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.

Alison Wood is the NC Problem Gambling Program Youth Prevention Coordinator with TELUS Health. She manages prevention grant programs, trains, and provides technical support on adolescent problematic behaviors in gambling, gaming, and digital media use. She has partnered with researchers to develop curriculum in emotional regulation skills and digital media literacy in gaming and gambling. In addition, she spearheaded an initiative to provide asynchronous modules on the prevention and treatment of gambling, gaming, and digital media modules utilizing cutting edge technology. She is a passionate advocate for youth prevention education and mental health promotion and believes expanded efforts in prevention research is vital.

Becca Vykydal is the Senior 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.

Dave Wohl is a seasoned professional with a diverse background and over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. With a passion for improving patient care and healthcare systems, Dave holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Arizona State University, a Master of Science in Sports Medicine from West Virginia University, and an MBA from Western Governors University. Additionally, Dave is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), demonstrating a commitment to leadership excellence within the healthcare field.
Before joining ICPG in 2023, Dave held various roles within healthcare, ranging from direct patient care to department management and hospital administration.  With a wealth of experience, Dave brings a unique perspective and leadership to ICPG.

Michelle L. Malkin, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology and the Director of the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative (GRPI) at East Carolina University. Dr. Malkin's research interests include a focus on gambling-related harms, gambling-motivated crime, and the gambling prevalence, behavior, and risk of historically oppressed, marginalized, and under-researched populations. Her research has been recently published in journals such as the Journal of Gambling Studies and the Journal of Gambling Issues. Her dissertation on Problem Gambling, General Strain Theory, and Gender received the 2022 Dr. Durand Jacobs Dissertation Award from the National Council on Problem Gambling. She received the 2024 ECU Early Trendsetter Award for her research on gambling-related issues and has also been awarded ECU's Innovator of the Month Award for her creation and copyright of the Gambling-Motivated Crime Diversion Checklist.

Kellie Gage, Ph.D., M.S., CAADC, is the Program Manager for Statewide Gambling Disorder Treatment Services at the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (IDHS/DBHR). She began her career in state government in August 2001 as the Gambling Initiative Specialist. In her current role, Kellie provides oversight for the development and implementation of statewide treatment and outreach services, gambling-specific training, public awareness campaigns, and helpline services for individuals in need of treatment and resources related to gambling disorder. Kellie earned her Doctorate in Counseling and Psychological Studies with a concentration in Crisis and Trauma and holds a Master of Science degree. She has dedicated over 34 years to the substance use and behavioral health field as a clinician, program manager, and trainer. She is credentialed as a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CAADC) through the Illinois Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc.

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.  

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.

Emma Bowen is a Community Health Specialist in the prevention department at Chestnut Health Systems. She went to Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville where she received both her MSW and BSW degrees through the Social Work Department. Her passion has always been prevention. In her time in the field, she has worked in prevention roles related to gender-based violence in college communities, youth mental health, and now problem gambling.

In her role at Chestnut, Emma works on outreach and education around problem gambling. One of the primary focuses of Chestnut’s gambling outreach includes writing a prevention curriculum for high school students in Illinois. Over the past three years, Chestnut has been creating, implementing, and improving a curriculum called Not A Chance. 

Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel (pronouns: she/her) is an associate professor and the Program Director of the Masters of Social Work graduate program at Pennsylvania Western University. As a Licensed Clinical Social and PhD level researcher, Dr. Diez-Morel has dedicated her work to helping improve the lives of youth, families, adults and communities. She is the author of a plethora of presentations, scientific research studies, and book chapters on the topics of gaming disorder and associated behavioral addictions. In 2013, Dr. Diez-Morel founded Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding solutions for a balanced living in a technology driven world. She has established education, prevention curriculums, treatment, and research on gaming disorder and other problematic technology-based behaviors for children, youth, adults, and families that have been utilized by organizations worldwide. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally to aid prevention workers, social workers, counselors, and medical professionals working with youth, families, and adults experiencing psychosocial concerns or harms due to their gaming or technology use behavior.

Dr. Diez-Morel earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded a student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship with CRUSADA (the Center for Research on US Latino/as Drug Abuse and Addictions) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Diez-Morel utilizes her expertise in behavioral health and addictions to serve in various role including as Emeritus Board Member of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) and through this role, helped to lead development of the world’s first International Gaming Disorder Certification for helping professionals. Dr. Diez-Morel is also the co-lead for the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Gaming Disorder Taskforce and serves as the National Association of Social Work’s (NASW-PA) 2nd Vice President of Finance and Executive Committee member. Dr. Diez-Morel continues her clinical practice as a licensed practitioner and splits her time between direct clinical practice, research, prevention work, teaching, and service to the community. 

State Representative Edgar Gonzalez is a proven leader delivering for our communities. The son of immigrants from Mexico, Gonzalez is a lifelong resident of Little Village, a graduate of Chicago Public Schools and Harvard University, and worked for Congressman Chuy Garcia.

Sworn in at 23 years old, Edgar is the youngest Democrat and Latino to ever serve in the state legislature. As State Representative, he has championed workers’ rights, protected a woman’s right to choose and access to reproductive healthcare, passed common sense gun safety laws to save lives, and invested in education to give all our kids the chance to succeed.

Alejandro Lopez has over a decade of experience in the clinical field, including more than three years specializing in behavioral health. He holds a 30-hour Problem Gambling Certification and currently serves as a Regional Problem Gambling Coordinator at TASC, where he has been leading efforts for over eight months. Alejandro is passionate about supporting individuals facing addiction and behavioral challenges and is currently pursuing licensure as a Clinical Psychologist.

Ricardo Pinto rejoined the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer staff as an assistant coach in March 2025. Pinto returns to Rogers Park after previously serving in the same role at Loyola for two seasons (2019 and spring 2021).

Pinto rejoins the Ramblers after spending last season coaching goalkeepers at Northeastern. In Boston, he helped the Huskies achieve their best defensive season since 2018, finishing with a team goals-against average of 1.06. During his previous tenure at Loyola, Pinto helped guide the team to a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament title in 2019 and an NCAA Tournament berth

Rafael Rivera, PhD, MBA, currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR). In this role, he oversees the Office of the Assistant Director and all the functions of the office. He is responsible for advancing and supporting DBHR’s mission, guiding efforts in behavioral health prevention, community-based intervention and treatment for behavioral health, and recovery services across Illinois—aligned with the broader mission of IDHS. Dr. Rivera previously served as the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery’s Interim Director and Chief of Staff, responsible for the implementation of the Division’s mission, oversight of all programs and operations, the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant, data management, legislative administration, and overall administrative operations. He began his tenure at SUPR in August 2017 as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prevention Services, leading statewide substance use prevention initiatives.

Before joining IDHS, Dr. Rivera was Visiting Director and Principal Investigator at the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work, focusing on knowledge transfer and the adoption of evidence-based practices.

Dr. Rivera began his professional career in the mental health field as a Counselor and Social Caseworker in inpatient psychiatric care and entered the substance use field in 1996 as a Program Manager for treatment and prevention services at a community-based organization.

Dr. Rivera is a Community Psychologist by training and a strong advocate for the power of communities to prevent harm through inclusion, giving voice, exploring context, and addressing oppression. He is a father, a devoted spouse and partner of over 28 years, and a caregiver to his elderly father, who has limited mobility following a stroke. In his free time, Dr. Rivera enjoys audiobooks, movies and series, great meals, and a wide range of music.

Dr. Singh is Associate Professor in the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work, where she conducts mixed-method research, teaching in social work research, policy, and advocacy, women and gender studies, and sustainability studies. Her research focuses on women’s health, mental health and wellbeing. She received her MSW from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India and her PhD from the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Singh also engages in community-based audio video media work as a way of translating research knowledge for immigrant communities. She has hosted and produced a radio show and directs an online radio channel, and produces documentary and short fiction films and produced and co-edited ten issues of a webzine with community members.

Transfer from Charleston. Made 23 starts over 27 appearances, averaging 12.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game... 20 double-figure performances, including a career-high 32 points against Northeastern (Jan. 18)... also dropped 30 against Loyola in the Diamond Head Classic... shot over 41 percent from both the field and three-point range and finished the season with 68 assists and 29 steals.

Elizabeth Thielen is a Senior Director at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services in Lake County, Illinois with over 20 years in the addictions field. A Licensed Professional Counselor and Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor, Elizabeth is passionate about increasing awareness of gambling disorder in the community and among helping professionals. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, and has also been an adjunct faculty at the College of Lake County, teaching about Process/Behavioral Addictions.  Elizabeth co-chairs the Gambling Disorder Committee, a sub-committee of the Illinois Substance Use Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. Having spoken at the local, State, and National levels, Elizabeth is recognized as an engaging speaker on the subject of gambling disorder and prevention. A former amateur athlete, Elizabeth is also committed to helping athletes avoid disordered gambling as our state adjusts to recently legalized sports betting.

Hometown Santander, Spain

2024: Started in 13 of his 16 appearances … Recorded 987 minutes … Played a full 90 minutes in two of those match-ups … Team leader in goals (6), total shots (29), shots on goal (16), and points (16) … Had a game-winning goal in a match against VCU (Oct. 12) … Was also second on the team in assists (4) … Making him a versatile threat on offense.

Awards in 2024

Atlantic 10 All-Conference 2024

A-10 Rookie of the Week (Sept. 23, Oct. 15, Oct. 21)

CSC Academic All-District 2024

Dr. Vidal de Haymes received her Masters Degree from the University of Chicago in 1987 and her Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1991. She joined the faculty of the Loyola University Chicago in 1992 where she is a Professor in the School of Social Work and directs the Migration Studies Sub-specialization and coordinates a migration-focused international social service exchange with the Universidad Iberoamericana-Mexico City and Puebla and  Jesuit refugee and migrant serving projects. Dr. Vidal teaches courses in the areas of social welfare policy and migration studies. She has been the PI on a number of federal and international grants and authored publications concerning migration, poverty and inequality, child welfare, and social work education. Dr. Vidal’s service includes co-editorship of the Journal of Poverty and service on the board of Cicero Family Services, Taller de Jose, and the National Pastoral Migratoria. She is the 2016 recipient of the Partners in Advancing Education for International Social Work (PIE) Award of the Commission on Global Social Work Education of the Council on Social Work Education, the Loyola University Chicago Faculty Member of the Year award and  Distinguished Research Faculty recognition in 2017 and 2022 respectively. 

Appointed Loyola University Chicago’s Director of Athletics on November 12, 2014, Steve Watson has been at the helm of the Ramblers’ athletics department for some of the greatest moments in school history. Under his guidance, Loyola has won a NCAA championship (men’s volleyball), reached the NCAA Final Four (men’s basketball and men’s volleyball), racked up a total of 12 NCAA tournament berths, 20 conference championships, and ranked No. 1 in the nation in Graduation Success Rate.

Watson moved into athletic administration following a successful basketball-playing career. He spent two seasons at Rutgers before transferring to Bowling Green for his final two years, after which he embarked on a seven-year professional career overseas that included stops in France, Portugal and Taiwan.

Dr. Wilroy has been a social worker for over 35 years. She received her BSW degree from the University of Mississippi, where she then began a career in many avenues of the health care industry, including long term care, rehabilitation hospitals, hospice, adolescent self-esteem issues, and helping individuals that have received a challenging medical diagnosis. Her master's degree followed from Aurora University, where she earned her doctorate as well. 

She has assisted businesses begin from the ground up to become DUI treatment centers and created many new treatment options for offenders that will allow them to see how their addictions are affecting their lives without judgement. She is a solution focused therapist, which means that she will guide you into seeing how there are solutions to help you not feel so hopeless. She is currently working to begin a 501c that will allow pre-teen young ladies to explore how a strong self-esteem can lead them to make better choices when they are faced with the challenges when they become teenagers and young adults.

Dr. Wilroy is also currently a faculty member at Loyola University Chicago, where she is the director of the CADC Specialization Certificate. Dr. Wilroy has extensive experience working with persons who might be experiencing depression, anxiety, grief and loss, addictions, dealing with the aging process, (the caretaker stress as well as the aging individual), DUI treatment, adolescents behavior issues, family dynamics, couples and marriage issues.

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.

Mr. Hartwell has a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Texas Tech University and in 2023 he retired from a 32-year position on the research faculty of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) of the Nevada System of Higher Education to become the Executive Director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling (NVCPG).  In 2025 he stepped back from that role and now serves as the organization's Director of Storytelling and Development.  He is a longtime member of the National Council on Problem Gambling. 

While at DRI, Mr. Hartwell was the Principal Investigator of a study examining the impact of problem gambling in Nevada tribal communities. He is in long-term recovery from gambling disorder himself, and has promoted awareness, prevention, and treatment of problem gambling for the NVCPG for more than a decade. He has spoken publicly and personally on this issue on many occasions and is dedicated to humanizing and illuminating the illness of disordered gambling. He provides annual lectures on this topic for the UNLV Boyd School of Law Gaming Regulation and the University of Utah Gaming Regulation classes, as well as for many other departments within the higher education system. 

Mr. Hartwell was a regular participant for many years in the UNLV International Gaming Institute’s Responsible Gaming Ambassador training program for Las Vegas Sands Corporation and has consulted to MGM Resorts International and the US-Japan Business Council in their efforts to develop business related to the first Integrated Casino Resorts in Japan. He introduced the NCPG’s youth gambling awareness and family gambling awareness programs into the Clark County School District in Nevada and he has recently developed educational programs for local schools on the topics of video game awareness and student-athlete gambling awareness (SAGA). In 2023, he successfully secured an NFL-sponsored Agility Grant for the NCPG through the National Council to implement SAGA in several Nevada high schools. Mr. Hartwell has served at the pleasure of four Governors on the Nevada State Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling since November 2012. He was the 2014 Shannon L. Bybee Award recipient for his continuing work on advocacy, outreach, and research on the issue of problem gambling. In 2021, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling. 

Mr. Hartwell lives in Las Vegas, where he is also a professional cellist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, a devoted husband to a recent Russian immigrant, a past soccer and volleyball coach, and the proud father of a precocious 20-year-old daughter and three cats.

Dianne Williams, ICB Senior Operations has been a member of the ICB staff since November 1999. Her area of expertise is assisting members with the application and examination process from beginning to end. Ms. Williams is also the editor of the ICB Newsletter. She has traveled throughout the state of Illinois to promote the ICB credentials and is ready to assist individuals with the entire credentialing process.