Get to Know Your Presenter
Jerry Bauerkemper, BS, CDGC, Problem Gambling Services Consultant, Iowa Problem Gambling Services, Galveston Island, TX
Jerry Bauerkemper BS, CCGC, past Executive Director of the Nebraska Council on Compulsive Gambling is currently working as a consultant for the Iowa Department of Public Health. Mr. Bauerkemper was the first director of problem gambling (1992-1996) for the state of Nebraska where he created the Gambler Assistance program and pioneered the treatment of gambling counseling in Nebraska. In addition, he was appointed and served on the Nebraska’s Commission on Problem Gambling. He served on the Board of Directors for the National Council on Problem Gambling from 2001-2008 and from 2012-2016. Mr. Bauerkemper is a consultant, helping gambling programs recover from the loss of clients, and is currently working with the State of Iowa. He also serves on the National Council’s Legislative Committee where he helps raise awareness of problem gambling in Washington, D.C. Mr. Bauerkemper has been providing counseling to gambling families since 1986. He has published research on the prevalence of problem gambling in the Nebraska Probation Department. He received the “First Step” award in 1999 and the Wisconsin Leadership award in 2016 for his work with problem gamblers. Mr. Bauerkemper is an internationally recognized expert on problem gambling and has provided training throughout the United States and Southeast Asia.
Gayle Bigsby, CSAC (Retired), Fond du Lac, WI
Gayle Bigsby is a retired Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor with 13 years’ experience in addiction. She graduated from Walden University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a concentration in addiction. Experience includes performing individual counseling and facilitated and co-facilitated AODA groups. Gayle also completed the Problem Gambling Disorder Training Program – Phase I through Phase IV in 2017 through the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. Gayle has been a member of the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling since April of 2019 and has been presenting her personal story on problem gambling and how it has impacted her life.
Scott Caldwell, MS, CSAC, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, WI
Evidence-based practice has been a central theme of Scott Caldwell’s three decades in human services as practitioner, trainer, consultant, and evaluator. Since becoming a member of the Motivational Interviewing (MI) Network of Trainers in 2008, Scott has delivered over 350 multiday MI workshops touching thousands of professionals across Wisconsin. As the lead for MI and SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Scott provides implementation, team facilitation, training, consultation, and evaluation in several sites across Wisconsin.
Heather Chapman, Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D., ICGC-II, BACC
Dr. Heather Chapman is a clinical psychologist, a National Certified Gambling Counselor, and Board Certified Clinical Consultant for the National Council on Problem Gambling as well as a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Council on Problem Gambling.
She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, Deputy Director of the Veterans Addiction Recovery Center, and the Director of the Gambling Treatment Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center as well as the leader of gambling treatment, training consultation, and research for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.
After 30 years of work in the gambling field, Dr. Chapman was recently honored by the National Council on Problem Gambling with the Robert Custer Lifetime Award for Direct Service. Dr. Chapman’s aim is as a research practitioner, helping people struggling with gambling and developing interactive and dynamic tools to assist and maintain change.
Michael Goldman, MA, LPC, PCGC, CRADC, CEAP, SAP, CuraLinc Healthcare, Glenview, IL
Michael Goldman, M.A. has been a trainer and certified addictions counselor (CRADC) for the past 39 years and certified employee assistance program (CEAP) counselor the past 34 years. He is also a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), and a certified Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor (PCGC). As a trainer, he has developed and implemented over 4,700 hours of wellness programs. This includes stress management, conflict resolution, nutrition/fitness, time management, financial management, chemical dependency awareness, anger management, sexual harassment, smoking cessation, compulsive gambling, bullying in the workplace, mindfulness-based stress reduction, suicide, autism, and cultural diversity.
He currently works as a formal Referral Specialist for CuraLinc Healthcare. As an EAP professional, he assists people to receive the type of help for personal issues they require. Prior to that, he was an EAP counselor for Cook County Government for 30 years and was responsible for assessment of employees’ personal problems, securing resources for those problems, coordinating insurance benefits, and providing case management. In addition, he has consulted with management and unions concerning impaired employees.
He has provided training nationally to employees, to treatment professionals, at conferences, and to community groups. He is currently a member of the Northern Illinois Employee Assistance Professionals Association. He has also served on their Board of Directors, as their treasurer, and as annual conference chairman. He also belongs to the Illinois & Wisconsin Councils on Problem Gambling and has served on the board of directors for the ICPG.
Patricia Jirovetz, ATRL, LPC, ICGC-II, Creative Calm Counseling, LLC, Oshkosh, WI
Patricia Jirovetz, ATRL, LPC, NCGC II is a nationally certified problem gamblers counselor, art therapist, and licensed professional counselor. She has over 20 years of experience and is currently in private practice at Creative Calm Counseling LLC in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She has presented at the WCPG State Conference as well as workshops and presentations throughout the state on both problem gambling and art therapy. Patricia is currently President of the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. She is a past president of the Wisconsin Art Therapy Association. Patricia has been involved in special projects including Celebrating Recovery, Hope, and Support 5K Run/Walk in Green Bay.
Doug LaBelle, LCSW, ICGC-II, CEAP, Kenosha, WI
Doug LaBelle, LCSW, ICGC-II, CEAP, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Wisconsin, International Certified Gambling Counselor II, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, and a Trainer with the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. He has over 38 years’ of experience as an administrator, clinician, trainer, and presenter. Doug has worked with organizations, groups, individuals, and families impacted by behavioral health disorders including Substance Use Disorder, Gambling Disorder, and Gaming Disorder. Doug is currently working as an Independent Consultant, EAP Professional, Trainer, and Speaker with a specialty in Gambling/Gambling Disorder and Video Gaming/Gaming Disorder.
Saul Malek, Public Speaker, Dallas, TX
Saul Malek is a 25-year-old Dallas based speaker and educator on gambling harm prevention. Saul developed a gambling addiction as a college sophomore, losing money, time, relationships, and nearly his life. Since finding recovery in 2019, he has made it his mission to help keep others safe from gambling problems. He has spoken to schools (both high school and college), athlete mental health organizations, suicide prevention groups, parent groups, popular news outlets (including the New York Times, National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service, and Dallas Morning News), the 2023 Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling annual conference, and has been invited as a keynote to the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling annual conference in March. He has also been awarded as a vendor of 5 school districts across Texas and serves as a board member of the newly formed Texas Coalition on Problem Gambling. He has been lauded as a strong, passionate speaker able to keep audiences engaged and informed on an issue that often goes undiscussed.
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, On The Mark Consulting, Chicago, IL
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is an international speaker and consultant in behavioral health whose presentations have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies, Lithuania, and Guam. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards including the prestigious NAADAC Enlightenment Award. He was one of three finalists for the National Association for Addiction Professionals 50th Anniversary Legends Award. Mark is also the recipient of the Illinois Certification Board’s Professional of the Year Award, The Illinois Certification Board, Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago alumni.
Mark is the author of five books on behavioral health recovery. Recent writings include: “Slipping Through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies For Clients With Multiple Addictions Disorders” and “Relationship Detox: A Counselors Guide To Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships In Recovery.” He was lead writer on a trauma informed gun violence prevention curriculum, which is being implemented in several large cities in the United States. His groundbreaking monograph Recovery Management co-authored with historians William White and Earnest Kurtz helped shift substance use disorders treatment and recovery from the acute care model solely towards a Recovery Oriented System of Care. Mark has had two stories published in the New York Times bestselling book series, “Chicken Soup for The Soul.”
Mark has also had a 30-year career as a university educator, having taught at The University of Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago and Illinois State University Schools of Social Work. He is co-founder of Serenity Academy Chicago, a program which sponsors recovery-oriented peer groups in local high schools.
Andrew J. Schreier, ICS, CSAC, LPC, BACC, ICGC-II, Community Medical Services & New Life Resources, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WI
Andrew J. Schreier is an Independent Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Approved Clinical Consultant, and International Certified Gambling Counselor – II. Mr. Schreier graduated from Ottawa University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Human Services. He is the Wisconsin Clinical Coordinator for Community Medical Services that provides medicated-assisted treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder. He provides oversight and guidance for all clinical and behavioral health services. Mr. Schreier also works at New Life Resources, Inc. that provides individual counseling/therapy, children and adolescent services, couples/marital counseling, group therapy, and consultation. Experience over the years includes working in a group home, halfway house, residential, medicated-assisted treatment, and outpatient treatment settings. He presents on various topics related to substance use, mental health, gambling, clinical supervision, ethics, and various other topics to statewide and national audiences. Mr. Schreier is the host of “Talking Addiction & Recovery” Podcast.
James Schreier, Ph.D., SPHR, Beyond the Far Cliffs, West Allis, WI
James W. Schreier, Ph.D., SPHR, is an independent consultant and leadership coach. He has a Masters in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Education, Guidance, and Counseling, from Marquette University. He has a 40+ year history of research, writing, and presenting on issues related to substance abuse in organizations. He has consulted with and presented leadership and management training programs for profit, non-profit, and religious organizations around the world.
He is the Master Trainer for the Implications Wheel process and has led explorations for thousands of participants. He is the co-author, with renowned futurist Joel Barker, of “Finding the Future Faster, A Guidebook,” and the author of the companion eBook of “Finding the Future Faster ChatGPT Experiments.”
Jeanne Wagner, MSW, LCSW, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Johnsburg, IL
Jeanne Wagner joined the staff at the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare in May 2005 as the Director of Social Work Field Education Programs. She received her MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work, Chicago, IL and her BSW from Morehead State University, Morehead, KY.
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Professor with extensive clinical, management, administrative, and educational experience. She has worked in a variety of social service settings prior to her appointment with UWM, which include child welfare, adoption (domestic and international), mental health, intellectual disabilities, geriatrics, and private practice. She currently teaches courses in social work, develops and presents continuing education programs covering social work ethics and boundaries, leadership and supervision, case management, documentation, confidentiality, adoption competency, safety in the field, etc. She is a Trainer for the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) curriculum through the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE) and UWM’s Co-Director for TAC. She has served in the role of Ombuds for UWM since 2007 and has 10 years of experience in Quality Assurance. She serves on the Board for NASW-WI and is President of the Council for Social Work Education
