The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced the results of its board of directors election. Five people have been elected to serve from July 2021 to July 2024. NCPG’s board of directors helps guide policies and implement strategies that achieve organizational goals. Board members use the entire scope of their skills and experience to serve all NCPG’s stakeholders.
The following new directors were elected:
- Individual Seat. Jeffrey Derevensky, Ph.D. is the director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University; a James McGill Professor and chairman of the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology; and professor, Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. He is a clinical consultant to numerous government and health organizations and has served as consultant for SAMHSA, NIMH, NRC, NCPG and many other funding agencies. He will represent individuals.
- Organizational Seat. Karen Russo was named director of responsible gambling at the Ohio Lottery Commission in January 2020 and serves as the lottery’s problem gambling advocate, ensuring best practices in corporate social responsibility. In her nearly 30-year tenure at the lottery, she has held various positions in the Sales Division, Web Administration, communications and public relations. Russo also serves on the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) Responsible Gambling & Regulation Committee, the Ohio Problem Gambling Advisory Board and the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio Advisory Board. She received the NASPL 2019 Powers Award and 15 national awards, along with state agency partners for problem gambling awareness programs.
- Affiliate Seat. Ted Hartwell has a master’s degree in anthropology and has been a member of the research faculty of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Las Vegas since 1991. He is the principal investigator of a DRI research study examining the impact of problem gambling in Native American tribal communities in Nevada. As a problem gambler in long-term recovery himself, he promotes awareness, prevention, and treatment of problem gambling as a consultant to the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling.
- Affiliate Seat. Derek Longmeier is the executive director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio. He also chairs NCPG’s Affiliate Committee and co-chairs the Infrastructure Committee of Ohio for Responsible Gambling’s Problem Gambling Service Advisory Board. Longmeier has attained certification from the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board as an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant. He holds an MBA from Ohio Dominican University, a BA in Psychology from The Ohio State University, and a Certificate in Social Enterprise from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.
- Affiliate Seat. Phil Sherwood brings 21 years of experience directing advocacy, government relations, and communication programs across New England. He has led more than 75 advocacy, electoral, public health, and responsible and problem gambling communication campaigns throughout the region. As director of communications and marketing with the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, he manages the public relations and communications efforts and recently led the organization through a major rebranding process. He will represent affiliates.
“NCPG’s Board of Directors is a driving force in our efforts to address responsible gambling and problem gambling issues,” said NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte. “Congratulations to Jeff Derevensky, Karen Russo, Ted Hartwell, Derek Longmeier and Phil Sherwood on their election. Their leadership and expertise will be invaluable.”
Whyte added, “We also want to thank Stacey Shaw, Brad Longcake, Janet Miller and Robert Jacobson for their incredible service on the Board of Directors that concludes when the new term starts. NCPG is in a good place because of the leadership they provided during this time of rapid change in the gambling industry.”
“As my time on NCPG’s Board of Directors draws to a close I am optimistic about the organization’s future,” said Robert Jacobson, president of the NCPG Board of Directors and executive director of the California Council on Problem Gambling. “The board will have a terrific mix of incumbent directors who have helped grow and sustain NCPG’s reputation as a leading authority on problem and responsible gaming, and newly elected members who can push the organization to even greater heights.”
