Current Members of the IPGGC Board of Directors
President
Jody Bechtold
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Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, PC 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 and 2 chapters in the Social Worker Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2021. Jody holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and has certifications as a Board-Approved Clinical Consultant (BACC) and Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor Level II (ICGC-II) with IPGGC.
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, PC.
Vice President
Elliott Rapaport
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Elliott Rapaport is the Founder & CEO of Birches Health, a national provider of virtual treatment for gambling and gaming disorders, as well as other high-acuity behavioral and process addictions. With a strong background in healthcare operations, Elliott has scaled companies across all 50 states, working with thousands of providers and patients to ensure high-quality care is widely accessible. Elliott holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and a BA from Amherst College. Elliott is a lifelong New Yorker and lives in New York City.
Please email Elliott at elliott@bircheshealth.com and visit www.BirchesHealth.com to learn more or discuss collaboration.
Secretary
Christina Cook
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Christina Cook (She/Her) is the Founder/Host of The Broke Girl Society Podcast where she uses her personal journey of resilience and transformation to advocate and amplify the voices of women in the disordered gambling community. Through her work with various committees, boards, advocacy projects, and her work with the BGS, it’s her hope that anyone impacted by gambling harm finds the hope and healing recovery offers.
As a board member, Christina is committed to using her lived experiences, expertise, and passion for recovery to assist the IPGGC in fulfilling its mission and vision.
Treasurer
Donald McCourtney
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Donald McCourtney, PhD, MBA R-CPRS, is the Problem Gambling Lead Coordinator for the Office of Recovery Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. For the past 46 years, Don has worked in the substance use disorder treatment and recovery field. He has a PhD in Psychology, and a Master of Business Administration. He was trained as a substance use disorder counselor at Hazelden Treatment Center in 1978. Don has been a counselor and administrator for a number of substance use disorder treatment and recovery programs throughout the United States. In addition, he has been an assistant administrator for a managed care company. Don has specific training for Problem Gambling by Rena Nora MD, an early pioneer in Problem Gambling. His background includes substance use disorder counselor training at Hazelden. In his spare time, he likes to kayak, cycle, hike, and play with his two rescue dogs.
Board Member
Dr. Daniel Kaufmann
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Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D., LMHC / LPC, ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC is an Associate Professor at Grand Canyon University and has served in multiple roles related to program development for Gambling and Video Game Disorder through the IPGGC. He is currently the co-chair of the APA research task force on gaming issues and is working on several nationwide training programs to help mental health professionals understand video games in innovative ways. His research on the psychology of player types has been presented internationally and continues to evolve with each new world players can inhabit across PCs and consoles. Dr. Kaufmann’s publications cover the areas of video games, personality theory, online education, and counselor development. He offers supervision to an international list of clinicians to help bridge the gap in learning about technological impact on society and specific insights related to effective treatment for clients experiencing games-related issues.
Dr. Kaufmann is the host of The Gaming Persona podcast, a show which seeks to share various insights related to psychological connections in the play of video games. He also streams regularly on YouTube as Dr. Gameology and is on a never-ending quest to discuss mental health and video games to encourage audiences of all types to be their very best as they continue the journey. You can view Dr. Kaufmann’s research via his ResearchGate Profile.
Board Member
Teresita “Chit” Cambe-Castillo
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Teresita “Chit” Cambe-Castillo, RPsy, ICAP II, RSS, ICGC-I started her career in the field of human resource management, gaining more than twenty years of experience in training and organization development from occupying key executive positions in various multinational companies in the Philippines. In May of 1998, she co-founded Seagulls Flight Foundation, Inc., a treatment and rehabilitation center for substance disorders, and served as its Executive Vice-President and Managing Director until January 2019. In August of 2022, Seagulls Flock Organization (SFO) was launched as a non-stock, non-profit organization committed to providing services, training programs, and professional networking opportunities in addiction and behavioral healthcare prevention, treatment, and recovery in the Philippines and Asia Pacific. Chit is SFO’s current President and Chairperson of the Board.
Chit is a licensed Psychologist, International Certified Addiction Professional, Level II ( ICAP II ), International Certified Recovery Support Specialist ( ICRSS ), International Certified Gambling Counselor I ( ICGC – 1 ). She is the resident psychologist of the drug rehabilitation center of Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines, as well as a consultant for Quezon City, where she is helping to set up the city government’s responsible gambling and gaming office.
Chit was also a Global Master Trainer for the Recovery Curriculum of the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (CP DAP) and a Global Drug Demand Reduction Trainer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Her rich experience in Human Resources and the addiction field has given her more wisdom, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose in the VUCA world we live in; she has committed to pay it forward and a firmer resolve for her strong advocacy for second chances.
Board Member
Šimon Vincze
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Šimon Vincze is Casino Guru’s Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling, and an advocate for Responsible Gambling. He provides guidance on player protection, steers the company towards current best practices, and seeks opportunities for Casino Guru to have a positive influence. He leads the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative and the Casino Guru Academy.
Šimon is dedicated to making gambling sustainable and secure for all involved parties, prioritizing legitimate entertainment with acknowledged risks for players, while ensuring operators uphold responsibility.
Within the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative, Šimon is guiding a dedicated team that envisions an effective global self-exclusion scheme to deter struggling players. Recognizing shortcomings in existing tools, he aspires to create a strong barrier against online gambling allure. As part of the Initiative, Šimon is working on Self-Exclusion Standards together with the City, University of London.
In Casino Guru Academy, a free educational hub embodying collective knowledge, a team led by Šimon offers interactive courses on industry best practices, while emphasizing safer gambling. With insights from the Casino Guru and esteemed partners, the Academy fortifies player-operator relationships and shares vital practical knowledge.
Find out more about other social responsibility activities in which Šimon is involved: https://casino.guru/gamtegrity
Board Member
Kaitlin Brown
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Kaitlin Brown LPC, LADC, ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC has worked in the field of co-occurring disorders for over 15 years. She brings enthusiasm and commitment to her work of helping individuals affected by Gambling Disorder and increasing community awareness.
Her role as the Senior Director of Programs and Services for the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) shows her leadership and organizational skills in overseeing statewide helpline services, developing prevention programs, and providing training opportunities. Additionally, her involvement as an Adjunct Professor at Fairfield University underscores her dedication to educating future generations of counselors and professionals in the field. Kaitlin’s contributions extend beyond direct counseling services as she actively shares her knowledge and experience through presentations at the national level. Recognition of Kaitlin’s efforts, such as receiving the NCPG’s Annual Jim Wuelfing Prevention Award and the Coalition Sector All Star Award with the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals, speaks to the impact she has made on the field and the positive outcomes she’s achieved through her innovative initiatives.
Kaitlin is a mother to two girls, making her passion for prevention and education even stronger to reduce risks for young people.
Board Member
Scott Meyer
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Scott Meyer, CRPA, IGRS, BARA, NCPS, PSP is a peer services leader, recovery professional, and advocate whose work is grounded in the belief that lived experience, when combined with professional expertise and purposeful leadership, can be a powerful catalyst for individual and systemic change.
Scott currently serves as a Peer Manager with Vibrant Emotional Health, where he provides leadership to a large peer support workforce within New York City’s crisis care continuum.
Scott holds multiple professional credentials reflecting his experience across peer support, recovery, supervision, and problem gambling services. He is a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) with a focus on problem gambling, International Gambling Recovery Specialist (IGRS), Board Approved Recovery Advisor (BARA), National Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS), and Peer Supervisor Professional (PSP).
His commitment to this work is deeply informed by his own lived experience of gambling addiction, significant personal consequences, and long-term recovery. That experience has shaped his commitment to ensuring that individuals and families affected by gambling-related harm have access to compassionate, informed, and credible support – and that lived and living experience has a meaningful voice in the development of programs, policies, professional standards, and systems of care.
Prior to entering the behavioral health and peer support fields, Scott built a career in accounting, business ownership, financial services, and project management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and previously practiced as a Certified Public Accountant.
Scott views his service on the Board of Directors of IPGGC as an opportunity to bring together his lived experience, professional expertise, leadership background, and commitment to service.
Board Member
Dr. Lisa Palmieri
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Dr. Lisa Palmieri is a transformation and organizational design leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning corporate consulting, nonprofit executive leadership, education, and community impact. She currently leads transformation design and consulting work for a global technology company, partnering with leaders and teams across international markets to navigate complex organizational change, growth, and transformation.
Earlier in her career, Lisa held executive leadership roles in youth- and community-serving nonprofit organizations, where she developed extensive experience in strategic partnerships, fundraising and resource development, research, government affairs, and cross-sector collaboration. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of strategy, people, and systems, bringing together diverse stakeholders to solve complex challenges and create meaningful, sustainable impact.
Lisa holds a PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership and is also a Certified Integrative Health Coach, bringing a whole-person perspective to her work and a strong interest in the connection between individual well-being, healthy communities, and the systems that support them. Her areas of expertise include organizational transformation, strategic partnerships, research, fundraising, human-centered design, and community engagement.
Board Member
Alex Montorro
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Alex Montorro is an established member of the addiction recovery community who found sobriety at a young age and has since applied recovery principles to achieve a fulfilling life. Grateful for his own journey, the founder recognizes a significant disparity between those in need of assistance and the available support systems. Acknowledging the scarcity of counselors and support, he founded Mai Support.
Professionally, Alex brings a wealth of experience from his roles in various publicly-traded companies, including multi-location and international firms, where he focused on significant risk management, internal controls, tax, and accounting efforts.
Throughout his career, Alex has supported companies through growth and expansion phases, playing pivotal roles in establishing robust accounting frameworks and reporting platforms. His expertise extends to evaluating and documenting internal controls, collaborating closely with management to enhance financial reporting integrity, and developing comprehensive accounting policies and technical accounting memoranda. He has also led project management initiatives in these areas.
His career has included senior roles such as Divisional CFO and Controllership positions, spanning both domestic and international arenas, where he has consistently applied his expertise to drive strategic financial management and operational excellence.
Alex holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from Florida International University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Board Member
Danny Colella
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Danny Colella is a behavioral health marketing strategist, storyteller, and co-founder of CaptivContent, where he works with mental health, substance use, process addiction, recovery, and problem gambling organizations across the country.
Danny entered the behavioral health field in 2017 and later helped launch FREE Recovery Community, which grew into Denver’s largest recovery community. His experience helped shape his Trust-First Marketing approach, which teaches clinicians and organizations how to use human-centered storytelling, video, and digital outreach to reduce stigma, build trust, and serve people before trying to sell them.
As an IPGGC board member, Danny is excited to bring his communications and digital outreach expertise to help expand the organization’s reach, increase awareness of its certifications, elevate voices within the field, and connect more professionals with the education and resources IPGGC provides.
Advisory Council
Non-voting board members who provide expertise on the board’s strategic decisions and certifications
Advisory Council
Dr. Anthony Bean
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Dr. Anthony Bean is a Licensed Clinical Depth Psychologist, video game researcher, the Executive Director at The Telos Project, and the Executive Director of Geek Therapeutics, the leading agency in continued education with a dynamic focus on geek culture including evidence based practices and treatments in Geek Therapy and culture. He has been consulted as an expert for CNN, Inverse, Polygon, and internationally for Gehirn & Geist, while also appearing on Radio, Podcasts, and being a sought after Keynote Speaker and conference speaker in the United States, Canada, and Russia. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in Clinical Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and specialize in the therapeutic implications of video games and gaming, working with children and adolescents, and the use of video game character identification as a therapeutic technique. He has also authored multiple academic articles, book chapters, and the six books Working with Video Gamers and Games in Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide (Routledge, 2018), The Psychology of Zelda: Linking Our World to the Legend of Zelda Series (Ben Bella, 2019), The Psychology of Final Fantasy: Surpassing the Limit Break (2020, Leyline Publishing), Integrating Geek Culture Into Therapeutic Practice: The Clinician’s Guide to Geek Therapy (Leyline Publishing, 2020), The Psychology of Pokémon: The Power to Catch ‘Em All (Leyline Publishing, 2022), and Checkpoints and Autosaves: Parenting Geeks to Thrive in the Age of Geekdom (Leyline Publishing, 2022).
Advisory Council
Vivien (Wen Li) Anthony
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Vivien (Wen Li) Anthony is an associate professor of School of Social Work and the Scientific Director of Video Gaming and eSports of Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University. Dr. Anthony received her Master and PhD degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Anthony’s research centers on problematic technology use as a type of behavioral addiction, with a focus on video gaming disorder, problematic Internet/smartphone use, and other problematic behaviors related to technology use. Specifically, her research explores the etiology and risk mechanisms of problematic technology use, develops and validates measures for these problems, and develops and evaluates interventions (e.g., mindfulness-based intervention, cognitive-behavioral therapy) that can ameliorate these problems among adolescents and young adults. She currently studies an emerging area – the nexus of video gaming and gambling (e.g., loot boxes, social casino games, eSports gambling). She has disseminated her research through more than 30 academic journal articles and book chapters, and many national and international conference presentations.
Advisory Council
Dr. Richard A. Woodruff
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Dr. Richard A. Woodruff, PhD (they/them), serves as the Director of Esports at the University of the Pacific. Dr. Woodruff is also the founder and commissioner of the Central California Esports League (CCEL), which began over seven years ago based on one student’s voice. They have over 20 years of experience studying performance enhancement and stress management, coupled with their background as an ex-pro gamer, Dr. Woodruff developed performance enhancement and wellness resources/training to support law enforcement, healthcare professionals, educators, gamers, esports athletes, and esports coaches for greater success. They are passionate about bridging the gap between mental health and gaming, particularly for esports athletes. They specialize in developing innovative programs and advocate for scholastic esports, neurodiversity, mental health, and community empowerment.
Dr. Woodruff has organized numerous large-scale successful esports events, serving 200+ in-person audience members and attracting over 1,000 distinct live viewers per event. They have appeared on various TV shows, podcasts, commercials, and conferences, discussing the importance of building sustainable scholastic esports programs.
Becoming an Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychologist after graduating from Capella University with a PhD in I/O Psychology, Dr. Woodruff has provided support to thousands of professionals and students with esports programs, wellness, emotional intelligence, resilience, and performance enhancement throughout the United States and internationally.
Advisory Council
George Mladenetz
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George Mladenetz, M.Ed., LCADC, ICGC-II has worked in the addictions and mental health fields for over 40 years. He earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from The College of New Jersey. George has been licensed as a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 2005 and is an International Certified Gambling Counselor, Level II. He began his career as an Alcoholism Counselor with the Burlington County Alcoholism Program. He subsequently spent 30 years in various capacities, including treatment and prevention with the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
After retiring from DMHAS in 2014, George became the Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Treatment and Research and then later, Treatment Coordinator for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ). He conducted gambling specific trainings on a regular basis and has spoken nationally on the topics of gambling disorder, stigma and language of recovery. George has written several articles on gambling disorder which have been published in Dr. David Mee-Lee’s “Tips & Topics” newsletter. Although George retired from CCGNJ in 2020, he remains active in the field as a clinical consultant and trainer. Additionally, he serves on various coalitions including the Association of Professionals Treating Problem Gambling, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies and the Mercer County Psychological Association.
Emeritus Board Member
Jeremy Wampler
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Jeremy Wampler, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, CGT, LADC is the Clinical Supervisor for the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Problem Gambling Services. Jeremy earned his Master in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University, and he has been practicing in the field of problem gambling since 2007. He is a Past President of IPGGC (formerly IGCCB) and also serves on the board of the National Association of Administrators for Disordered Gambling Services (NAADGS). In his current role as a state administrator, Jeremy provides oversight for all statewide problem gambling services which includes problem gambling specific clinical services, disordered gambling integration programs, outreach and engagement, prevention, and recovery support services. Jeremy is an advocate and trainer, providing education and technical assistance for key stakeholders throughout the state and has begun expanding training and technical assistance to other states throughout the New England region, with a focus and passion on building capacity of the clinical workforce and supporting the growing needs of other service administrators in the problem gambling field.
Emeritus Board Member
Dr. Stephanie Diez
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Dr. Stephanie Diez, Ph.D., LCSW, IGDC, BACC, MCAP (pronouns are she/her) is an associate professor of graduate social work at Pennsylvania Western University. She is an invited member of the American Psychiatric Associations (APA) task force for Internet Gaming Disorder on the inclusion and impact of Gaming Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). She has authored scientific presentations, articles, and book chapters as well as appeared in the media on a variety of radio, podcasts, and news outlets to discuss the topic of gaming disorder and other technology-based addictions. In 2013, Dr. Diez founded Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, prevention, treatment, and research on gaming disorder and other technology-based addictions.
Dr. Diez earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded the C-SALUD student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Diez has received a number of awards and grants for her work through Reboot & Recover on finding solutions to a balanced living in a technology-driven world. You can view Dr. Diez’s research via her ResearchGate Profile or GoogleScholar Profile
Emeritus Board Member
Rev. Janet E. Jacobs
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Rev. Janet E. Jacobs, B.A., CCGSO brings together a background of professional teaching skills, parish ministry, and on-going training on problem gambling treatment issues. A 1965 University of Houston graduate, Rev. Jacobs entered the United Methodist ministry in 1995. Appointed Founding Director of Gambling Recovery Ministries (GRM) in 2001, Rev. Jacobs has completed over 300 hours of specialized, professional training on addiction and recovery (including Indiana’s sixty hour training series on problem gambling and treatment). In 2005, she represented gambling addiction issues at Johnson Institute’s First Rush Center Summit of National Religious Leaders on Addiction Solutions.
Rev. Jacobs has given over 150 presentations on addiction and recovery issues at local, state, regional, national, and international events. She received Mid-Central Alliance’s Seven State Councils on Problem Gambling 2008 Leadership Award and serves as an instructor for the Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness trainings Women and Problem Gambling and Spirituality and Problem Gambling. Rev. Jacobs, also, is the 2015 recipient of the Jim Cooke Leadership Award from the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling.
Rev. Jacobs authored the chapter “Problem Gambling”, containing three book reviews on pathological gambling treatment, in the nationally distributed magazine Christian Reflection (Baylor University). Within this edition (Summer 2011), Gambling Recovery Ministries was presented as a model ministry of outreach by Deborah Haskins, Ph.D., in her chapter entitled “Congregational Ministry to Problem Gamblers”.
Rev. Jacobs serves as Board Member and Recording Secretary on the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board; and she co-coordinates the Clergy/Lay Minister Certification Program for the Board. Additionally, she is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa International Women Educators Honorary.
Emeritus Board Member
Loreen Rugle
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Lori Rugle, PhD, ICGC-II/BACC, ICGD, CGT.
Lori is currently retired from the field of problem gambling. She is so grateful to have been able to be of service to the problem gambling field that has given so much to her over the past 40+ years, both professionally and personally.