2023 CEC/EIC CEC - U EXPERTS
Presenting the CEC/EIC Northeast Summit 2023
The CEC has teamed up with the Esports Innovation Center in Atlantic City to bring intense, deep-dive conversations about how the esports industry specifically fits into the conversation of the casino industry. We will also discuss esports from a non-casino viewpoint and tackle the competitive collegiate, High School, and elementary levels at which esports has been affecting the next generations of competitors and what will be future landscapes of new businesses that will be birthed from this event for professional-level esports.
Scott Huston
Scott Huston, Chief Information Officer, at Stockton University, is responsible for providing leadership to the Division of Information Technology Services team at Stockton University for the continued development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment to support ubiquitous, integrated, and fully engaging learning experiences throughout the University. Under his leadership, the Information technology team has taken a proactive and collaborative approach to deliver innovative, reliable, and sustainable technologies that optimize satisfaction and desired outcomes. Scott Huston has continued to develop an extremely talented management team who collaboratively approach, solve, and guide the technical staff within the division to meet the University’s technology needs. While acting as Chief Information Officer, he has been extremely successful in continuing to implement the new strategic vision for Information Technology Services by focusing the adoption of software as a service offerings and cloud technologies to provide more robust and reliable IT infrastructure. Scott has also continued to make additions and alterations to the existing technology equipment replacement plans including a change of hardware vendors which afforded the University a massive financial savings over the past few years. The further adoption of cloud and hosted services University wide has greatly reduced keyperson risks at the University while improving information security and providing for better business continuity. Under his direction, Stockton’s Division of Information Technology Services have continued to be a customer focused division with ongoing praise from throughout the Stockton community. His leadership has been a critical part of the University’s operations during the covid-19 pandemic providing technology, resources, and support to continue University operations during a difficult time. However, this has not stopped him and his team from continuing to implement many new technologies at the University to make process improvements in many areas of the organization fostering more advanced pedagogical abilities and providing better information security for Stockton’s users and institutional data. Finally, Scott has also helped inspire the growth of Stockton’s top ranked esports program, is the Board Chair of the Esports Innovation Center, has also been appointed as a member of the NJEdge Board of Trustees.
Demetrios Roubos
Demetrios is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIAC Information Security Professional (GISP), GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), and an AMX certified Control Expert (ACE) with over 15 years of industry experience building and leading first-rate technology programs and solutions. Recognized as one of the Center for Digital Education's Top 30 Technologists, Transformers, and Trailblazers, Demetrios was also named NJ’s Public CISO of the Year by the New Jersey Technology Council in 2017. Demetrios currently serves as Stockton University’s Information Security Officer, Stockton Esports program manager, and adjunct computer science professor. Demetrios frequently interfaces with the next generation of aspiring members of the technological workforce at Stockton, and often uses gaming/esports inspired concepts in class projects and discussions. As a founding member of the esports program at Stockton, Demetrios worked with a diverse coalition of students to build and develop the program using a grass-roots, student-first approach. Demetrios is currently working on an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership with a focus on challenges related to esports governance. Demetrios previously completed a Masters of Computational Science and a Bachelors of Computer Science and Information Systems.
Bo Grey
Bo Grey is a serial entrepreneur, sports betting pioneer and inventor / co-founder of Wager Score™. Wager Score™ is a patented technology that puts responsible gaming into the hands of bettors who unlock access to a financial empowerment tool.
MARTIN LYCKA
Entain - SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling
Martin Lycka is SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling at Entain, overseeing growth of the business across both new U.S. states and into other parts of the Americas, notably LATAM and Canada. He joined the business in April 2018, as Director of Regulatory Affairs. Martin also serves on the boards of the Entain Foundation, the Entain Foundation US, the German Online Casino Association and the Advisory Boards to the National Council on Problem Gambling as well as RG247, a responsible gaming training provider. In the past, Martin has been a board member of the European Gaming and Betting Association, JDigital and the European Sports Security Association. In total, Martin has been a senior legal, regulatory and RG advisor to listed gambling businesses for over 11 years. Previously, Martin worked amongst others with Salans Europe LLP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Senate of the Czech Republic. He obtained law degrees from the Charles University, Prague, the College of Europe, Bruges, and the University of Law, London, qualifying as UK solicitor. Martin is a regular conference speaker and has (co-)authored more than 80 academic articles and three books on gambling law and other legal matters. He is the 2019 Global Regulatory Awards Head of Regulatory Affairs of the Year as well as a member of the 2020/2021 Emerging Gambling Leaders 40 Under 40 Class (a Judge’s Choice).
Bill Pascrell III, Esq.
Strategic Advisor, Gov. & Reg. Affairs Counsel, Princeton Public Affairs Group Bill Pascrell III, known in the industry as BP3, is a partner in Princeton Public Affairs Group, the nation’s largest state contract government and public affairs firm. He is a leading national expert on online gaming, sports betting lottery, exchange wagering, e-sports and horseracing. BP3 has a diverse worldwide client base including Hard Rock Casinos, GVC Holdings, Golden Nugget, Ocean Resort, Gaming Innovation Group, BetMakers, Sportech, Lotto Land, Monmouth Park Race Track, Meadowlands Race Track, Camelot, PokerStars, Gambling.com. Mr. Pascrell led the campaign to legalize NJ Sports Betting in the US with the recent SCOTUS decision to repeal PASPA, after managing a successful statewide ballot referendum legalizing sports betting. Bill Pascrell, III is known internationally for his sports betting and online gaming expertise, as well as his influence in crafting horse racing and lottery regulations and legislation. Most notably, Mr. Pascrell spearheaded the multi-year campaign to pass the landmark New Jersey On Line Gaming Act signed into law by Governor Chris Christie in 2013, which has been a model for all US states. BP3 is a member of the National Council of Problem Gambling Federal Affairs Committee, The Ampersand Assembly for ICE and GIGSE, and serves on the Board of Directors for GVC US Foundation. BP3 has been routinely cited as one of the 100 most influential personalities in New Jersey politics by PolitickerNJ.com, Insider NJ, NJ Globe and NJ Cannabis Insider. He is a frequent national media political commentator on MSNBC, Court TV, Comcast CN 8, NJTV, News 12, and Newsmax TV in addition to many national newspapers.
Bill Penders
Bill Penders-Managing Director, Sector Development, New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Bill leads a team of professionals focused on catalyzing and cultivating targeted industries in New Jersey to create job growth and economic opportunity. Esports, Sports Wagering and Fintech are part of the strategic plan for focused growth within the New Jersey economy and the NJEDA has been leading multiple initiatives to insure New Jersey’s position as a national hub for these fast growing business sectors. Prior to this role, Bill worked in the private sector for 30 years in various global leadership positions within the professional services industry.
Louis Alfieri
Principal, Chief Creative Officer, Raven Sun Creative Over his thirty-year career, Louis Alfieri has focused on helping owners and brands lead the advancement of global location-based entertainment. He has collaborated with clients around the world in the development of resorts, branded destinations, theme parks, and mixed-use destinations, sharing his deep knowledge of experiential design, branded experiences, and intellectual property assets. “My aspiration is to elevate our industry by guiding owners, developers, brands, and their teams to realize their creative, financial, and guest expectation aspirations in location-based entertainment. I want to lead the way to a future where location-based entertainment inspires every person in the world.” – Louis Alfieri panelist on Global Theme Park development 2018 IAAPA Asia Expo Louis is recognized as a trusted authority, speaking on behalf of the industry at the global IAAPA, SATE, and MAPIC conferences on topics of development, branding, and establishing industry standards. He has a long track record of success collaborating with international brands and large multidisciplinary teams on the conceptualization, design, and implementation of location-based entertainment mixed- use resorts, theme parks, waterparks, museums, and cultural destinations. Louis’ expertise in balancing creative vision with financial and schedule realities allow him to be especially effective at managing executive and shareholder expectations, guiding project realities, and realizing key consumer guest experiences. Over the course of his career, Louis has served in many roles and capacities in the location-based entertainment industry, gaining an end-to-end understanding of the process from design-to-opening and beyond. He imparts a holistic understanding of the process that translates directly to team members, fiscal institutions, brand management, strategic planning, long-range implementation, and profitable market growth opportunities.
Dan Coonan
Dan Coonan took over as Commissioner/CEO of the ECAC in January of 2017. He has enjoyed a multi-faceted career, spending eleven years as Athletic Director at Santa Clara University, after serving as Assistant Commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, and Executive Associate Athletic Director at Cal. He has also practiced law, ran a Congressional campaign, taught law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, oversaw all fundraising for the Catholic Church in Los Angeles, and served as Chairman of the Board of the largest homeless shelter network in the Bay Area, Life Moves (InnVision). In 2020 he released a novel, Presidential Spirits, published through Goose River Press, which attracted some media attention and critical acclaim. He grew up in El Segundo, California and attended the University of Notre Dame. He graduated from Loyola Law School, where he wrote for the Law Review. He also performed a judicial externship for Judge Cynthia Holcomb Hall of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before practicing law in Los Angeles for seven years. He initiated a comprehensive esports program at the ECAC in the spring of 2018, which has grown from twelve schools in that first year to over 130, and now includes roughly 800 teams and 4000 competitors playing 14 different titles. Coonan lives in Newtown, Connecticut with his wife, Donna. They have three children.
Tim Sullivan
Tim Sullivan became Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) in February 2018. The NJEDA serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth and is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. During his tenure, Tim has led the NJEDA’s transformation into a comprehensive economic development organization dedicated to implementing Governor Phil Murphy’s vision for a stronger and fairer New Jersey. Tim has overseen the creation of new programs focused on catalyzing industry clusters and a dedicated Small Business Services unit charged with providing robust financial, workforce, and technical support to the State’s small business community, with a focus on historically underrepresented firms. Under his leadership, the NJEDA has led the development and implementation of more than 15 programs created under the Economic Recovery Act of 2020, provided more than $700 million in COVID-19 relief to small businesses impacted by the pandemic, facilitated the construction of the NJ Wind Port and growth of a robust offshore wind industry in New Jersey, collaborated with partners in the private sector to grow New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem, and helped municipalities revitalize brownfields and other underused spaces into valuable community assets. Tim most recently served as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), where he oversaw State tourism and branding, brownfield redevelopment, transit-oriented development, and waterfront initiatives. Tim joined the DECD in January 2014 and became Deputy Commissioner the next year. Tim previously served as Chief of Staff to the New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, focusing on transportation and transit-oriented development, brownfield redevelopment, waterfront and maritime/port redevelopment, public and affordable housing policy, small business support, infrastructure finance, and public/private partnerships. Prior to joining city government in 2010, Tim worked at Barclays Capital as Chief of Staff to the Head of Global Investment Banking. He began his career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers in 2003 as a healthcare banker, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions for leading companies in the managed care, biotechnology, and healthcare services sectors. Tim is a graduate of Georgetown University.
Rob Johnson
Rob Johnson is Chief Executive Officer of Playfly Esports, connecting brands to esports communities throughout the high school, collegiate, amateur, and pro gaming ecosystem. Co-operators of NACE Starleague, the world's largest college esports league with nearly 700 schools and over 13,000 students who participated during the 2021-22 academic year. Rob previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Nerd Street Gamers (NSG), an esports infrastructure company based in Philadelphia, PA (2018-2020). NSG’s esports portfolio currently includes competitive gaming venues (Localhost), national esports events (Nerd Street Events), and content production (NSGTV). Under Rob’s operational direction, the company closed a Series A funding round lead by national retailer, Five Below, was named Technically Philly’s 2019 “startup of the year”, was recognized for “top 10 most innovative companies in gaming” by Fast Company, and he created the two-time Mid-Atlantic Emmy winning TV series, “FTW Philly,” airing on NBC Regional Sports Networks nationwide. Rob was a Vice President with Jackbox Games, the creator of hit party video games “You Don’t Know Jack” & “The Jackbox Party Pack” (2016-2018). Rob launched a first-of-its-kind mass audience gaming platform for the sports & entertainment industry, bringing Jackbox Games to National Football League, NCAA, and high-profile esports events. He also oversaw both consumer and business marketing strategy and launched the company’s portfolio of games nationally on cable-box based platforms. Before working in the video game industry, Rob was Vice President of Digital Media & Partnership Marketing for the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers. In 2014, his team earned a Webby Award Honoree for excellence in sports social media. That same year, Rob was also named to Philadelphia Business Journal’s "40 Under 40”. Between 2011 and 2013, Rob was Vice President of Marketing for Xfinity Live! Philadelphia, where he oversaw the opening and ongoing strategy for one of the highest-grossing dining & entertainment districts in North America. Rob had previously held marketing positions with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2008 to 2011, during which he created the nationally recognized “Relentless Pursuit of the Cup” marketing campaign leading up to the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup Final run. Rob also founded GreenLit Consulting, which provides hands-on business and personal brand building and led to co-authoring Millennial Reboot: Our Generation’s Playbook for Professional Growth, published in December 2016. Millennial Reboot launched as a #1 Amazon Best Seller in its category. A graduate of Marietta College and a national champion in the sport of rowing, he began his professional career as the Marketing Coordinator for the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars. While in Jacksonville, he earned his MBA from the Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University. A native of Margate City, New Jersey, Rob, and his wife, Kate, currently reside in St. Petersburg, Florida.
John Boyd, Jr.
John Boyd, Jr., is a Principal of the corporate site selection consultancy, The Boyd Company, Inc. Founded in 1975 in Princeton, NJ, The Boyd Company is a trusted provider of research and advice to leading companies, organizations and governments. Since joining the firm in 2002, John has worked on a wide range of site selection and development projects that have resulted in billions of dollars of capital investment and tens of thousands of new jobs in the U.S. and around the globe. The Boyd Co. has provided economic development counsel to a number of leading U.S. gaming markets, including Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and to Native American tribal properties in California, Arizona and Nevada. John is a frequent speaker at forums on corporate relocation, economic development and commercial real estate trends and his expert commentary is routinely featured in the national business press. For more information about John and The Boyd Company: www.theboydcompany.com
Allie Young - CEO
Entrepreneur Allie Young is the CEO and Founder of AXR Edge, formerly Axis Replay, the first-of-its kind entertainment and event facility for video games and esports. AXR Edge exists to provide gamers and their friends with a fun and social in-person gaming and entertainment experience that enables them to build stronger connections. Her affiliations and achievements include: Serves on the Executive Board of the Atlanta Esports Alliance, a division of the Atlanta Sports Council dedicated to gaming Serves on the advisory board for game developer, Fly Top Pilot Serves on the Board of Directors for non-profit Cxmmunity, dedicated to providing opportunities for esports and gaming to minority communities through education Member of EO of Atlanta Serves on the board of EO Atlanta and EO One World Launched the first HBCU Esports League with partners Twitch and Cxmmunity Launched the first FEMALED Esports Tournament to celebrate women leaders in esports and gaming An avid video gamer since her 20s, she used her knowledge of the sales and marketing industry along with her passion for gaming to create AXR Edge with the goal to bring gamers together. Allie brings the understanding, leadership, and organization to her role as CEO to ensure the success of AXR Edge. With a knack for building strong relationships and collaboration, she is a visionary with a unique perspective on impactful experiences and thinking outside the box.
J Moses
J Moses has been a director since April 2007. Mr. Moses serves on the Advisory Boards of Simulmedia, Inc. and Flow Corp, Inc. Mr. Moses also is an Advisor to the President of KapanLagi, the largest on-line media business in Indonesia, as well as a consultant in the United States, where he works closely with a range of clients and in strategic alliance with Borden Media Consulting. Most recently, Mr. Moses was founder and President of Bagooba, Inc. a social media start up based in New York City. From 1998 until July 2009, Mr. Moses was the Chief Executive Officer of UGO Networks, Inc., an online publisher delivering information and entertainment for gamers. Mr. Moses, who co-founded UGO Networks, managed the sale of that company to the Hearst Corporation in August 2007. Prior thereto, Mr. Moses served as President of MTV Russia and oversaw the launch of MTV Networks in Russia in 1998. Mr. Moses, a 30-year veteran of entertainment and technology, also served as the President of BMG Interactive from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Moses’ vast media experience and leadership history, including his role as President of MTV Russia, is a key asset to the Board of Directors, and as such, the Board of Directors has deemed Mr. Moses qualified to serve as a director.
