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Staff and Volunteers

Ted Hartwell
Executive Director

In his professional role as Executive Director of the Council, Ted Hartwell serves as the public spokesperson and engages with key stakeholders at the local, state, and national level on all issues related to problem gambling. As a person in long term recovery from a gambling problem, Ted is committed to spreading awareness of problem gambling to the people of Nevada.

Ted oversees community engagement and project development activities to support successful implementation of problem gambling awareness and prevention programs throughout Nevada.

As a member of the Leadership Team for the Council’s Gambling Awareness Prevention Partnership (GAPP), Ted works with Council staff and community stakeholders to identify priorities for collaborative projects to promote community awareness and prevention of problem gambling in Nevada, including the Annual Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March, and Speakers Bureau activities throughout the year.

In 2013, Ted was appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to serve on the Nevada State Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, where he currently continues to serve. In 2014 he received the prestigious Shannon L. Bybee Award for Advocacy, presented by the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling for his many volunteer efforts with the Council, the Problem Gambling Center and Lanie’s Hope.


Nann Meador
Operations Manager

Nann Meador is a 32-year resident of Southern Nevada with over 27 years’ professional experience in executive management and administration.  Since joining the Council in 2016, Nann has increased organizational efficiencies and contributed new ideas and energy to the team as a person in long term recovery.  Her compassion for individuals and families impacted by addiction, particularly those struggling with addiction-related legal issues, adds important perspective to her work in support of the Council’s mission and vision.

Nann is responsible for all program accounting, inventory and database management, contracting, grant documentation and reporting, and support staff training and supervision.  She is the contact person and outreach coordinator for NCPG’s free book distribution program which has placed over 200 problem gambling books and publications in 32 libraries in 12 Nevada counties, including 5 state and federal prisons, since 2015.  Nann is also a valued member of the Council’s GAPP leadership team, providing management oversight for Problem Gambling Awareness Month activities and other collaborative events.

Having raised her 6 children to adulthood, Nann now enjoys hosting family holiday meals, her grandchildren’s weekend sleepovers, and watching their Little League ballgames.  Nann is active in her church and recovery community where she shares her personal experience to benefit others in their recovery journey.


Jessica Ievolello
Program Coordinator

Jessica Ievolello is a 34-year resident of Southern Nevada with over 10 years professional experience in office administration and hospitality. Jessica is currently a student at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and working towards her Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a Minor in Problem Gambling. As a person in long term recovery from a gambling addiction Jessica has a strong passion for bringing awareness to problem gambling and advocating for available local resources. As Program Coordinator, Jessica is responsible for daily administrative support, and coordinates and engages with the public in community events and presentations. She also represents the Council in multiple community organizations with cross-cutting interests. Jessica also coordinates the Council’s Recovery Advocacy Team and manages their activities in the communities.


Ty Weinert
Programs Support Specialist

Ty Weinert is a 23-year resident of Southern Nevada with over 25 years of professional experience in executive management for nonprofit and for-profit organizations that includes training and facilitation. Ty has a Master’s degree in Organizational Management, and she is currently a Nevada Peer Recovery Support Specialist-Intern. Having grown up in a household with family members who struggled with problem gambling and substance use disorders, Ty is very passionate about spreading the message of hope while advocating for and bringing awareness to the community about problem gambling.

As a Programs Support Specialist, she is responsible for daily administrative assistance as well as organizing and engaging the public in community events and presentations. She also represents the Council in several community groups that are relevant to the Council’s vision and goals. Ty also contributes content to the Council’s social media presence, offering a distinct viewpoint based on her diverse professional experiences.

In her free time, Ty operates a consulting business that focuses on psychological health and workplace safety, offering a variety of science-based resilience and workplace mental health services such as assessments, trainings, and seminars.


Aaron Thompson
Creative & Digital Services/Rural Outreach

Aaron Thompson is a 35-year resident of Southern Nevada with over 15 years’ experience in project management, operations, compliance, and team leadership. In addition to his professional qualifications, Aaron’s creative talent and technical skills make him a highly qualified and effective Council team member. Aaron works across multiple digital platforms to modernize design, and maintain a consistent online presence in support of successful public awareness, prevention, education programs and collaborative partnerships.  Aaron assists with website management, program evaluation and outcome reporting and as a resident of Pahrump he serves as community outreach liaison to rural communities in Nevada.

Aaron understands the impact of addiction firsthand, having grown up in a household with family members who struggled with problem gambling and substance use disorders.  His core values are honor, integrity, and quality craftsmanship in both his personal and professional life.  Aaron enjoys spending time with his family, building his homestead and pursuing creative hobbies.

"I came to this world with nothing, and I'll leave with nothing but love, everything else is just borrowed."
- Mike Skinner

Carol O’Hare
Volunteer/Advocate

Carol O’Hare has 27 years’ professional experience in the problem gambling field and over 30 years of long term recovery from gambling addiction. As the former Executive Director of the Council (1996-2023) Carol successfully developed and implemented programs and services to support the Council’s mission of awareness, education, and advocacy, and contributed to the development of industry responsible gaming initiatives at the state and national level, along with groundbreaking public policy to reduce the impact of problem gambling in Nevada.

Carol authored and co-authored numerous articles and resource publications on problem gambling issues and is recognized as an expert advisor, accomplished public speaker, dedicated advocate and respected leader in the problem gambling field. In 2014, the National Council on Problem Gambling presented Carol with their prestigious ‘Monsignor Joseph Dunne Lifetime Achievement Award for Advocacy’ recognizing her for more than 20 years of exceptional service on behalf of problem gamblers and their families. Since retiring in 2023, Carol enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her pets Molly (dog) and Dash (cat).

“A passionate plea can get people’s attention, but it takes a voice of reason to effect real change.”
- Carol O’Hare