Gaming Laboratories International has promoted three of its senior engineering managers. Reenesh Mahabeer, Western Tsogorani and José A. Zuluaga have been promoted to the posts of director of engineering, after each provided exemplary work as senior engineering managers.
Steve Daltrey, who previously held the title of director of operations, has also been renamed as director of engineering to align roles and job titles across the company.
Daltrey, who is based in the U.K., initially joined as director of operations for GLI U.K., providing strategic direction and day-to-day leadership of the engineering department. He is focused on listening to client needs, developing plans to deliver on those needs, and taking clients to new jurisdictions with the aim of providing best-in-class service.
Mahabeer, who leads the engineering team at GLI Africa, has a broad range of global gaming experience spanning across casino operations and inspections, technical compliance, regulator support and technical training.
Focusing on customer centricity, he is responsible for leading an engineering team over 70 strong, servicing a broad spectrum of customers globally.
Tsogorani, who is based in the GLI Netherlands office, works with some of the leading land-based and internet gaming companies and regulators in the gambling industry. Since joining GLI, he has risen through the ranks to lead a team of more than 40 test engineers.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Zimbabwe and holds the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, Prince2 Lead Practitioner, and ISTQB professional certifications.
Zuluaga leads test engineers in regulatory compliance testing activities at GLI Netherlands. He provides support and account management for a group of manufacturers and is in constant communication with European regulators. Responsible for risk management audits and change management processes, he has accumulated 20 years of experience in regulatory compliance with CISA and ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor certifications.
“I am delighted to recognize Reenesh, Western, and José with well-deserved promotions, having worked their way up within GLI engineering,” said Martin Britton, managing director for GLI EMEA. “(All have) worked hard, shown strong leadership skills, and inspired their teams to put the needs of the customer at the forefront of their work. The change in Steve’s title reflects the global structure of GLI and provides consistency and clarity to our clients.
“They are outstanding role models for some of our younger engineers who have just started their careers with GLI, and show what can be achieved with dedication and commitment. GLI is very proud to have them join the global team of directors; we look forward to the contributions they will undoubtedly bring to the company in their new roles.”
GLI also announce the addition of several experts to its Client Services team. The new team members are Gabriel Benedik, client solutions executive; Ross Edwards, technical compliance account executive; Jamie Garcia, account executive; and Kevin Stich, client services coordinator on the client services team.
“As the leading company in the gaming compliance industry, we are continually looking to augment our experienced and talented staff,” said James Maida, president and CEO of GLI. “The expertise and insights these new team members bring to GLI will help our clients get where they need to be, no matter where they are in the process or the world.
“Gabriel, Ross, Jamie, and Kevin each bring powerful, dynamic, and nuanced individual experience that will serve to enhance our global compliance and technology expertise. They are representative of GLI’s tradition for having the most complete team of subject matter and jurisdictional experts to help guide our clients to successful outcomes.”
Gabriel Benedik, Client Solutions Executive
Benedik has a storied career in compliance with the state of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, where he served for 12 years, most recently as chief of slot operations. Previously he served as slot operations manager, auditor IV (lead), auditor III, and slot operations specialist. He has extensive knowledge of crucial compliance areas, including audit, operations, state and tribal regulations, internal control standards, Title 31, the Bank Secrecy Act, and anti-money laundering reporting and recordkeeping.
Ross Edwards, Technical Compliance Account Executive
Edwards has been tapped to lead as GLI’s newest technical compliance account executive. He has more than 18 years of gaming jurisdictional compliance experience and will bring deep professional mastery to GLI clients, functioning as a technical compliance engineer and client solutions expert. Previously, he served as senior manager of product compliance at Scientific Games, and as senior principal manager of technical compliance and jurisdictional engineer of technical compliance at WMS Gaming.
Jamie Garcia, Account Executive
Garcia brings more than 11 years of highly technical experience to GLI and its clients. Most recently, she served as software quality assurance engineer at Scientific Games. Previously, she served as program management professional, marketing logistics professional, and senior staff marketing technical specialist at Scientific Games/WMS Gaming. She will work with GLI’s fast-growing list of suppliers, particularly in digital iGaming and event wagering, two areas of the gaming industry seeing exponential growth. Her supplier background and education in electrical engineering will help GLI’s clients navigate these areas.
Kevin Stich, Client Services Coordinator
Stich previously spent eight years at Ditronics Financial Services in various account and project manager positions. While at the company, he garnered experience as a product compliance specialist, worked as a liaison between the product manager and state/local/tribal gaming commissions, and served as a point person working with gaming labs for testing approval letters. At GLI, he will be supporting the North American Client Services department.
