Our Team
We have assembled a first-class team that are ready to advance how telehealth impacts outcomes for clients.
Our board is composed of leading who are passionate about the power of teletherapy and its ability to reach people who don’t have access to care. The board’s responsibility is to ensure the highest standards of care are met.
Leadership Team
Daniel Umfleet is the current President of the Kindbridge Research Institute and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kindbridge Behavioral Health, positions he has held since August 2020. In this role, Daniel has led numerous client engagements with organizations such as NFLPA PAF & Trust, Playtech, Entain, and NASCAR. He has advised C-Suite executives on mental health care strategies, designed consumer-facing education programs, built in-race fundraising programs for veteran programs, and supported telehealth clinic growth.
Daniel has actively lobbied in multiple state legislatures for better mental health provisions and funding in upcoming spend bills. Prior to his role in Kindbridge Behavioral Health, Daniel served as the Chief Operations Officer for Beanstalk Enterprises based in Southampton, England, where he helped create the SAAS strategy for the company’s Regulatory Technologies product, Gamban, which is now a permanent pillar of the UK Gambling Commissions consumer protection strategy and continues to expand into the global marketplace.
Before joining Beanstalk Enterprises, Daniel worked as a Senior Business Analyst for Renoir Consulting in Miami, Florida, where he led select client engagements with organizations such as Mercy Youngstown Hospital Systems, Stanford Hospital Systems, and Alameda Health Systems. Daniel designed and implemented several process and policy strategies, resulting in significant cost optimization savings for the organizations and an increase in quality outcomes for clients seeking care from these systems.
Daniel holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, completed Lean Mastery from George Mason University, and attended the Entrepreneurship Development Program at MIT’s Sloan School. He graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Communications in 2005.
Trent Lambert is the co-founder and CSO of Kindbridge – the country’s foremost telehealth provider for behavioral addictions in the United States – providing unparalleled access to expert counseling and treatment for problem gambling, gaming, and other serious mental health conditions.
Driven by a desire to improve outcomes for active-duty military, veterans and first responders and their families, he is focused on building strategic alliances between member groups, service and funding organizations to ensure that evidence-based, high-quality outcomes are the highest priority from the first day an individual comes into care.
Trent also chairs the Board of Directors of Kindbridge Research Institute, a leading non-profit focused on improving military mental health through research, training, and treatment. Previously, Trent spent 10 years as a broker on the Chicago and Kansas City Boards of Trade, and afterwards held posts overseas with Seaboard Overseas Trading Group for the better part of a decade while serving as their Vice President of Trading, and overseeing trading & risk management.
Trent was born and raised in the state of Kansas into a 5th generation farm family. He currently resides in the Isle of Man with his wife Sindy, where he owns and operates Back Forty Ventures advising C-Suite executives and startup founders on finance, technology and acquisitions.
Robert Jordshaugen has 20 years of hospital consulting experience, focused on Revenue Cycle, EMR optimization, and organizational reporting. Before Kindbridge, he built a Data Analytics Center of Excellence for a large health system in the Southeast. When working with ER departments in hospitals, the difficulty of placing patients who suffer from mental illness and the numbers of patients who constantly returned for the same issue got him interested in mental health. He built a statewide telemedicine network for psychiatry back when this was new. Prior to his work in healthcare, he was in technology, within data analytics and multinational software.
Michelle Hatfield is the esteemed Chief Clinical Officer at Kindbridge Behavioral Health, a vanguard institution renowned for its unparalleled commitment to mental health, gambling addiction treatment, and well-being. Adept in managing both clinical and operational spheres, Michelle’s extensive background spans diverse dimensions of behavioral health, positioning her at the forefront of innovative therapeutic interventions.
Licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in multiple U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, and Washington, Michelle’s credentials also cross international borders. She is recognized as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario, Canada. Moreover, her expertise in addiction counseling is evident through her certification as an International Certified Gambling Counselor-II, a testament to her in-depth understanding and proficiency in this domain.
Currently engaged in advanced academic pursuits, Michelle is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in cyberpsychology. Her incisive research emphasizes the implications and intricacies of internet-based process addictions, specifically targeting gambling, video gaming, and pornography. This investigative focus serves to bridge the gap between technology and therapy, ensuring that clinical interventions remain relevant in our increasingly digitized world.
Her recent professional endeavors and clinical training stand as a testament to her dedication to lifelong learning and growth. Michelle has acquired the ICGC-II gambling certification and International Gaming Disorder Certificate (IGDC), from the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB). Furthermore, her training as a Sex Addiction Recovery Therapist from the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy exemplifies her comprehensive understanding of process addictions and optimal treatment approaches in behavioral health.
Beyond her clinical commitments, Michelle boasts executive management experience that is nothing short of impressive. As the former Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Stars Behavioral Health Group, a Californian Statewide behavioral health organization, she was instrumental in steering the company towards positive trajectories. Her acumen in overseeing growth, fostering a healthy company culture, managing revenue, and skillfully curating budgets underscores her holistic grasp over both the micro and macro dimensions of organizational leadership.
In summation, Michelle Hatfield is an embodiment of dedication, innovation, and leadership in the field of behavioral health. Her multifaceted expertise, from clinical to operational, positions her as a beacon of excellence, inspiring peers and impacting countless lives.
Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D., LMHC / LPC, ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, is an Associate Professor at Grand Canyon University and has served in multiple roles related to program development for Gambling and Video-related treatment programs. He currently serves as the Board President for the IGCCB. He is currently the co-chair of the APA research task force on gaming issues and is working on several nationwide training programs to help mental health professionals understand video games in innovative ways.
His research on the psychology of player types has been presented internationally and continues to evolve with each new world players can inhabit across PCs and consoles. Dr. Kaufmann’s publications cover the areas of video games, personality theory, online education, and counselor development. He offers supervision to an international list of clinicians to help bridge the gap in learning about technological impact on society and specific insights related to effective treatment for clients experiencing games-related issues.
At Kindbridge, Dr. Kaufmann spearheads our gaming services and program development. Dr. Kaufmann brings a fresh and innovative perspective to supervision to guide our staff toward professional certifications in the mental health treatment of gaming and gambling. Dr. Kaufmann also develops programs to help mental health professionals understand the impact of gaming on their client’s mental health. Through these programs, clinicians have the knowledge and tools to effectively treat clients dealing with game-related issues.
His upcoming book release, entitled “The Gamer’s Journey,” focuses on explaining the steps of narrative development in our lives as we experience them through the stories of video games. This subject merges the monomyth, first explained by Joseph Campbell, with a world that turns to various forms of technology to experience their forms of narrative entertainment.
Dr. Kaufmann is the host of The Gaming Persona podcast, a show that seeks to share various insights related to psychological connections in the play of video games. He also streams regularly on YouTube as Dr. Gameology and is on a never-ending quest to discuss mental health and video games to encourage audiences of all types to be their very best as they continue the journey. You can view Dr. Kaufmann’s research via his ResearchGate Profile.
Dr. Natalie Spiteri-Soper is a psychologist, skilled nursing home administrator and founder of
H.O.P.E. Psychological and Consulting Services, Inc. Additionally, she provides clinical and
operational consultation to Kindbridge Behavioral Health, Inc. along with expert witness
testimony related to standard of care matters. She has recently become certified in ADHD as
well completed 30 hours of training related to problem gambling disorder. She has an extensive
25-year career that encompasses both clinical and operational expertise.
Dr. Spiteri-Soper obtained her Psy.D. in Psychology from a California School of Professional
Psychology. During her studies, she developed a keen interest in the intricacies of human
behavior and dedicated herself to operationalizing various facets of psychology.
For the first decade of her career, Dr. Spiteri-Soper served as a Clinical Director, providing
compassionate care and therapeutic interventions to clients facing a diverse range of mental
health challenges.
In 2010, Dr. Spiteri-Soper transitioned into an administrative role, where she could leverage her
clinical expertise and leadership skills to effect positive change on a larger scale. As a senior
administrator and executive team member, she demonstrated exceptional strategic planning
and operational management skills, overseeing the implementation of policies and procedures,
managing budgets, and optimizing resource allocation to improve client outcomes and
organizational performance.
Additionally, Dr Spiteri-Soper received credits in the Film “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” as
the Assistant Animal Wrangler and as a Psychological Consultant in the Netflix show “The
Healing Powers of Dude”.
Personally, Dr. Spiteri-Soper lives with her husband, 2 children and 2 dogs in a family friendly
neighborhood in Long Beach, California which she enjoys very much.
Board of Directors
David Jacques Farahi has been the Executive Chairman of Kindbridge Behavioral Health, as well as, Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) since April 2023 and May 2022 respectively, after having served as Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Casino & Resort (Nasdaq: MCRI) from 2012 to 2021. David also served four terms as President of the Colorado Gaming Association, from 2015 to 2021, where he spearheaded the industry’s legislative agenda, including three successful state-wide ballot initiatives.
Brianne’s experience includes a decade of leadership in advocacy, public policy, government affairs and communications. She has a history of achievements in United States Congressional legislative work, including a diverse portfolio of complex problem gambling policy issues. Doura-Schawohl was named one of the top 100 lobbyists in 2021 by the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and was featured as one of the 25 People to Watch in 2022 by Global Gaming Business.
Seth is an international gaming expert with nearly two decades experience and a successful track record of continuously being at the forefront of new online gaming technologies and strategies. He is currently the CSO at Fifth Street Gaming Digital and Managing Partner at The Strategy Organization, a full-service gaming consultancy. He won the Innovation Group’s 2018 Emerging Leaders of Gaming Award and was named on Global Gaming Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list in 2018.
Scientific Advisors
Dr. Diez-Morel is founder of Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to gaming disorder and other technology-based addictions.
She is an assistant professor of graduate social work at Edinboro University and an invited member of the American Psychiatric Associations (APA) task force for Internet Gaming Disorder to discuss the inclusion and impact of Gaming Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Dr. Diez-Morel earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded the C-SALUD student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Through her work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Master Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), Dr. Diez- Morel worked within nonprofit community organizations and in community hospitals throughout Florida providing direct clinical services to children, families, and adults experiencing addiction.
Dr. Diez-Morel has received a number of awards and grants for her work on finding solutions to a balanced living in a technology driven world.
Dr. Fong is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.
Dr. Fong completed his undergraduate and medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He then came to UCLA and finished his residency in adult general psychiatry in 2002 and was the first accredited addiction psychiatry fellow at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (2002-2004).
He is the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program (UGSP). The purpose of this program is to examine the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of gambling disorder in order to develop effective, evidence-based treatment strategies.
Since 2009, he has been the director of the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, a one-year accredited program that provides clinical training in addiction psychiatry.
Finally, he is part of the faculty leadership of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary effort to examine the full impact of cannabis on the body, mind and brain.
Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of the Center for Gambling Studies. A clinician and attorney who specializes in gambling disorder and behavioral addictions, she is also Director of the Addiction Counselor Training Certificate Program, a member of the leadership team of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) and a research affiliate with the Sydney University Gambling Treatment Unit in the Brain and Mind Centre.
Dr. Nower’s research focuses on online gambling and video gaming, sports wagering, psychometric measurement, the etiology and treatment of gambling and gaming disorder, and gambling-related policy issues.
She currently serves as a Regional Assistant Editor for International Gambling Studies and an Associate Editor for Addiction and Addictive Behaviors journals. Dr. Nower is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling in Washington, D.C., where she also chairs the research committee and received the 2019 research award.
Dr. Nower has also co-authored several policy initiatives, including a model for self-exclusion programs and an industry framework for informed-choice and responsible gambling. She co-edited the book The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Disordered Gambling (2013).
KRI’s Scientific Advisory Board is composed of leading scientists in addiction and related fields. The board’s responsibility is to ensure the highest standards in research are met. The volunteer Scientific Advisory Board provides valued guidance and knowledge on all aspects of the research.
Dr. Jeremiah Weinstock is a professor in the Psychology department at Saint Louis University, focusing on addictive behaviors with an emphasis on gambling disorder and exercise as an intervention. As an academic clinical psychologist, he is expert in addictions treatment and prevention research with a specific emphasis on gambling disorder and the utility of exercise as an intervention strategy for all addictions. He frequently conducts clinical trainings on gambling disorder treatment and on the development and implementation of contingency management for the treatment of substance use disorders.
Dr. Nathan D. Smith is the founding Executive Director of Kindbridge Research Institute, a nationally recognized scientist and science communicator, and a leader in the field of behavioral addiction research and theory. His work reflects a belief in the power of simple, direct methodological approaches to understand complicated human phenomena, and an unwavering focus on producing practical solutions to real-world problems.
Each year, Dr. Smith travels throughout the US to give scientific and public talks on mental health and addiction, meet with leaders in the science and politics of mental health, and oversee the many Kindbridge Research Institute projects taking place throughout the United States. He makes a special effort to balance his time between meeting with scientific experts, and experts with lived experience of addiction.
Dr. Smith holds a PhD in Psychiatric Epidemiology from the University of Florida, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. He lives north of Boston with his wife and two sons.