Staff and Board

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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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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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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Yves Montima
Director of Finance
Yves has been with the Council for 3 years. Yves has over 25 years of experience in Accounting and Finance in both non-profit and corporate world. He received a bachelor’s degree in Management with a concentration in Accounting from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Yves is very active in the community and has been a Board Member at SEED.

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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Michael Phelan
Director of Development
Michael has a sports-marketing background at Reebok and has worked for New England corporation including Polaroid & Staples. His experience with non-profit organizations includes Art Connection RI, MassChallenge, AARP and Health eVillages.
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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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Licia Bester
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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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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MiShy Sibley
Communications Coordinator
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.

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

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.

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

Charlie Ordille
Senior GameSense Advisor
Charlie brings more than 40 years of experience in the gambling industry with the last 27 years as a Casino Manager. Prior to this, Charlie was in the United States Marine Corp.

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

Correna Jodoin
GameSense Advisor
Correna brings over 5 years of gaming experience to the Council, previously working as a Slot Shift Manager for the first casino in Massachusetts, PPC.

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.

Joshua Molyneaux
GameSense Advisor

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

Kayvon Shakoori-Naminy
GameSense Advisor

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

David Tang
GameSense Advisor
David brings to the Council his customer service skills and knowledge of table games to connect with casino patrons.

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.

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

Vice President, Paul Sternburg
Former Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery

Treasurer, Bryant Richards
Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance/ Chair of Accounting

Secretary, Dr. William A. Dávila, Ed.D., MSW, LICSW
Executive Director/CEO, The Children’s Study Home

Director, Stephen P. Crosby
Independent Consultant

Director, Dawn Distefano
Chief Finance and Grants Officer

Director, Deanna Foster
Assistant Professor of Accounting and MSA Director

Director, Mark Hichar, Esq.
Shareholder

Director, David Monahan, Esq.
Campaign Manager, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

Director, Dr. Vera Parham
Associate Professor, Native American and Public History, American Military University

Director, John Perry
25 year leadership and executive experience with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Director, Joe Rocco
President of Roco Productions, Inc.