Our Team

Neal Andres , Founder

Neal is an innovator and 20 year veteran in the online gaming industry with additional business experience and success in the entertainment, retail, manufacturing, and merchandising industries. In 2020 Neal sold Progressive Games Partners, an online gaming company he founded, to a publicly traded company in Las Vegas for $12.6M. In addition, he is the founder of the UK based gambling software provider Felt Gaming.

Craig Waller , CEO

Craig develops and builds businesses that specialize in connecting customers with businesses through the innovative use of content. He continues to lead companies in the media and marketing sectors, having started and sold his content business to Omnicom Inc in the late 1990’s. As an innovator in the field of marketing communications, Craig has worked with many Fortune 500 corporations over the past 20 years, helping them to create their own media platforms and channels.

Jasmine Bentley , Product Lead

From her early role as Design Chief for the University of Arizona Daily Wildcat through her time at The Phoenix New Times, and then founder and owner of her own design firm, Rebel Kitty, Jasmine has been responsible for most of the innovative creative behind Newsie. Jasmine is a multiple award-winning designer with a passion for video games, an enhanced skill set that has helped transform Newsie.

Troy Busot , CTO

Product and Engineering executive with extensive experience building from the ground up, specializing in assembling & managing high-quality teams for startups and at scale.

Proven track record in developing and communicating product vision, creating scalable platforms and driving continuous innovation serving millions of consumers, partners, and developers.

My passion lies at the intersection of What (Products), Why (Customers), and How (Engineering). I have consciously built my career around combining my love of a healthy lifestyle with product and software development to help others live happier, healthier lives.

Jared Nichols , CIO

Jared has over twenty years of IT experience focusing on customer facing applications and experience as a senior engineer with the world’s largest airline. His development of Sports PRSS, a network of over 300 websites dedicated to every collegiate and professional sports team in North America, has enabled him to enhance Newsie’s unique technical and content approach to the market.

Sam Williams

Combining his background in the igaming and publishing worlds with his passion for news and local communities, Sam helped to pioneer Newsie in its development phase through heading up beta sites in London where he lives. Sam is now driving the growth of Newsie into other territories around the UK.

Dave Mauger

With a background in design and community projects, Dave has been running the Newsie UK beta site in Tooting, telling the story of the town and forging strong connections with hundreds of local businesses, community groups and civic leaders along the way. He’s now a consultant on app development as well as for new UK licensees, helping them to maximise their potential.

Gilbert Ochoa

Gilbert is a multifaceted leader, dedicated to building effective teams to set and achieve company goals. With an innate entrepreneurial spirit and diverse skill set, Gilbert is confidently driving the expansion of the Spanish and Native American Newsie footprint. Gilbert founded a creative multicultural marketing firm with a focus on connecting with audiences.

Stefan Kogler

Strategic Marketing and Creative Director at many of the industry’s top Advertising/PR agencies such as Cossette New York, Campbell Ewald and Doner, providing innovative ideas and strategy for some of the largest global brands in the world. Stefan is currently Director of Marketing for the nation’s premier distributor of products, solutions, and controls for factory automation. Stefan is also the Founder /Publisher and Editor in Chief of Great Lakes Post, a media platform that covers the spectrum of sports and entertainment across America. This is a non-profit that is empowering and employing individuals with Autism and Special needs.

George Lamias

Zen Benefiel

Zen loves facilitating people, places and things to work together in fun and inspiring ways, earning business degrees and certifications for facilitating and life coaching to empower his passion. His engagements include small business coaching and entrepreneurial workshops, multimillion-dollar project stakeholder team building, and logistics operations for large special events. His passion for community building and leadership complements Newsie’s development and service to entrepreneurs, small business owners and local communities with outstanding opportunities and networks.

Tom Waring

Tom Waring is a business consultant with a storied history in both the entertainment and healthcare industries. His entrepreneurial experience has helped give nuance, and guided numerous ventures to grow quickly from conception to profitability. Recognized as a researcher in the science and marketing of social media, he has advised many of today’s social media influencers, helping them boost followers and sales.