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 Work Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2022. She serves on the board 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 (ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, CGT) with the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board. 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.

Jon E. Grant is a Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago where he directs a clinic and research lab on addictive, compulsive and impulsive disorders.  Professor Grant is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and author of over 400 publications and 15 books.

Dr. Fong is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

Dr. Fong completed his undergraduate and medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He then came to UCLA and finished his residency in adult general psychiatry in 2002 and was the first accredited addiction psychiatry fellow at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (2002-2004).

He is the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program (UGSP). The purpose of this program is to examine the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of gambling disorder in order to develop effective, evidence-based treatment strategies.

Since 2009, he has been the director of the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, a one-year accredited program that provides clinical training in addiction psychiatry.

Finally, he is part of the faculty leadership of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary effort to examine the full impact of cannabis on the body, mind and brain.

Dr. Napier’s academic background includes a PhD in Pharmacology from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, and post-doctoral training in Neurobiology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC.  She conducted research sabbaticals at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT and the University of Washington Health Sciences Center, Seattle, WA.  

Dr. Napier has received continuous research grant support since 1990.  Her scientific interests include the neurobiology of motivational behaviors, including un-healthy decision-making associated with addictions, as well as addiction education for health professionals.  She has authored 140+ publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 180+ published abstracts.  

Dr. Napier’s extensive academic service includes President of the Chicago Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, membership in scientific review committees for the National Institutes of Health, and editor or reviewer for 30+ scientific journals and books.  She serves as a Scientific Advisor or Board Member for several government, university and not-for-profit institutions including the International Center for Responsible Gaming (Beverly, MA).  Dr. Napier has provided expert testimony to the U.S.A. Congress Committee on Science, Space and Technology-Subcommittee on Research and Technology, and to the Illinois House of Representatives, Heroin and Youth Task Force Hearing.  She has delivered 170+ invited scientific presentations world-wide and is frequently sought after by the news media on matters related to neuropharmacology and addiction.  

TanaRussell has been Assistant Director at Evergreen Council onProblem Gambling since 2019. She holds certifications as a Substance UseDisorder Professional (SUDP), Washington State Certified Gambling Counselor II(WSCGC-II), Nationally Certified Tobacco Treatment Provider (NCTTP), CertifiedGambling Disorder Trainer (CGT), and completed extensive training onvideo/internet gaming disorder.  She serves on the National Council onProblem Gambling (NCPG) treatment committee, is a member of the Washington StateGambling Counselor Certification Committee, the Washington Behavioral HealthAdvisory Committee, participated on the Washington State Problem Gambling TaskForce when it was in session, and is now a member of the Disordered GamblingAdvisory Workgroup.

She has apassion for training and enjoys presenting on topics related to gambling,gaming, tobacco, addictions, treatment, and recovery.  She has written,co-authored and/or collaborated on the development of program curriculum forvarious treatment, training, responsible gaming, and educational courses,including the Foundations in Gaming Disorder-Core training, a30-hour online self-directed training program.  

She is host of the podcast Connections:Health Gambling and Gaming and the live-stream video series ECPGLIVE! 

Dr. Jennifer Shatley is the President and CEO of Logan Avenue Consulting, LLC. In this role, she provides responsible gaming consulting to a multitude of organizations, such as gambling operators, trade organizations, problem gambling councils, government organizations, and domestic and international jurisdictions considering legalizing gambling. In addition, she has a collaborative partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) on the development and execution of RGC’s innovative research and RG Plus strategy. She also conducts policy sessions at the International Center for Gaming Regulations.

Dr. Shatley is an insightful and experienced responsible gaming executive with a 25-year career background involving extensive leadership progressing responsible gaming policy. As a thought leader, Jennifer has been the catalyst for the development and innovation of numerous “firsts” in the gaming industry. Serving as the Vice President of Responsible Gaming Policies and Compliance for Caesars Entertainment, she led the development, implementation and administration of the company's programs. She conceptualized and created first-of-its-kind training, developing the role of Responsible Gaming Ambassador designed to further business practices by proactively engaging customers utilizing motivational interviewing techniques to promote responsible play. Her innovation led to the development of the industry’s first patented responsible gaming IT application that leveraged technology to improve compliance and allow for tracking and implementation of
policy and regulatory mandates. More recently, Jennifer led the company’s responsible gaming policy and program efforts in the developing Japan market. She was also the Lead RG Consultant at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI). Dr. Shatley is a recognized expert in the field and is a highly sought speaker and advisor. She has presented at numerous conferences both domestically and internationally and works closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils, and gaming industry representatives.

In addition, she serves as President for the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and as a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling. Dr. Shatley also serves as the Co-Chair of the Compliance Review Board for the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. She previously served on the Nevada Governor’s Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, serving as the Chair for the Sub-Committee on Problem Gambling Prevention, as well as serving on the board of directors of the International Center for Responsible Gaming. Jennifer holds a Doctorate of Public Policy from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, a Master’s Degree in Communication from the University of Tennessee, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Christian Brothers University.

Dr. Kirk Moberg is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.  During his clinical career he served as the medical director of three addiction treatment centers in Peoria, Champaign and Urbana.  He received his MD and PhD at the U of I Urbana campus and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine.

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 Work Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2022. She serves on the board 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 (ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, CGT) with the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board. 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.

Dr. Kirk Moberg is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.  During his clinical career he served as the medical director of three addiction treatment centers in Peoria, Champaign and Urbana.  He received his MD and PhD at the U of I Urbana campus and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Potenza is a board-certified psychiatrist with sub-specialty training in addiction psychiatry.  He completed his post-high-school training at Yale: BS/MS (Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics), MD, PhD (Cell Biology), internship, psychiatric residency and addiction psychiatry fellowship.  Currently, he is an Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry, Child Study and Neuroscience at the Yale School of Medicine where directs the Division on Addictions Research, Center of Excellence in Gambling Research, Women and Addictive Disorders Core of Women's Health Research at Yale and Yale Research Program on Impulsivity and Impulse Control Disorders.  

Dr. Potenza is on editorial boards of 15 journals (including editor-in-chief of Current Addiction Reports) and on the Boards of multiple national/international organizations including the International Society of Addiction Medicine for which he is the incoming President-elect. He has received multiple national and international awards for excellence in research and clinical care.  He has published extensively (over 800 publications) and is ranked first globally by the independent firm Expertscape in multiple clinical research categories including addictive, impulsive and compulsive behaviors. He has consulted to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Registry of Effective Programs, National Institutes of Health, American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization on matters of addiction. 

Dr. Potenza's research has focused on the neurobiology and treatment of addictions and other disorders characterized by impaired impulse control and reward-related motivations.  Most of this work has focused on understanding clinical and neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders, and their co-occurrences with other psychiatric disorders, in order to advance prevention and treatment strategies.  Dr. Potenza's research has applied neuroimaging, genetic, epidemiological and clinical trials methodologies to gain knowledge and improve prevention and treatment strategies for addictive behaviors/disorders.  This work has involved identifying potential intermediary phenotypes, like facets of impulsivity, that may in part explain the frequent co-occurrence of psychiatric conditions and represent novel targets for prevention and treatment strategies. 

Dr. Potenza has mentored over 200 Scholars in clinical research and neuroscience. He also co-directs training programs focusing on addiction treatment development research at Yale and alcohol use, stress and psychopathology in Thailand (Yale-Chulalongkorn collaboration).