Matthew T. Schuler
Executive Director

Matt Schuler is the Executive Director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission. His vast experience in legislative leadership and public policy led to his hire in 2011 by the Commission to build out and fully staff the recently-created agency.

Schuler's career in public service began at Ohio’s Statehouse while he was earning a political science degree at The Ohio State University. Following graduation, he served as legislative aide for the chair of the state Senate’s finance committee. Schuler moved to the private sector at the Ohio Manufacturer’s Association in 1993, where he served as Director of Public Policy Services. He returned to the state Senate as clerk in 1998 and was named chief of staff in 2005.    

A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Schuler currently resides in Westerville, Ohio with his wife, Jill, and their four school-aged children.

Rick Anthony is the Commission's Deputy Executive Director, in which he oversees all functions related to the day-to-day operation of the Commission.

Anthony has worked for the Commission since its creation in 2011, serving as Director of Operations and helping get the agency up and running and assisting with the opening of Ohio’s four casinos. He brings with him more than 35 years of experience in state government, having worked for the Ohio Department of Taxation in a variety of positions, including Deputy Tax Commissioner.

Overseeing the Commission’s Legal Division and the regulation of skill-based games is Andromeda Morrison. Andromeda has extensive experience with Ohio’s gaming laws, as she served for several years in the Charitable Law Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. While there, she made licensing determinations regarding charitable bingo applications and directed compliance investigations. She also represented state gaming regulators in administrative hearings and in lawsuits in both state and federal court. Additionally, Andromeda assisted state agencies with drafting and promulgating dozens of administrative rules. Most recently she worked as an Assistant Counsel for Contracts at the Defense Logistics Agency.

Andromeda received her bachelor’s degree from Bradley University and her law degree from Ohio Northern University.

Amanda Blackford serves as Director of Operations & Problem Gambling Services, with her team providing support and assistance to all agency divisions as they conduct their regulatory responsibilities. She also oversees the Commission’s responsible gambling efforts, including the Voluntary Exclusion Program that permits individuals to self-exclude from entering a casino facility and the problem gambling plans implemented at each of Ohio’s four casinos. Additionally, Amanda collaborates with the Commission’s partners in Ohio for Responsible Gambling to promote comprehensive education, prevention and treatment programs across the state.

Amanda holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The Ohio State University. 

Craig Donahue
Director of Regulatory Compliance

Craig Donahue is in charge of the Commission’s Division of Regulatory Compliance. Craig and his team examine slot machine and table game operations and conduct audits of financial transactions and other processes to ensure licensees comply with all pertinent state laws and regulations, as well as any internal control systems.

Craig worked in public accounting and at the Ohio Auditor of State's office prior to joining the Commission in 2012.

Craig received both his bachelor’s and masters degrees in Business Administration from Ohio University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner.

Chris Fleenor
Chief Technology & Gaming Officer

Chris serves as the Commission’s Chief Technology & Gaming Officer, in which he oversees all systems and equipment utilized by the Commission to fulfill our mission of ensuring the integrity of gaming. Chris has more than 16 years of professional experience in information technology and casino gaming, working in multiple jurisdictions and agencies with a focus on regulatory compliance and the development of technical standards for new technology.

Chris has trained industry stakeholders on the operation and verification of gaming equipment, presented at professional conferences, and provided expert testimony. In addition, he currently chairs the Regulatory Committee of the International Gaming Standards Association, which focuses on providing regulatory input in the development of new protocol standards for the gaming industry.

Jessica Franks
Director of Communications

Jessica Franks heads the Communications Division for the Commission, which handles all media inquiries and public speaking requests. The Division also produces reports and other publications used to update the Legislature and external and internal stakeholders on the work of the Commission.

Franks is well-versed in government communications, having helped members in both the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives communicate with the media as well as their constituents. She has also worked as a policy analyst and legislative aide. Jessica graduated with honors from The Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism.

Michael S. Masterson
Director of Enforcement

Masterson leads the Ohio Casino Control Commission’s (OCCC) Enforcement Division comprised of Gaming Agents, Investigators, and Gaming Agent Supervisors who are all certified peace officers. OCCC Gaming Agents are on duty 24-7 at each of Ohio’s four casinos and have full police powers and arrest authority.

Masterson worked for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) where he retired in December 2013, as the Special Agent In-Charge (SAIC) of Gaming. Masterson held various positions with BCI over the course of his career specializing in complex, long term investigations involving narcotics, money laundering, illegal gambling, organized crime, and fugitive apprehensions.

Through an agreement with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Masterson was re-assigned to the OCCC as the Toledo Casino Gaming Agent Supervisor in April 2012. Following his promotion to SAIC of Gaming, he was named the Deputy Director of Enforcement for the OCCC. As the Commission began to hire its own enforcement staff, Masterson helped facilitate hiring and training.

Masterson received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University, and is a Certified Peace Officer in Ohio.

Anna Marin Russell
Director of Licensing & Investigations and Senior Legal Counsel

Anna Marin Russell serves as Director of the Licensing & Investigations Division, which conducts suitability investigations on individuals and entities seeking licensure from the Commission. This includes vendors, casino operators and their holding companies as well as key and casino gaming employees.

Anna joined the Commission in 2013 as a Financial/Tax Investigator in the Licensing & Investigations Division, and subsequently served as Manager of Investigations & Senior Legal Counsel leading the Division’s various investigations and projects. In addition to her investigative duties, Anna has also been responsible for conducting in-depth reviews and analyses of debt-transaction approval requests related to financing transactions or corporate restructurings of regulated entities.

Prior to joining the Commission, Anna worked in the private sector for a law firm performing conflicts analysis on all new incoming business.

Anna received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and her law degree from Ohio Northern University.