Global Gaming Women (GGW) has announced the 14th 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, October 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at XS Nightclub at Wynn, Las Vegas. Tickets are $200 per attendee, increasing to $300 on September 28.

GGW has also announced the return of Sip & Social with Guest Speakers Brittany Driscoll, co-founder and chief executive officer at Squeeze, and Hayley Paige, creative director and chief inspiration officer at SHE IS CHEVAL. This will take place on Thursday, October 10, from 8 to 10 a.m. inside The Venetian Ballroom on Level 2 of The Venetian Expo. Tickets are $52 per attendee, increasing to $60 on the week of the event. Registration is required. In addition, this event will also celebrate the honorees of CDC Gaming Reports’ “10 Women Rising in Gaming”, in partnership with Global Gaming Women.

Current and prospective GGW members, partners, and allies are invited to the G2E GGW Retreat, as a dedicated space for networking, podcasting, headshots, and swag, on Tuesday, October 8, and Wednesday, October 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Venetian Conference Center, Lando 4201AB-4203, 4th Floor. Guests can enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and a variety of snacks. Refresh at the glam station and take advantage of free professional headshots by Shannon Mason Photography, available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Unwind with a leg and foot massage, recharge at the electronic charging stations, and reinspire yourself at the podcast booth, featuring industry leaders, legends, and the next generation of GGW trailblazers.

Directly prior to the opening of G2E on Sunday, October 6 at El Cortez Hotel & Casino, GGW will celebrate the official awards ceremony for 10 Women Rising in Gaming, presented in partnership with CDC Gaming Reports. All honorees will be recognized during this inaugural celebration event.

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GGW leadership continues the 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 G2E with three distinctive panels.

“Global Gaming Women is leading an exciting lineup of educational programs at this year’s G2E. Starting with Monday’s sessions, followed by the 14th Annual Kick Up Your Heels Fundraiser on Wednesday evening, and culminating in Thursday morning’s inspirational keynote at Sip & Social, we’re also thrilled to unveil the all-new GGW retreat—a dedicated space for our members to network and engage in exclusive experiences throughout the event. Thanks to the steadfast support of our generous sponsors, we can continue offering these enriching opportunities for connection, empowerment, and collaboration. Together, we’re advancing women’s success and enhancing our industry,” said Lauren Bates, President & Board Chair of Global Gaming Women.

A mix of high-profile sponsorship opportunities are available in support of Global Gaming Women’s event offering at G2E, including the Kick Up Your Heels Fundraiser and the Sip & Social networking breakfast event. In addition, GGW’s mission is realized year-round by the support of sustaining sponsors.

Global Gaming Women (GGW), the gaming industry non-profit dedicated to supporting, inspiring, and influencing the development of professional women, announced the appointment of Lauren Bates to President of the Board of Directors. A longtime senior executive in the industry, Bates most recently served as the organization’s 1st Vice President—a role now held by Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder Inc.’s EVP & Group CEO, Gaming. Brandi Ellis, SVP of VIP Marketing at Caesars Entertainment Inc., has been named to the position of GGW’s 2nd Vice President, where Lane had prior served. These appointments went into effect January 1, 2024, and run until 2026.

“Lauren’s demonstrated work ethic and determination has had a huge impact in promoting the recent growth and success of Global Gaming Women, which I’m looking forward to seeing continued under her leadership as President,” said Cassie Stratford, outgoing Global Gaming Women President and current Boyd Gaming Corporation SVP of Legal Operations and Regulatory Compliance.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to work with so many to advance GGW’s vision for the betterment of our industry, and thanks to the support of our sponsors and community, this new leadership team will bring their incredible energy to bring our mission to new levels in the years to come.”

Additionally, Global Gaming Women has appointed Samantha Huff-Schlueter, Senior Manager – Assurance Services Group at RubinBrown LLP, as Treasurer; Kate White, Vice President of Intelligence & IT Program Management at PENN Entertainment Inc., as Secretary; and Kelci Binau, Attorney at McDonald Carano, as General Counsel. GGW has also approved the following new members to its Board of Directors for 2024-26: Karin Bernkopf, Senior Director of Marketing, Gaming, IGT; Adi Kasunic, Vice President of Human Resources, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas; Tashina Lazcano, Director of Marketing & Communications, Konami Gaming, Inc.; Cortney Luvera, Senior Manager, The Coca-Cola Company; Suzanne Trout, EVP & CMO, Cordish Gaming Group; and Julie Woodruff, Vice President of Finance, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee and Seminole Brighton Casino.

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“Since 2011, the focus of Global Gaming Women has been to support, inspire, and influence the development of women in gaming. Today, every member of GGW’s Board of Directors is centered on that same mission. With the investment, success, and geographic expansion achieved in the last two years by outgoing president Cassie Stratford, GGW has a solid foundation for even greater growth, which I aim to accomplish,” GGW President Lauren Bates said.