(PRESS RELEASE) -- Global Gaming Women (GGW) announces the 13th Annual Kick Up Your Heels premier fundraising event to support the GGW Charitable Education Fund. The event supports scholarships and other development offerings for professional women in the gaming industry and celebrates honorees of the Patty Becker Pay It Forward award on Wednesday, 11 October, from 5 to 7 p.m. at XS Nightclub at Wynn, Las Vegas. In addition, GGW has a surprise in store for all attendees of this year's Kick Up Your Heels event. Unveiling will occur promptly at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, 10 October, Global Gaming Women Board Member, Ellen Whittemore, will be inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023. She currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Wynn Resorts. This recognition is a tribute to Whittemore’s legacy as a renowned expert in gaming law, as well as a humanitarian and champion for gender equality in the industry. Global Gaming Women is proud to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside her.
GGW is also excited to announce the return of the in-person Sip & Social with Keynote Speaker Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League, for a fireside chat centering on her journey throughout the gaming industry and leading to her current tenure as the first black female team president in the NFL. Join us for a light breakfast, networking, and inspiration on Thursday, 12 October, from 8 to 10 a.m. in Casanova Room 501 inside The Venetian Expo at
The Venetian Las Vegas. Tickets are $50 per attendee and $60 the week of the event. Registration is required. In addition, this event will also celebrate the honorees of CDC Gaming Report's "10 Women Rising in Gaming", in partnership with Global Gaming Women.
GGW leadership continues our essential pillar of work as the leading gaming industry non-profit dedicated to supporting, inspiring, and influencing the development of professional women, with participation in a series of educational panels during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2023 with three distinctive panels. Access to the academic track requires the purchase of an All-Access or 1-Day pass.
GGW sessions in partnership with G2E include:Tuesday, 10 October, 11:40 - 12:30 p.m., Titian 2205:- How Female Gamers are Influencing Game Design
Moderator: Carolyn Tomczyk, Sr. Director, Art Design at Konami
Panelists: Kimberly Cohn, Senior Director of Game Design at Light & Wonder, Helen Walton, Chief Commercial Officer at G. Games and Francine Maric, Gaming Blogger and Influencer known as Lady Luck HQ
Tuesday, 10 October, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Titian 2205:- Lessons in Leadership: The GGW Model
Moderator: Lauren Bates, Global Gaming Women President 2024
Panelists: Cassie Stratford, Senior Vice President of Legal Operations and Regulatory Compliance at Boyd Gaming, Christie Eickelman, Vice President of Global Marketing at Gaming Laboratories International, LLC and Phyllis Gilland, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Golden Entertainment
Tuesday, 10 October, 3:10 - 4 p.m., Titian 2205:- Gamechangers: Gaming's Trailblazing Women
Moderator: Melissa Aarskaug Vice President of Game Sales at Gaming Laboratories International, LLC
Panelists: Debi Nutton, Board Member at Everi Holdings Inc. and Julie Cameron-Doe, Chief Financial Officer at Wynn Resorts
"Global Gaming Women is ushering in a new era at this year's G2E with an impressive line-up of educational programing on Tuesday, followed by the ever-popular 13th Annual Kick Up Your Heels Fundraiser Wednesday evening and then the return of Sip & Social with an inspirational keynote speech on Thursday morning,” said Cassie Stratford, president of Global Gaming Women. “We are thrilled that because of the ongoing support of our generous sponsors, we are able to continue offering educational programming and events that allow our members to connect, be empowered and collaborate furthering the success of women and improving our industry overall.”
GGW membership represents women in commercial, tribal, suppliers, lottery, tourism, and digital. Soon after its launch, offering education and training, mentoring, and networking events, membership multiplied. GGW has more than 7,000 professional women members in all states and over 30 countries, with members in job level categories of 21% front-line leaders, 30% supervisors and managers, 25% directors, and 25% vice presidents or above. In addition to its traditional offerings, development programs include Lean-In circles and virtual masterclasses.