Staff and Board

Marlene D. Warner

Marlene D. Warner

Executive Director

Marlene has been with the Council since 2001 and Executive Director since 2011. Marlene led the development and implementation of Responsible Gambling (RG) programs for Wynn, Penn National and MGM Casinos. She has worked with the Mass Gaming Council to launch Voluntary Self-Exclusion programs in the Commonwealth.

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She has initiated and delivered RG training for sales agents and retailers at US lotteries throughout North American State and Provincial Lotteries Association (NASPL). Marlene is a passionate expert & advocate for problem gambling (PG). She was the previous board president and current board member of the National Council on Problem Gambling. She is a chair of the regional NE PG organization and has delivered PG consulting services nationwide. Marlene often advises state lawmakers considering expansions of gaming legislation.

Odessa Dwarika

Odessa Dwarika

Director of Programs and Services

Odessa has 25 years of experience as a public health professional working towards healthy and equitable communities both locally and abroad. Odessa previously held senior-level positions with Jhamtse International, CASPAR Inc. of Bay Cove, and the Boston Public Health Commission.

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As Director of Programs and Services at the Mass Council, Odessa oversees training, technical assistance, and capacity building efforts throughout the continuum of care for disordered gambling and gaming. She works to promote a trauma informed understanding of gaming and gambling problems, particularly in communities that have high exposure to racism, economic marginalization, disproportionate institutionalization, and precarious immigration status.  Odessa is fluent in Spanish and facilitates the agency’s Racial Justice and Health Equity Working Group. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and received her Master of Arts Degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge MA.  She is on the Advisory Board of Bridging Mind and Body, a non-profit bringing trauma-informed yoga teacher training and wellness programming to girls and women, especially those who have experienced gender-based violence.
 

Chelsea Turner

Chelsea Turner

Director of Responsible Gambling

Chelsea Turner is the Director of Responsible Gaming for the MA Council on Gaming and Health (MACGH).  She works closely with the Executive Team to help advocate for those affected by problem gambling and develop programs and services that are designed to keep gambling a healthy and safe form of entertainment.

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She directly oversees the GameSense program, a harm reduction program inside the MA casino properties. Prior to joining the MACGH, Ms. Turner worked at the CT Lottery in various roles, including Vice President where she oversaw and managed the CLC’s Corporate Responsibility Programs, Government Affairs, and the Purchasing, Claims and Warehouse Departments. Ms. Turner has built extensive bi-partisan relationships over her professional career.  She was the Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs for Governor M. Jodi Rell and a Platform Committee Delegate to the 2004 National Democratic Convention.  She has volunteered and worked for countless Connecticut political campaigns, and she spent eight years lobbying for non-profit organizations at a private firm.  She is also a former Council of State Governments Toll Fellow. Ms. Turner is a graduate of Bates College (BA) and UConn (MPA).

Phil Sherwood

Phil Sherwood

Director of Communications and Marketing

Phil currently resides in NH, where he was born and raised. He brings 21 years’ experience directing health and community advocacy and communication programs across New England.

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He has led more than 75 advocacy, public health, and responsible and problem gambling communications campaigns throughout the region. Additionally, Phil successfully directed Covering NH’s statewide engagement efforts to Granite Staters, small businesses, health care facilities, and the uninsured populations for ACA implementation. As Director of Communications & Marketing with the Council, Phil currently leads what are arguably the largest and most respected responsible and problem gambling communications promotional programs in the nation. He manages the public relations and all digital and social media efforts and leads the national promotion efforts of the 24/hour Helpline, and our responsible and problem gambling services.

Philip S. Kopel

Philip S. Kopel

Data Management and Evaluations Director

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.

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At the Council, he uses this knowledge to collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate science-based data concerning gambling and gambling-related disorders. Phil sits on the Massachusetts Gaming Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and has conducted research on the impact of aging near a hometown casino.  Phil earned a Master’s from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Licia Scarano

Licia Scarano

Executive Assistant

Licia joined the team to streamline and facilitate the job of the Directors. She has worked as an Executive Assistant both in Europe and the USA with people from all over the world and is a firm believer in building valuable communication that reaches all equally.

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She is an Italian transplant who speaks 5 languages fluently and has studied Public Relations and Psychology in Italy before training as a professional chef in Milan and New York. A fervent organizer and troubleshooter, she enjoys helping to arrange the right resources and manage the nitty-gritty details of large projects. She is now bringing all these experiences together to the Council.

Jodie A. Nealley

Jodie A. Nealley

VSE Recovery and Outreach Liaison

Jodie has a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University, a Master of Science in Education from Indiana University and is a graduate of the UMass/Boston Addiction Counselor Education Program. Jodie joined the MA Council on Gaming & Health in the Fall of 2012 where she works as the VSE Recovery & Outreach Liaison.

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Her responsibilities include assisting in the delivery of gambling related trainings aimed at capacity building for providers and serving as primary liaison for voluntary self-exclusion follow ups and the telephone recovery support program. Additionally, she is responsible for all recovery initiatives and information which include interacting with regional peer recovery centers to raise awareness about gambling disorder. She also manages the 24/7 Problem Gambling Helpline. Jodie has spoken on several recovery-oriented panels, been a keynote speaker and published articles for the About College publication and The Wager. She also co-authored chapter in: Responsible Gambling: Primary Stakeholder Perspectives (eds. Shaffer, H., Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., Fong, D., & Collins, P.). She participated in the CT Council on Problem Gambling video: Broken and been interviewed for the national podcast : All In: The Addicted Gamblers podcast. Jodie uses her life experience as a recovering alcoholic and compulsive gambler to raise awareness and compassion wherever possible. In 2019 she received the National Council on Problem Gambling Jeff Beck Recovery Ambassador award.

Ray Fluette

Ray Fluette

GameSense Supervisor

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

Linh Ho

Linh Ho

Senior GameSense Advisor

Linh Ho brings over 3 years experience as a Slot Attendant at the Plainridge Park Casino.

Ken Averill

Ken Averill

GameSense Advisor

Ken brings the council over 24 years in the gaming industry with experience in all table games and operations.

Jason DiCarlo

Jason DiCarlo

GameSense Advisor

Jason brings the GameSense team over 20 years in the gaming industry, including gaming dealer experience.

Amy Gabrila

Amy Gabrila

Senior GameSense Advisor

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.

Salvatore (Torey) Lauria

Salvatore (Torey) Lauria

GameSense Advisor

Torey has over 18 years of table games experience from Foxwoods casino in Connecticut. He has extensive knowledge and understanding of most casino games.

Mark Leandro

Mark Leandro

GameSense Advisor

Mark joins the GameSense team with over 20 years of Management experience.

Ellen Lewis

Ellen Lewis

GameSense Advisor

Ellen comes to us with 36 years of diverse experiences in the gaming industry, including management positions with Foxwoods Casino and a Gaming Agent with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Joshua Molyneaux

Joshua Molyneaux

GameSense Advisor

Joshua joined the council with  9 years of customer service and casino experience. He also has a background in psychology and in home therapy.

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Rhonda Martins

Rhonda Martins

GameSense Advisor

Rhonda has 27 years of casino industry experience to the Council. Starting in the coin department in CT, she then transferred to table games and since then has worked in casinos in MA, FL, and RI.

Edgardo Romero

Edgardo Romero

GameSense Advisor

Edgardo brings to the council 26 years of experience in the casino industry. He has worked in Casinos in Puerto Rico, Aruba and Massachusetts. Edgardo is fluent in Spanish and English.

Israel Rosario

Israel Rosario

GameSense Advisor

Israel Rosario joined the Council from Mohegan Sun Casino with 12 years’ experience as a Supervisor and Table Games Dealer.

Aisha Shambley

Aisha Shambley

GameSense Advisor

Aisha joined the Council with over 14 years’ experience as a table games dealer and 2 years as a casino cage cashier.

Veronica Shumway

Veronica Shumway

GameSense Advisor

Ronnie brings to the Council 17 experience in table Games from Foxwoods Casino.

Chris Wong

Chris Wong

GameSense Advisor

Chris was in the table games department as a floor supervisor and table games dealer for over 12 years in casinos in MA and CT.

Vivian Xu

Vivian Xu

GameSense Advisor

Vivian has over 10 years of gaming and hospitality experience with a background including everything from human resources to being a Marketing Manager with Mohegan Sun Casino.  She is fluent in English Mandarin, Cantonese and other Chinese dialects.

Sean Zeigler

Sean Zeigler

GameSense Advisor

Sean has 20 years of table games experience as a dealer in both Connecticut and Massachusetts and has knowledge in blackjack, craps, roulette, and novelty/carnival games.

Board

The Mass. Council is governed by a Board of Directors. Following is a list of the fiscal year 2018 officers and members:

President, Dr. Martha T. Kane

President, Dr. Martha T. Kane

PhD., Clinical Director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service (ARMS), Massachusetts General Hospital

Vice President, Paul Sternburg

Vice President, Paul Sternburg

Former Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery

Secretary, Dr. William A. Dávila, Ed.D., MSW, LICSW

Secretary, Dr. William A. Dávila, Ed.D., MSW, LICSW

Executive Director/CEO, The Children’s Study Home

Director, Stephen P. Crosby

Director, Stephen P. Crosby

Independent Consultant

Director, Dawn Distefano

Director, Dawn Distefano

Chief Finance and Grants Officer

Director, Mark Hichar, Esq.

Director, Mark Hichar, Esq.

Shareholder

Director, David Monahan, Esq.

Director, David Monahan, Esq.

Campaign Manager, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

Director, Dr. Vera Parham

Director, Dr. Vera Parham

Associate Professor, Native American and Public History, American Military University

Director, John Perry

Director, John Perry

25 year leadership and executive experience with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.