WASHINGTON, D.C. – Global Gaming Women (GGW) will be kicking off its 2013 event calendar at ICE Totally Gaming in London, hosting a Mentoring Panel and Networking Tea on Wednesday, Feb. 6 in London.  As part of the session, GGW will give attendees a sneak peek at its forthcoming online mentoring program, the Global Gaming Network.

GGW is a development program created by the American Gaming Association (AGA) to support the success of women in the international gaming industry through education, mentorship and networking opportunities. At ICE, GGW will host a panel discussion about how to foster mutually beneficial mentoring connections. Confirmed speakers for the event include Judy Patterson, senior vice president of the AGA; Katie Lever, executive vice president and general counsel for SHFL entertainment, Inc.; Cristina Romero de Alba, partner at LOYRA Abogados y Asesores; and Holly Wetzel, vice president of communications for the AGA. Additional speakers will be named soon.

These successful executives from across the gaming industry will discuss what being a mentor means to them, what they are looking for in—and how they have been approached by—potential mentees, as well as what exactly has made those relationships last. The session is designed to provide information and tips for both those seeking a mentor and those interested in cultivating a mentee. The one-hour program will be followed by a networking tea bringing together women from throughout the global gaming industry.

“GGW has been a great force for advancing women in our field since its launch nearly a year and a half ago,” said Virginia McDowell, president and CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. and GGW co-chair. “We aim to continue this success in 2013, and ICE Totally Gaming is a fantastic and exciting way to start.”

In addition to the panel discussion, GGW will take this opportunity to preview its upcoming website Global Gaming Network, a first-of-its-kind online mentoring resource that allows women from all levels of the gaming entertainment industry to identify and connect with potential mentors to share their advice, experience and best practices. From up-and-coming gaming professionals to seasoned executives, Global Gaming Network members create a personal profile and individualize their search criteria to connect with potential “mentor matches” from throughout the international gaming entertainment industry. The site is free to use and open to all women with more than one year of work experience in the gaming industry. The site is expected to go live in the first quarter of 2013.

“I’ve found that building strong mentoring relationship is one of the keys to success in this field or any other,” said Patti Hart, GGW co-chair and CEO of International Game Technology. “The Global Gaming Network creates an efficient, easy way for women in our industry to do this, so we are eager to give everyone their first look at it in London.”

GGW’s event at ICE will take place at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Center, Theatre 90, South Gallery Room 5 from 3-5:00 p.m. The event is free of charge, but pre-registration [2] is required to attend.

GGW was launched in September 2011 by the AGA to nurture female leaders in the international gaming industry. The initiative is an ongoing effort to foster stronger relationships between top female executives, as well as between executives and promising managers in the industry.

More information on GGW can be found at www.globalgamingwomen.org.

For all the latest AGA and industry news, visit www.americangaming.org [3], follow the AGA on Twitter [4] and “like” us on Facebook [5].

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the national trade association for the commercial casino industry. In addition to representing the interests of its members on federal legislative and regulatory issues, the AGA serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.