The American Gaming Association has rounded out its management team, promoting Allie Barth and Jonathan Michaels into leadership roles with the Washington D.C.-based trade organization.
Barth, who has been with the AGA for six years, was named senior vice president of industry relations. Michaels was promoted to vice president of strategic alliances. The move comes as CEO Bill Miller celebrated his first anniversary overseeing the organization.
“We are constantly thinking about ways to significantly increase value for our membership,” Miller said. “We’ve had great success in this past year, and we’ve been able to get stronger within every position at our organization. I’m a big proponent of looking within rather than looking outside the organization.”
Allie Barth/AGA senior vice president
Barth, who is the AGA’s direct contact for the annual Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, works closely with Reed Exhibitions, the organization’s partner in producing the show. Barth also leads the AGA’s educational strategy and member engagement policies.
Prior to joining the AGA, Barth served in an industry communications capacity for the U.S. Travel Association.
“The quality of the programming at both G2E and G2E Asia has improved greatly,” Miller said. “Allie oversees an important partnership with Reed. She understands Reed and our members. She and her team work very hard on the membership side.”
Michaels, who Miller credited with helping to organize the AGA’s first Sports Betting Executive Summit last year, works with gaming companies to build partnerships and support of a pro-gaming agenda in Washington. Prior to joining the AGA, Michaels was the director of membership and business development for the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
A second sports betting summit is being planned for March.
Jonathan Michaels/AGA VP of Industry Relations
“Jonathan has been a great leader for the AGA and having a trade organization background has been a big plus,” Miller said.
As he embarks on his second year, Miller said the AGA will focus on several priorities, including the continued sports betting legalization across the U.S. and responsible gaming matters. Miller outlined the organization’s 2020 goals last weekend in San Diego while addressing the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States winter conference.
“I learned from 13 years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable on how to find common ground to benefit the membership,” Miller said. “Allie and Jonathan understand that effort.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
