Khalid Jones, Executive Director – Virginia Lottery

Khalid R. Jones joined the Virginia Lottery as Executive Director in April 2024 (appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin). Little did he know that he was embarking upon the best time of his life. OK, maybe we shouldn’t say “best” because, you know, he married a beautiful woman and had a beautiful daughter, so they might rank a little higher than us. But only slightly.This past year, he’s led the organization to sales of $5.7 Billion (but truly, all you sales and marketing folks did the really hard work…) and, in the last two years, he’s handed over two huge checks to the Governor: $934 Million and $901 Million. I mean, it’s not every day you get to do something like that, right? And speaking of things you don’t get to do every day, how ‘bout those casinos?! Under his leadership, Khalid has worked with the Lottery Board to open two more permanent casinos in Bristol and Danville (that makes three when you count Portsmouth). Of course, don’t forget about overseeing the regulation of sports betting, and if you’ve talked with Khalid, you know he’s always got a good sports analogy at the ready. In between all of those business/numbers kind of things, Khalid has spent time out in the field seeing how we build truly valuable partnerships with our retailers, pulled midnight shifts at the casinos, paid winners at CSCs, and visited several schools to hand out prizes to public-school students and educators. Before he came to “The Best Job Ever,” Khalid began his career in securities litigation and co-founded SourceRock Partners, an investment firm. He has provided legal and strategic advice to various entities, including state and national lottery organizations.His thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Fox Business, and CNBC. He has spoken at conferences like the American Gaming Association’s Global Gaming Expo and delivered a TEDx talk on blockchain in sports (see above for reference to sports analogies). Khalid holds a patent on the gamification of streaming media and is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Stanford Law School.

Amy Dilworth, General Counsel – Virginia Lottery

Amy is head of the Lottery’s Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs. She joined state government as an Assistant Attorney General after 8 years in private practice in Richmond. While at the AG’s office, she was counsel to the Lottery, the Virginia Racing Commission and the Office of Charitable Gaming. In 2012, she joined the Lottery full-time as its General Counsel.

Dr. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Founder and CEO – ExpertTheory

Dr. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross is the founder and CEO of ExpertTheory, a company pioneering new ways for organizations to train, test decisions, and build insight through its Immersive Exercise approach. ExpertTheory is also making this approach scalable through its proprietary AI platform. ExpertTheory’s Exercises are used by major tech firms; the U.S., Canadian, and Swedish governments; and leading universities. Before building ExpertTheory, Daveed spent two decades as a practitioner in the national security space. During this time, he served as an expert witness in major terrorism-related trials; worked on live hostage negotiations; led training for members of the military and law enforcement; and served as the lead drafter of DHS’s 2019 Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence. The author of over thirty books and monographs, he holds a Ph.D. in world politics from The Catholic University of America and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law.

Eleanor Ross, Creative Director – ExpertTheory

Eleanor Ross is the Creative Director of ExpertTheory, an AI-based start-up that builds custom wargames and immersive exercises for defense, government, corporate, and academic clients. She leads all game and simulation design across ExpertTheory's portfolio, working with clients ranging from the Department of Defense to top-tier universities. Eleanor is recognized as one of the National Training and Simulation Association's younger ever Top Under 40 recipients and serves as a U.S. representative to NATO SAS-219.

Caroline Gilmore, Game Designer – ExpertTheory

Caroline Gilmore is a game designer at ExpertTheory, where she contributes to the design and facilitation of immersive simulations for clients in the public and private sectors. She has presented at the International Communication Association's Gaming and Toxic Masculinities Pre-Conference and has consulted for NATO Allied Command Transformation on the design of geostrategic crisis simulations. Prior to her current role, Caroline interned at Search for Common Ground, where she worked on global peacebuilding initiatives, and at the Women’s Foreign Policy Group. She holds a B.A. in international affairs from George Washington University.

Jennifer Mullen, Deputy Executive Director of Communications and Customer Relations – Virginia Lottery

Jennifer Mullen is the Deputy Executive Director of Communications and Customer Relations at the Virginia Lottery. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (GO RAMS!), Jennifer began her career as a news producer for NBC-12 in Richmond before moving into public relations. She joined the Virginia Lottery in 1998, then left from 2000-2002 for a role at Circuit City. However, because the Lottery is so awesome, she returned in 2002 and worked part-time as a draw show specialist for four years. Jennifer eventually transitioned back to Lottery HQ where she today leads communications efforts that build awareness of the Lottery’s support of K-12 public schools, oversees media relations and responsible gaming initiatives, and drives internal communications, employee engagement, and community outreach. She also leads the Lottery’s customer relations team and oversees the customer service centers, with a focus on continuously improving the customer service experience. Jennifer and her husband, also a former news producer who now works in public relations, have two children, Hannah and Jackson.

Jeff Wilson, APR, Senior Vice President – Social Impact

Jeff is a key member of Padilla’s Corporate Strategic Advisory (CSA) Practice, which provides counsel and strategic communications support on a range of corporate issues, including corporate communications, community relations, employee engagement, financial communications, executive leadership training and thought leadership. Additionally, Jeff leads the Social Impact Consultancy, a team that specializes in diversity, equity + inclusion (DEI) communications, community engagement, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainability. He is also responsible for leading internal DEI and CSR initiatives across Padilla’s seven U.S. offices. Recent client engagements include campaigns for the LEGO Group, Richmond Region Tourism, and Edward Jones Financial. He is actively involved in the community and with industry organizations and currently serves on the national board for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and board chair for the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts). He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in communications from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Dwayne Whitehead, Senior Consultant and Facilitator – Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute

Dr. Dwayne Whitehead is an Amazon Bestselling Author, leadership strategist, and curriculum expert with over two decades of experience in education, professional development, and executive coaching. He is a Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Leadership Team and serves as the founder of The Whitehead Group- a leadership and professional development firm serving multiple industries. He has designed and facilitated leadership training for governments, universities, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofit organizations—both nationally and abroad. His published works, I Learned the Hard Way and Over the Edge: The Journey of Self-Leadership, blend strategic insight with personal storytelling to inspire leaders to grow, adapt, and lead with authenticity. Dr. Whitehead holds a Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in curriculum development from St. Thomas University, a Master of Arts in Education from the same institution, and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. At the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Dr. Whitehead contributes to developing courageous, competent, and compassionate leaders across diverse sectors. His facilitation expertise spans key leadership competencies such as adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, inclusive practices, and strategic communication. Known for his dynamic and reflective facilitation style, he creates learning environments that are both energizing and transformational—equipping leaders with practical tools for real-world impact. Dr. Whitehead and his wife, Cheryl, have five amazing children.

MG Kopjanski, Conflict Resolution Specialist – Commonwealth of Virginia

MG. Kopjanski is a conflict resolution specialist. In her current position with the Commonwealth of Virginia, she focuses on interpersonal conflict in the workplace. MG is a Virginia Supreme Court Certified mediator and Eckard University certified in the use of the Conflict Dynamics Profile, which she uses in her capacity as a professional development coach. MG received her graduate degrees from the Center for Study and Practice of Conflict Resolution at the University of Malta and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter school for Conflict Resolution at George Mason. She volunteers as judge for law school tournaments, speaks at international conferences on topics like youth engagement and empowerment, and is Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in abuse and neglect cases. In her spare time, MG enjoys traveling, being outdoors, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and bonding with friends while working on vehicles.

Derrick Strand, Executive Director – UPPCC

Derrick Strand is the Executive Director of UPPCC (Universal Public Procurement Certification Council).  He has over 30 years of experience in training and development, financial management, operational audit and management consulting.  Prior to joining UPPCC, he ran a training and development firm focused on management and leadership programs for both the public and private sector including leadership programs in state procurement for Virginia and Maryland. Derrick spent the earlier portion of his career working for large international organizations including Deloitte Consulting, KPMG, Rexam and International Paper. He is a DISC certified behavioral analyst and facilitator and was a licensed CPA for over 20 years (currently inactive).  Derrick is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a BS in Accountancy and is based in Richmond, VA.