the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Her experience includes over a decade of leadership in advocacy, public policy, government affairs, and communications.

Doura-Schawohl’s practice 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 achievements in State and 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 numerous state legislatures and regulators to provide expert advice on gambling policy. She continues to work with stakeholders on both sides of the aisle. Additionally, she has been featured in international, national, state, and local media, including ABC News, Bloomberg, CBS, CNBC, Forbes, ESPN, The Athletic, The Financial Times, The New York Times, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, CBC and others. 

Brianne was named one of the top lobbyists in 2023 and 2022 by ‘The Hill’, named one of the top 100 lobbyists in 2022 and 2021 by the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics (NILE), was featured as one of the 25 People to Watch in 2022 by Global Gaming Business, an honoree of the 2023 class of 40 under 40 Emerging Leaders in Gaming, is an honoree of the 2023-2024 ‘10 Women Rising in Gaming’ by Global Gaming Women and CDC Gaming Reports and named one of the top 10 most influential women in gaming in 2023 by iGB. In 2019 she was appointed as a member of the Digital Gaming Advisory Group for the State of Hawaii and continues to serve on various coalitions. 

In 2020 and 2021 she was a guest faculty member for Seton Hall Law School at their Gaming Law, Compliance, and Integrity Program and continues to be a guest lecturer for the University of Minnesota, Global Institute for Responsible Sport Organizations, and at Bradley University. Doura-Schawohl presents at conferences and other public events on gaming policy across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. 

Doura-Schawohl serves on the Board of Directors for Kindbridge Behavioral Health and is a member of the leadership team of the NILE Next Gen Executives committee, a group committed to advancing educational & networking opportunities for the next generation of leaders within the government relations profession. She is a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling military affairs committee.

Mrs. Doura-Schawohl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington. She is a proud military spouse and resides in Fairfax, Virginia with her family.

Dr. Kasra Ghaharian completed his Ph.D. and M.S. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. He is currently Director of Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute. Ghaharian's research centers around data science applications in the gambling industry. His most recent work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and gambling, which seeks to understand the ethical issues and risks associated with this emerging technology.

Jim Wilkerson is the Administrator of Gambling Initiative Programs for the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR).  Jim is responsible for the development of gambling disorder awareness programming, research, provider training, and recovery services in Illinois.  Jim holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois.  He is an Adjunct-Professor teaching at Millikin University, a 2021 Operational Research Society Griffiths Medal winner, and an Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI) Scholar.  

Kellie Gage, M.S., CAADC is the Program Manager for Statewide Gambling Disorder Treatment Services at the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) where she began her career in state government, as the Gambling Initiative Specialist in August 2001. 

In her current role she participates in oversight on the development and implementation of statewide treatment and outreach services, statewide gambling training, public awareness and helpline services for individuals in need of treatment and resources related to gambling disorder. Kellie has served in the substance use field for the past 32 years as a clinician, program manager and trainer. She is credentialed as a Certified Advanced AODA Counselor (CAADC) through the Illinois Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. 

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is an international speaker and consultant in behavioral health whose presentations have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies and Guam. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards including the prestigious NAADAC Enlightenment Award. He was one of three finalists for the National Association for Addiction Professionals 50th Anniversary Legends Award. Mark is also the recipient of the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award, The Illinois Certification Board, Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award and The Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago alumni.

Mark is the author of five books on behavioral health recovery. Recent writings include: Slipping Through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies For Clients With Multiple Addictions Disorders and Relationship Detox: A Counselors Guide To Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships In Recovery. He was lead writer on a trauma informed gun violence prevention curriculum which is being implemented in several large cities in the United States. His groundbreaking monograph Recovery Management co-authored with historians William White and Earnest Kurtz helped shift addictions treatment and recovery from the acute care model solely towards a Recovery Oriented System of Care. Mark has had two stories published in the New York Times bestselling book series, Chicken Soup for The Soul.

Mark has also had a 30 year career as a university educator having taught at The University of Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago and Illinois State University School's of Social Work. He is co-founder of Serenity Academy Chicago, a program which sponsors recovery-oriented peer groups in local high schools.

Dr. Serena King received her M.A and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minnesota and is a Licensed Psychologist. She is Full Professor of Psychology at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She publishes widely in addiction, mental health, and gambling. Her published work has appeared in journals such as Addiction, Public Health, International Gambling Studies, Journal of Gambling Studies, and Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.  She has an active research and clinical agenda with a variety of collaborations in the areas of gambling, gaming disorder, and substance use. Dr. King was the recipient of an early career research grant from the International Center for Responsible Gaming and has served as a consultant for grants from the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling.  Dr. King has led several community-level and large-scale research studies on problem gambling, and developed prevention and outreach programs in the Southeast Asian Refugee community of Minnesota. She conducts trainings for individuals, agencies, and treatment centers.  Dr. King developed the first formal collaboration between the Hazelden-Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies and an undergraduate psychology program and cares deeply about training the next generation of addiction and mental health professionals.  She develops psychoeducational materials for community leaders and health care professionals in the areas of addiction, mental health, and problem gambling.

Dr. Haskins is a retired Counselor Educator (25 years) and received her Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College, Maryland. Dr. Haskins is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor- II, Board Approved Clinical Consultant, Master Addictions Counselor, and IGCCB Certified Gambling Trainer.  She is President Emerita of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling and is a recognized leader for over 30 years in disordered gambling and over 35 years in cultural humility, health equity, and community wellness.  She received the 2021 National Council on Problem Gambling Monsignor Joseph Dunne Lifetime Achievement Award for Advocacy.

Malik Keene is an addiction recovery coach, sobriety life coach, and certified peer recovery specialist. He has been clean from alcohol and drugs since September 2021, abstinent from gambling since March 2022, and overcame a nicotine addiction/smoking cigarettes in October 2023. Malik is also the successful owner of K&M Delivery/Moving Inc. (www.KMmovinginc.com), a business he has operated since 2001.

In 2021, during his time in rehab, Malik discovered his true passion and God-given purpose: to help others who are struggling with addiction or have relapsed. His mission is to guide individuals who desire to stop their addictive behaviors and begin their recovery journey.

In just over three years of recovery, Malik has already impacted over 100 peers in active addiction. He provides resources, serves as a mentor, leads support groups, and coaches individuals. Malik is committed to helping people during their most vulnerable times. His lived experience enables him to show compassion for individuals going through challenging situations and assist them with customized recovery plans.

Malik has volunteered with Tree of Hope Organization and has worked full-time with Maryland Treatment Centers and the Stop Triage Engage Educate Rehabilitate (STEER) Program in Montgomery County, Maryland. He currently serves as a Peer Recovery Specialist for the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health and works with the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) program.

Malik has shared his story on various platforms, including rehab facilities, shelters, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, and Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings. MOSAIC Consulting and Counseling Services has featured his recovery story, and his testimony of overcoming gambling has been shared in Africa, inspiring and also helping many compulsive gamblers throughout the U.S.

Malik recently launched Amazing Grace Recovery, LLC, and plans to help thousands break free from the chains of addiction with his signature step-by-step method. He is also the author of “Overcoming Addiction Through G.R.A.C.E., An Inspirational Guide and a Path to Sustained Recovery, which he recently wrote to help those struggling with addiction break free from the chains of bondage.

To learn more or contact Malik about his coaching program, visit www.MalikKeene.com.

Pastor Annette Barker serves alongside her husband as senior pastor of Christian Unity Church in Bellwood, Illinois. They are blessed with three sons and one granddaughter. A proud alumna of School District 89, Pastor Annette attended Irving Elementary School and Proviso East High School.

As a devoted Maywood resident and community advocate, Pastor Annette is dedicated to serving her community and redefining the role of a compassionate, strong woman of faith. Her messages of love, hope, and strength aim to build character, spread joy, and bridge cultural and community divides.

Pastor Annette is passionate about empowering youth. As CEO of Girls and Boys Succeed Mentoring Academy and leader of Christian Unity Children's Church Club, she helps youth build self-esteem and discover their gifts and talents. She also mentors young mothers and guides youth toward moral and spiritual growth through Strengthening Proviso Youth My Mentors Organization.

A published author and motivational speaker, Pastor Annette’s viral messages have inspired countless lives. She founded the Woman Arise Empowerment movement, celebrating women's achievements and encouraging them to break barriers and rise to their full potential.

As founder and lead ambassador of The King Daughters Ministry, Pastor Annette has awarded over $40,000 in educational and hardship scholarships through the Katherine Dugan Scholarship Fund. She serves on several boards, including:

• School District 89 Educational Foundation (Board Member)
• Proviso Township Ministers Alliance Network (PTMAN) (Director of Communications)
• Pink Diva & Gents Breast Cancer Awareness (Chaplain)

Pastor Annette’s educational background includes certifications from:

• Illinois State University
• Triton Jr. College
• Chicago Baptist Institute
• American Integrity Christian Chaplain Association
• Certified Life Coach Institute

Her motto is: "Always give your best because your best makes better." Pastor Annette believes the formula for life is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Her extensive community service and leadership have earned her a reputation as a compassionate, driven, and inspiring force for positive change.

Becca Vykydal is the Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist at Allwyn North America and she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Illinois Lottery’s responsible gaming program. Becca is passionate about corporate social responsibility and promoting a safer and responsible gaming environment for Lottery players.

Dr. Antonello Bonci is currently the President and Founder of GIA Healthcare, and Founder and Scientific Director of Brain&Care. Before moving to GIA Miami, he served for nearly a decade at the National Institute of Health (NIH) as Scientific Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the NIH. He was at UCSF between 1999 and 2010, and when he left UCSF he was Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Studies from his laboratory, published in the most prestigious scientific magazines such as Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, PNAS, Nature Neuroscience, have combined electrophysiological, optogenetic, molecular, and behavioral techniques to determine the long-term effects that are produced by chronic exposure to stress, cocaine or ethanol, with the goal of creating novel therapeutic avenues to decrease the devastating effects of these conditions. In 2013, a pioneering study published in Nature by his team, provided the scientific rationale for the use of non-invasive brain stimulation, such as repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), in patients with cocaine use disorders and other types of addictions. Dr. Bonci has received numerous international awards, such as the D. Efron Award at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the Jacob P. Waletzky Memorial Award at the Society for Neuroscience, and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) European Journal of Neuroscience (ENJ) Research Award. He is an active member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Physicians, the American Neurological Association, the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, and a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Dr. Campos is a licensed clinical psychologist working at the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. He has published a number of papers in peer-reviewed journals on gambling problems and their treatment as well as presented at national conferences on the topic. His research interests include problem gambling and gambling disorder treatment, gambling in the Latinx community, and cultural issues and gambling problems. In addition to this work, he is in private practice in Los Angeles. Since 2021 he has been collaborating with Visión y Compromiso to train and field promotores in Los Angeles county, San Diego county, and the Central Valley to do outreach, education, screening, and referral for the California Gambling Education and Treatment Services (CalGETS) program.

Keith S. Whyte has thirty years of national experience in gambling issues.  Recognized widely for his work to promote responsible gambling and prevent gambling addiction, Mr. Whyte has given invited presentations at conferences and events in 43 US states and 26 countries.  He has testified before the United States Congress four times and appeared before numerous legislative and regulatory bodies.  Keith is frequently quoted in the national and international media.