Before becoming the Council’s Executive Director in 2011, Marlene worked as the Council’s Program Director for ten years. Her professional experiences are in the fields of nonprofit administration and higher education in the Washington, DC area. Marlene holds a Masters from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College.

Ms. Dwarika brings the Council 22 years of leadership experience and passion educating and empowering communities with programming. Odessa previously held senior-level positions with Jhamtse International, CASPAR Inc. of Bay Cove, and the Boston Public Health Commission Tobacco Control Program. Odessa is a graduate of Brandeis University and received her Master of Arts Degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge MA.

Chelsea Turner joined the Mass Council in 2020 and brings a combination of non-profit, gaming industry and senior management experience to the organization.  While in the industry, she built and led a corporate responsibility team that was recognized for its responsible gambling efforts by local, regional and national organizations.  Chelsea has also built extensive bi-partisan relationships in her twenty-plus years as a government affairs professional.  She worked in CT’s Executive branch for approximately four years and spent nearly a decade advocating for non-profit organizations at a private lobbying firm.  

Phil has 19 years’ experience directing advocacy programs, non-profits, and campaigns. He previously served as Deputy Director, Legislative Director, and Communications Director for the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG) for more than a decade. Since then, Phil has provided strategic counsel to senior level non-profit, union, elected, and business officials in communications, advocacy, marketing, public relations, and has managed or directed more than 75 electoral, legislative, and advocacy campaigns across New England.

Michael has worked at several New England firms including Reebok, Polaroid and Staples. He has also worked with several non-profit organizations including Art Connection RI, MassChallenge, AARP and Health eVillages. Michael is the founder and principal of Go-to-Market Pros and is focused on fund raising, development, marketing and operations. 

Phil joined the Council with more than 27 years of market research expertise in the lottery industry. His experience includes conducting large sample quantitative research and qualitative focus group studies and monitoring changing dynamics in the gambling industry. At the Council, he uses this knowledge to collect, analyze, interpret and disseminate science-based data concerning gambling and gambling-related disorders. Phil earned a Masters from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Jodie joined the Council in the fall of 2012 where she works as the Intervention & Recovery Support Coordinator in the Programs Department. She received her Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University, her Masters of Science in Education from Indiana University, and is a graduate of the UMass/Boston Addiction Counselor Education Program. Her life experience both in and out of the professional arena provides unique skill sets and insight into her role at the Council.

MiShy brings to the Council over seven years of Human Service experience from Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). She also has a strong financial background, having practiced as a licensed mortgage broker for over five years. Her compassion, drive and dedication make her a valued asset to the Council. MiShy graduated Cum Laude from Springfield College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Service.

Raymond Fluette joined GameSense with 22 years of Casino Table Games Management experience to the team.

Amy brings to the Council over 21 years experience in the casino industry.  She has worked in table games departments across the country, including in MS, OH, RI, CT and MA.  She has a robust knowledge of the gaming industry as a whole, with particular expertise is slot machine programming and table games.  

Linh Ho brings over 3 years experience as a Slot Attendant at the Plainridge Park Casino. Linh previously worked as a Real Estate Agent at Coldwell Banker for 5 years while also functioning as an interpreter with Vietnamese language. Linh graduated from Mount Ida College in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Terence joins the council with 20 years’ experience in the casino industry.   His passion to educate and assist gamblers make him a great addition.