Fall 2026 Southern Illinois Conference on Problem Gambling

For more than 15 years, Nikki has been committed to helping individuals and families navigate some of life's most difficult challenges. Her experience spans addiction treatment, crisis intervention, domestic violence advocacy and education. Nikki believes in meeting people where they are, creating a safe and supportive environment and empowering them to build healthier, more fulfilling lives. Grounded in trauma-informed care, Nikki combines professional expertise with compassion and genuine connection. Nikki’s passion is helping people recognize their strengths and find hope, healing, and lasting recovery. She currently works as the Outreach Prevention Gambling Specialist with the Hour House in Charleston, Illinois.

Gillian Russell is an assistant research professor in the Penn State Prevention Research Center. Gillian holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, an MSc in Psychology from the University of Lethbridge, and is completing her Ph.D. in Evolution and Behaviour at the University of Lethbridge. Her research has primarily focused on how cognitions influence addictive behaviour, with a particular focus on gambling. Through Penn State she is currently managing the Interactive Gaming Assessment that seeks to examine the impacts of interactive gaming in Pennsylvania.

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.

Kyle Stutes is a dedicated Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment professional with over four years of clinical and community experience at the Hour House. Throughout his career, Kyle has demonstrated a versatile commitment to patient care, progressing through vital roles including Recovery Navigator for ROSC, Residential Recovery Navigator, Residential Counselor, and Extended Care Counselor. For the past year, he has served as a Men’s Outpatient Counselor, delivering targeted, evidence-based support. Bringing over 10 years of personal lived experience in recovery, Kyle combines professional expertise with deep empathy, remaining deeply passionate about empowering individuals to discover their purpose and achieve lasting change.

Brent Van Ham, MS, RN, CDC, CADC,  holds a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, specializing in Substance Use Disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. He is also a Registered Nurse with many years of experience in multiple clinical settings, including physical-medical rehabilitation and medical-surgical care. Brent is especially interested in novel approaches to address health and resource disparities affecting rural and minority populations, with focus on behavioral health, process addictions and substance use issues.

Hope Wilde grew up in Western North Carolina, in a rural Appalachian community where they often felt like they didn't quite fit in. Opportunities beyond their hometown felt out of reach or simply invisible, and like many young people in rural communities, Hope navigated a compounding set of stressors and risk factors that shaped their path. As a first-generation college student who moved out of state for school, Hope struggled to adjust to a world that felt entirely unfamiliar. This experience contributed to their own addiction and, eventually, their long-term recovery. That experience became the foundation for the work they do today.

Hope is a graduate of the Graduate School of Social Work at Bryn Mawr College, where they specialized in non-moralizing substance use prevention curriculum. Their work critically examines the limitations of traditional prevention approaches, from the Drug-Free Schools Act to campaigns like D.A.R.E., and focuses on building more effective, evidence-based models in their place. Hope's research centers on creating adaptable evaluation methods that respond to the real risk and protective factors within school communities, including emerging concerns like youth gambling.

Hope brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a person who has experienced addiction to their work with young people, especially those in rural and underserved communities who, like Hope once did, may be looking for a way through.

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.