The American Gaming Association (AGA) has bolstered its leadership team with new senior directors for communications, government relations, events and finance.
Cait DeBaun will serve as senior director of strategic communications, in which she will lead the association’s integrated communication strategy.
She previously worked for the US Travel Association, as director of communications for Project: Time Off, an initiative to encourage people to use their vacation allowance. DeBaun also led communications efforts for government campaigns for the public relations arm of media giant Ogilvy.
Jessica Feil, who becomes the AGA’s senior director of government relations, will advocate for the AGA in legislative and regulatory fields. She had previously worked at Washington, D.C. law firm Ifrah law and the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office in Ohio.
Meredith Pallante, meanwhile, has been named senior director of events, overseeing trade shows such as the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) series, including G2E Las Vegas. Pallante previously served as the Consumer Technology Association’s senior manager for events and partnerships.
Finally, Gabrielle Voorhees will head up the AGA’s financial operations and human resources as senior finance director.
Voorhees had served for three decades at the The International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR), most recently as a controller.
The quartet of hires are the highest-profile appointments in a wider-ranging recruitment drive by the AGA. This has also seen Will Dennis named manager of strategic communications, with Audra Hill joining as an executive assistant. Brandon Leggiero has been appointed manager of government relations and political action committee director, while Mirvantz Pierre will serve as finance and operations coordinator.
“There’s never been a been a more exciting time to be a part of the gaming industry, and our ability to attract this level of talent reflects that,” AGA president and chief executive Bill Miller said.
“These four, high-caliber professionals represent a broad array of experience and talent that will be an asset to our industry and our members day in and day out.”
In June, the AGA made three promotions in order to reflect the industry body’s focus on market modernization and advocacy.
Dan Bretl, Chris Cylke and Casey Clark were promoted to senior vice president of strategy and operations, senior vice president and senior vice president of government relations respectively.
Meanwhile, senior vice president of public affairs Sarah Slane and senior vice president and general counsel Stacy Papadopoulos departed from the association at the same time.