Purpose

Gaming Benefits Corporation exists to make the future of gaming charitable, responsible, and accountable.

GBC is building a new public-benefit subindustry within the broader gaming sector by applying charitable gaming principles, blockchain-enabled transparency, responsible gaming safeguards, and nonprofit-centered strategies across charitable, commercial, Tribal, and state-regulated gaming markets.

Our specific intended impact is to ensure that gaming innovation creates measurable public benefit: sustainable funding for nonprofit organizations, stronger support for veterans and communities, greater transparency for regulators and stakeholders, and more accountable systems for players, operators, and beneficiaries.

Through compliant digital raffle platforms, regulatory technology, blockchain monitoring, responsible gaming tools, and strategic partnerships, GBC advances a model in which gaming is not only a source of entertainment and revenue, but also a trusted engine for charitable impact, civic responsibility, and social good.

Meet the Team

GBC’s executive team and advisors are long-established thought-action leaders, innovators, technologists, former regulators, certifiers, and experienced operators in the nonprofit, gaming and blockchain industries.

With over two decades of dedication to veteran service organizations (VSOs) and extensive experience in senior-level roles within the digital technology sector, Tara Sue Clark now leads Gaming Benefits Corporation’s (GBC) vision and management team overseeing the deployment of GBC’s cutting-edge regulatory technology platform for online fundraising. Tara Sue’s deep understanding of the charitable gaming industry was forged through hands-on experience as a nonprofit executive, volunteer, consultant, administrator, technician, operator, and licensed distributor and manufacturer of innovative charitable gaming and digital products .

Clark’s technology career began during her groundbreaking 2002 campaign for U.S. Congress in North Carolina’s 6th District, (then Tara Sue Grubb) where she became the first political candidate to use a weblog and PayPal for fundraising. Her innovative use of technology earned her a nomination for a Wired Rave Award. Subsequently, she was recruited by VFW departments where she led contract negotiations, supported programming and development, and launched the first organizational social network in 2003. Under her leadership consortium, free platforms to thousands of nonprofits, including VFW Departments and their posts at no cost enabled modernized communication strategies. The platform integrated blogging, instant messaging, monetized content, email, and video streaming, serving pro bono over 13,000 sites for over 15 years before Facebook and Youtube.

A pioneer in live digital events, Clark produced the first live weblogging and video conferencing event between the frontlines of Iraq and BloggerCon Nashville.  Produced several first ever videos online for candidates and artists and neutral, nonpartisan platforms providing educational videos, forums, debates for organizations like the VFW and NAACP, helping to promote voter education, contributing to early social media development. 

The driving force behind her work in gaming was the recognition that veterans’ challenges are fundamentally legal challenges, arising within a system where constitutional protection, defended abroad and too often inadequately upheld at home. In response, Clark founded the Veterans Foundation and Veterans Law Project in North Carolina. Encountering the difficulties of fundraising taking from mission, she began exploration of the US charitable gaming market and development of games launching her first online raffle in 2006 while continuing developing and supporting online environments and gaming for the VFW and pro bono legal services for veterans.

In 2011 Clark co-founded the Veterans Foundation of New Hampshire, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting military families and veterans and expanded the law project through its Legal Boots on the Ground initiative. Veterans received pro bono legal services from a team of staff attorneys and military family members, assisting with a wide range of legal matters from civil cases to military law. From 2015 to 2019, the program served an average of 1.5 veterans per day, both domestically and internationally. Again challenged by the politics of fundraising, Clark narrowed her focus on development of the charitable gaming market to fund her impact endeavors.

In 2016, Clark founded Tonk Group LLC, a licensed by the New Hampshire Lottery Racing and Charitable Gaming Division.  She served as distributor of charitable gaming products for Diamond Games and began developing her own online raffle platforms for the US market launching betas with the US Marine Corps Leagues, experimenting on blockchain.  

In 2020 Clark organized Gaming Benefits Corporation to modernize charitable gaming and the US market.

Mother of 3 young adults, Tara Sue Clark lives in Kansas City, Missouri where she overseas Gaming Benefits Corporations vision execution. A Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Nationally Certified Interscholastic Coach and a committed impact developer in gaming and technology, Clark has been a  first mover in technology for good over decades.

A “military brat” with a deep understanding of the sacrifices of military families, Clark holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Theory from Missouri State University, where she designed an individualized honors degree program to build a career addressing the long-term costs of war. 

Michael Mendyk is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience as a senior executive and consultant, excelling across core operational, technical, and business development functions in the software, gaming, and regulated industries. His impressive career spans managing high-profile software development projects, leading capital-raising initiatives, and structuring M&A exit events—all underpinned by his unique ability to align product direction with corporate growth strategies.

Since 2013, Michael has played a pivotal role in navigating the complex regulatory landscape of the U.S. online gaming industry. He has effectively managed corporate licensing, GLI technology certification, and market entry preparation activities for notable companies like Jackpot Software, Genesis Gaming, and ODDSworks. His expertise in regulatory compliance and market readiness has been integral to these companies’ success in the competitive gaming sector.

As the CEO and founder of Maxpop Inc., an advanced video compression and streaming technology company, Michael demonstrated his visionary leadership by steering the company’s strategic direction. He guided product development and licensing strategies, defined roadmaps, and organized intellectual property assets into a commercially licensable portfolio, showcasing his knack for fostering innovation and driving commercialization.

In his current role as Chief Operating Officer of Gaming Benefits Corporation (GBC), Michael’s deep understanding of the U.S. gaming industry and his diverse skill set are instrumental in providing day-to-day operational support. He is also focused on positioning GBC’s platform to seize opportunities for strategic partnerships with leading online sportsbook and casino operators, ensuring the company’s sustained growth and success.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Nebraska and serves as the managing partner of iGaming Consultants, a professional services firm supporting B2B and B2C gaming companies. His multifaceted expertise and proven leadership continue to drive innovation and operational excellence in the gaming and technology sectors.

Stephen Naylor brings nearly 15 years of experience in the gaming industry, equipping him with an exceptional understanding of regulatory, technical, and operational facets of the field. A graduate of Clemson University, where he earned a BS in Computer Science in 2006, Stephen began his career at Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). During his time with GLI, Stephen worked in both the New Jersey and Netherlands offices, gaining exposure to a wide range of domestic and international projects. He provided guidance to hundreds of suppliers and operators, expertly navigating them through the GLI testing and certification process.

In 2018, Stephen joined GameAccount Network Ltd (GAN), a premier provider of online gaming platforms for U.S. casino operators. As Senior Director of Client Services, Stephen spearheaded the successful launches of new platforms for major casino partners in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Beyond platform launches, he managed daily operations post-deployment, including overseeing new product development, ensuring seamless integration, resolving issues on live platforms, and addressing compliance-related matters with precision.

Stephen’s extensive background in compliance will be instrumental in supporting Gaming Benefits Corporation (GBC) as it delivers one of the most advanced and certified raffle platforms in the U.S. charitable gaming industry. His deep expertise ensures GBC’s platforms meet the highest standards of reliability, security, and regulatory adherence, positioning the company as a leader in responsible and impactful gaming solutions.

Vincent Lee Horton brings more than 25 years of experience in information technology, system management, data-center operations, software integration, infrastructure development, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies.

He has held senior technology leadership positions, including Chief Technology Officer and Information Technology Director, within publicly traded companies, private enterprises, and technology startups.

Horton led the technological transformation of Hathlom, supporting the adoption of large-scale data systems, advanced analytics, and high-performance computing.

As Director of Technology for Bridgepoint Power & Light, a prepaid electricity provider in Texas, he led the development, implementation, and integration of a customized billing and database-management system connecting the company with external market participants.

He previously served as Chief Technology Officer for Dallas-based venture capital firm MAC Partners, where he supported technology strategy and development across the firm’s portfolio companies.

At GBC, Horton advises on the development and maintenance of scalable, secure, and resilient cloud-based infrastructure.

His responsibilities include technology architecture, platform performance, software integration, application planning, artificial intelligence systems, developer coordination, data protection, and safeguarding the company’s source code and technology assets.

His work supports GBC’s ability to provide dependable digital infrastructure to charitable organizations and regulated stakeholders.

Dr. Christopher Sanborn serves as GBC’s Chief Blockchain Engineer and technical advisor.

He leads the application of blockchain and distributed-ledger technologies to regulatory reporting, financial recordkeeping, transaction verification, auditability, and charitable-impact documentation.

Dr. Sanborn is also the owner of Core Crypto Consulting, founder of ArtCASA Fine Arts, and a core developer within the BitShares technology community.

His technical work includes the development of software for blockchain interaction, financial-product simulation, scientific modeling, command-line applications, and decentralized systems.

His projects have included Python-based blockchain libraries, financial modeling tools, scientific computing applications, and software supporting transparent digital transactions.

At GBC, Dr. Sanborn helps design technology that can provide authorized stakeholders with reliable, time-stamped, and independently verifiable records.

His work strengthens GBC’s commitment to transparency, data integrity, regulatory accountability, and measurable public benefit.

Ali Ghanavati brings more than 30 years of experience in regulated technology, technical standards, product certification, regulatory oversight, and compliance.

He began his career with the Technical Services Bureau of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, where he served in senior engineering and supervisory roles.

During his approximately 20-year tenure with the agency, Ghanavati worked with state regulators and other jurisdictions on technical requirements, system controls, testing standards, and regulatory policy.

He later spent more than a decade with Gaming Laboratories International, a leading independent testing and certification organization.

As Director of Client Services, he guided technology suppliers and regulated operators through product evaluation, certification, technical compliance, and controlled market deployment.

Ghanavati has also held senior regulatory technology and compliance positions within private-sector firms, where he oversaw the implementation and review of regulated digital platforms.

As an advisor to GBC, he assists management with technical standards, certification strategy, internal controls, regulatory engagement, and the approval processes required for the deployment of compliant charitable fundraising technology.

Brenda T. Williams serves as Benefits Director for Gaming Benefits Corporation.

In this independent and non-compensated role, she reviews and certifies the company’s annual Benefit Report, which documents GBC’s activities, public-purpose commitments, and measurable impact as a benefit corporation.

Williams is the owner of Change Agents LLC, a management consulting firm providing services to public- and private-sector organizations.

She is also the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Young America Works Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., an educational institution created to serve students facing significant social and economic barriers.

Under her leadership, the school supported students who went on to pursue higher education and careers in government, public service, and the private sector.

From 1969 through 1977, Williams served as Personal and Confidential Assistant to Donald H. Rumsfeld during several senior federal appointments, including service as United States Secretary of Defense, White House Chief of Staff, Ambassador to NATO, Director of the Cost of Living Council, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, and Counselor to the President.

Her experience in public administration, education, organizational leadership, and social-impact initiatives supports GBC’s commitment to independent benefit oversight and responsible corporate governance.

Gaming Benefits Corporation | info@gamingbenefitscorp.com

Missouri

PO Box 530

Smithville, MO 64089