2024 LLI Speakers
Cid Rhomberg, Coaching and Consulting Experience, Franklin Covey
Cid Rhomberg works with executives and leaders to help them discover their potential based on embracing three critical drivers in every organization: people, productivity and profitability. She
joined Franklin Covey as an Executive Coach in 2016 and became a Consultant in 2020. After holding executive positions in strategic planning and marketing in Fortune 100 companies, she recognizes the
competencies, skills and leadership characteristics that result in successful executives, teams and outcomes.
Rhomberg is comfortable working in various industries based on her B2B and B2C, leading large teams focused in the areas of strategy design, channel growth, customer experience and intelligence, brand, digital and creative. She is certified as a professional business coach, an advanced facilitator, and in numerous behavioral/personality assessment tools.
Rhomberg graduated from Ohio State University with dual degrees in marketing and logistics.
Cindy Polzin, Executive Director, Wisconsin Lottery
On October 31, 2016 the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Secretary Richard G. Chandler announced the appointment of Cindy Polzin as the Division of Lottery Administrator. At that time, Polzin had
served in state government for more than 13 years. She oversees the division and serves as the Lottery Director. The Director is responsible for the overall management of Lottery operations
including oversight of sales and marketing, internal operations and management of over $600 million in annual revenues.
Polzin, originally from Pound, Wisconsin, began her career in the State Assembly as a Policy Advisor in the Majority Leader's office. She also spent over three years as a Policy Analyst with
the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Most recently, Polzin has been Governor Walker's Deputy Chief of Staff, where she worked to implement the Governor's budget and policy goals with the
state legislature.
Polzin began her current role on November 28, 2016.
Rebecca Paul, President and CEO, Tennessee Education Lottery
Rebecca Paul has served in leadership roles in the lottery industry for more than 35 years, including as Chief Executive of the Illinois, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee lotteries. In three of
those four states she led the start-up and remains one of the most respected, experienced leaders in the field. She is currently the President and CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation,
which has raised more than $7 billion for education in that state.
Rebecca’s resume includes a long list of lottery, business and civic accomplishments, honors and awards. She is the current President of the World Lottery Association and a past Chair of its
Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. She serves on the Board of Trustees at Butler University and is the founder of the Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership, a worldwide program designed to
support the advancement of women into top positions of lottery management, leadership and responsibility.
Rebecca has served as President and/or Chair of all offices of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the Multi-State Lottery Association, and President of the
international industry organization A.I.L.E.
Ms. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Butler University and is a native of Indiana.
Andy Davis, Chief Financial & Information Systems Officer, Tennessee Education Lottery
Andy Davis was recruited in October 2003 to become part of the diverse and experienced executive team that led the rapid and successful start-up of the TEL. He is responsible for planning,
organizing, and directing the corporation’s financial activities. This includes general accounting and reporting; accounts receivables; retailer and product accounting; budgeting and financial
planning; treasury management; and purchasing activities, which include soliciting qualified minority firms to participate in the lottery’s non-major procurement bid opportunities.
Additionally, Davis is responsible for planning and directing the corporation’s information systems activities, including operational oversight of the gaming systems’ operations; electronic drawing systems and operations; in-house data processing; local and wide-area networking and telecommunications; and software planning and testing.
His professional experience spans more than 37 years in the auditing, accounting, and information systems areas. He has nearly 30 years of lottery experience, serving 19 years with the TEL and 10 years with the Georgia Lottery. During his tenure in Georgia, he served in varying senior management capacities, including Senior Vice President of Finance and Information Systems; Senior Vice President of Operations/Management Information Systems; Vice President of Finance; and Vice President of Internal Controls.
In 2015, Davis received the NASPL Powers Award, given in recognition for outstanding performance by a lottery or vendor employee. In 2018, he received the Major Peter J. O'Connell Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to the tremendous success over the years at the Tennessee and Georgia lotteries.
Alonda W. McCutcheon, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Tennessee Education Lottery
Alonda McCutcheon is responsible for all aspects of the TEL’s legal affairs. She has executive management responsibility for the Corporation’s Legal, Human Resources, Corporate Services, Retailer
Contracts Administration, and Security departments. In addition, she serves as the TEL’s Corporate Secretary and renders legal advice and counsel to the Board of Directors.
McCutcheon joined the TEL in October 2013 as Vice President of Legal Services for Corporate Compliance. Because of her extensive employment law experience, she was quickly promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Compliance, where she was given dual responsibilities for managing human resources and corporate compliance. She also managed the TEL’s Minority Business Participation Program. She was promoted to her current role in August 2019.
Prior to joining the TEL, McCutcheon worked in private practice for twelve years at the law firm of Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, where she represented management in all aspects of employment and labor relations law. While at Bass, Berry & Sims, she worked as a law clerk, an associate attorney, and a member in the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group. She served on the firm’s Recruiting, Diversity and Women’s Initiative Committees, and was a charter member of the firm’s African American affinity group, 3AG.
McCutcheon has been a member of numerous Bar Associations, including Napier-Looby, the Nashville and the Tennessee Bar. She is a former Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow (2012)
and an alumnus of the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law (2010). She is an active member of the Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has served in several
leadership positions. She is also a member of the Pearls of Promise Foundation, Nashville, where she served on the Board of Directors from 2016-2020.
McCutcheon graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Middle Tennessee State University’s Honor College. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University Law School. She is licensed in all Tennessee state courts and is admitted to practice law before the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western districts of Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Wylie Dillard, Executive Vice President of Sales, Tennessee Education Lottery
Wylie Dillard joined the TEL in August 2018 as the EVP of Sales. He has more than 25 years of experience in the lottery industry and is committed to maximizing funds for beneficiary causes.
As EVP of Sales, Dillard is responsible for all aspects of the sales function, including retailer sales and services; corporate accounts; warehouse management and distribution; and the TEL’s four district offices. He leads a 90-plus member sales team responsible for retailer relations and the entire player sales experience.
Prior to joining the TEL, Dillard served as Vice President of Sales for Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group. He was charged with developing and executing the organization’s strategic plan for sales when the Lottery contracted with Northstar to manage its sales and marketing functions. He managed retailer recruiting and boosting same store sales growth, and he played a key role in the launch of Northstar New Jersey Lottery’s Quick Draw game.
Dillard began his lottery career as part of the launch of the Georgia Lottery. He served in several roles during his 20-year stint in the Peach State, including Retailer Services Representative; Sales Representative; Sales Manager; Prize Validation Manager; Keno Product Manager; and Sales Director. As Sales Director, he was instrumental in helping the Georgia Lottery consistently achieve its sales goals and build its retailer base.
Dillard earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College and has four children.
Lou Ann Russell, Executive Vice President of Advertising & Marketing, Tennessee Education Lottery
Lou Ann Russell is a marketing and advertising professional with 29 years in the lottery industry, committed to building brands and creating successes. She joined the TEL executive management team in
February 2014. Her key responsibilities include the strategic development of advertising; marketing and communications programs; corporate business initiatives; new games and promotions; digital
marketing strategies; player affinity programs; player services; and responsible gaming programs.
Russell’s commitment extends throughout the lottery industry as well. She is a member of numerous marketing committees throughout the country, collaborates with primary vendors on strategic planning, and is a conference presenter and participant with national and international organizations. She is also a member of the World Lottery Association’s Responsible Gaming Working Group.
Prior to joining the TEL, Russell was Deputy Executive Director of Marketing, Advertising & Communications with the North Carolina Education Lottery. As a member of the NCEL startup team, she established a division focused on pursuing excellence and created a successful lottery brand that achieved record sales. Before joining the NCEL, Russell was Senior Vice President, Account Director, at Austin Kelley Advertising in Atlanta, where she managed the Georgia Lottery account. With a 12-year account retention record, she worked alongside the executive team at the Georgia Lottery as it became one of the most successful lotteries in the nation.
Russell has a commitment to excellence, and she is focused on maximizing business growth potential and grooming the next generation of lottery marketing professionals.
May Scheve Reardon, Vice President of Government Relations, Pollard Banknote
With an extensive and trailblazing history of leadership roles in the lottery industry, May Scheve Reardon leads Pollard Banknote’s government relations and legislative affairs efforts. Prior to
joining Pollard Banknote, Reardon served as the Director of the Missouri Lottery for 13 years, and in 2019, she was inducted into the Public Gaming Research Institute Lottery Hall of Fame for her
outstanding contributions. She has also held other leadership positions within the industry, including serving as presidents of both NASPL and the Multi-State Lottery Association, which operates
Powerball on behalf of its member lotteries.
Michelle Carney, Vice President, Global Lottery Marketing, IGT
In her current role, Michelle Carney is responsible for the development of marketing and communications strategies that support growth in the IGT Global Lottery business. She also leads the
management of relationships and trade show events with industry associations such as NASPL, the World Lottery Association and European Lotteries. Additionally, Carney has spent 15 years collaborating
with lotteries and industry associations to evolve the Powerball and Mega Millions multijurisdictional game portfolio in the U.S. These games contribute substantial revenue for good causes.
Carney received her Master of Business Administration from University of Rhode Island's College of Business in Kingston, R.I., and holds a Bachelor of Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Penn. She is based out of IGT's North America Lottery Headquarters in Providence, R.I.
Cherie Norman, PMP, Vice President, Marketing Operations, Scientific Games
Cherie Norman joined SG in 2004 in Global Project Management, then moved to the instant product Cooperative Services Program in 2005. As CSP evolved into Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership, so did
her career. For the last eight years, she has been a leader in the company’s premiere program delivering top-level service to SG’s customers.
Since being promoted into her current role in February 2024, Norman has operational oversight for all financial, legal, compliance, procurement and HR-related functions for the MarCom team, which is
comprised of Marketing, Analytics, Consumer Insights, Communications, Proposals, and Tradeshows & Events.
Norman holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech and is a certified PMP.
Richard Bateson, Chief Commercial Officer, INTRALOT
Richard Bateson has worked within the lottery industry for the past 20 years. A marketer by trade, Bateson joined the industry after working at Unilever and then Fujitsu – blending marketing and
technology as a discipline. His first role in the industry was with Camelot UK as a project manager, setting up the EuroMillions pan-European lottery game. Bateson launched EuroMillions with La
Française Des Jeux and Loterias y Apuestas del Estado in early 2004. He went on to be a board member of EuroMillions and then served as President for more than five years.
During his time at Camelot, Bateson worked in roles in both the UK and internationally. In the UK, he ran Scratchcards, held the role of Games Controller, and led Camelot’s Sales, Marketing and Digital (iLottery) capabilities. Outside of the UK, he set up Camelot Global’s commercial team, winning contracts across Europe and North America – most notably leading the bid for PLI in Ireland and commercial contracts in New York, Kentucky and Arkansas, to name a few.
Most recently, he has been a management consultant working with Jumbo Interactive, Teneo (a C-Suite consulting services business), and Camelot UK.
In April 2023, Bateson joined INTRALOT Inc. as Chief Commercial Officer. His primary focus has been to work with the management team on resetting the company’s customer engagement, transforming the company’s marketing and content offerings, and setting-up a team to help drive lottery customer sales and returns.
David Gale, Executive Director, NASPL
David Gale has been the Executive Director of NASPL since March 1995. His lottery industry experience began with serving as Director of Marketing for the Ohio Lottery, where he was instrumental in
the development of the first lottery TV game show, Cash Explosion.
In the private sector, Gale served as Vice President of Marketing and General Manager of the British American Banknote Pennsylvania printing facility, where he oversaw the complete instant ticket
printing process for the company’s North American lottery clients. While at BABN, Gale participated in the 1987 startup of the Kansas Lottery.
Since assuming the title of NASPL Executive Director, Gale has successfully added a long list of additional accomplishments, including his 2012 induction into the PGRI Lottery Industry Hall of Fame. In this role, he has acted as a strong advocate for the industry, offering congressional testimony, publishing, conference and trade show coordination, industry-leading research, standards and best practices, and day-to-day membership activities.
Andrew White, Vice President of Operations, NASPL
Currently in his 24th year at the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries, Andrew White has served as the Vice President Operations since 2013. In this
position, he works closely with the Executive Director to ensure the Association continues to be innovative, stays true to its mission, and serves the North American lottery
industry. White's current focus includes the project management of corporate social responsibility, responsible gambling, standards and best practices, and I.T. Other areas
of work include membership services, electronic media and A/V production, government relations, event planning, and tradeshows. Previously for NASPL, he has served in
the roles of Project Manager, Trade Show Coordinator, and Conference Coordinator.
Prior to joining the Association, White held positions in marketing, advertising, printing, graphic design, and journalism.
White is a graduate of Edinboro University and holds a bachelor’s degree in English writing with a journalism minor.
Tami West, Stress and Mental Health Expert
Tami West, Ph.D, uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life's challenges.
Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and spent 10 years as a public school teacher. In 2013 she received her doctorate in human development, studying the connections among stress, emotions and identity.
Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the U.S., as well as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In any given year, she speaks to groups with audiences consisting of anywhere from 100 to 3,000 people. She is the author of several successful publications, including three books: The Stress Club, Life Without Monsters, and Thrive. When she's not speaking or writing, you might find her traveling with her husband and family, reading historical fiction, or watching Big Bang Theory.
Dr. West connects with audiences through real experiences, cutting edge research and transparent – stories all sprinkled with humor! She will make you laugh, cry, and shine a refreshingly new light on life's challenges.
Kelly Carter, Co-Founder, Shakti Power Yoga
Kelly Carter is passionate about how yoga has changed her life. In 2006, she began practicing at a Sumit's Yoga location in Scottsdale, AZ. This became a turning point in her life towards a greater
quality of health and happiness, and she experienced what a positive impact the practice had on her spirit, mind and body. She began teaching in 2007 with a 200-hour RYT certification from Sumit
Banerjee from Sumit's Yoga. When Carter returned home to Nashville, she continued to fall in love with Power Yoga and dove into more training with incredible mentors like Baron Baptiste and Johanna
Smith. She is a certified Baptiste teacher and in 2016 she received her 500-hour certification with Charma Mittra. She loves to share yoga with others because of the positive impact it has had on her
life, and she believes yoga is a transformational practice from the inside out.
Carter and her sister opened the doors to one of Nashville's most beloved Power Yoga studios in 2012. Together, they lead a powerful community of yogis at Shakti Power Yoga. During the summer of 2014, Carter was able to experience the joy in taking her teaching and practice outside the studio to co-lead her first international yoga retreat. With over 11 years of teaching experience, she can lead all levels, from a challenging advanced Power Yoga flow to beginner yoga workshops for those brand new to the practice.
Carter resides in Nashville with her husband, Chris, and their two dogs, Marley and Clark. She is a lover of travel and the ocean. Yoga continues to allow her to grow, travel, and find happiness like she could never have imagined. Her mission is to live life fully present, to hold a space of peace, and to share her passion for yoga with others.