Yandow to step down as Vermont Lottery director

Famous for his deadpan television commercials, the Vermont Lottery Commission has announced that longtime Executive Director Alan Yandow would not seek another biannual appointment to theposition. After nearly 14 years as Executive Director, and working with threegovernors, Yandow will leave state service.
Yandow said, ‘I step down from one of the most interesting positions in state government. It hasbeen an honor and pleasure to serve the State of Vermont and lottery players over the lastfourteen years’.
Governor Peter Shumlin stated, ‘I am grateful to Alan Yandow for his 14 years of service toVermont. As all profits from the state lottery go to the Education Fund, an efficient and effectivestate lottery provides crucial resources for educating Vermont’s students, and I thank Alan forhis dedication over those many years’.
Vermont Lottery Commission Chair Martha O’Connor added, ‘I join with the Governor in alsoexpressing my gratitude for Alan’s many years of service, and what he has done for the growthof our state lottery. And, I thank him for how he has represented us to the public, both in ourstate and with national organizations’.
(more)Yandow also served as Lottery spokesperson for the ‘Good.Clean.Fun’ campaign initiated in1999 to demonstrate to Vermonters that the Lottery was run by ‘real’ people, it was a credibleorganization, and should be played for fun, and not if you needed to win. This campaign reliedheavily on a ‘reality- based marketing message’, rather than promising big prizes.
During Yandow’s tenure, the Lottery worked closely with the Vermont Council on ProblemGambling, and established one of the earliest and strongest ‘Play Responsibly’ programs in thecountry. This program helped create a national and international awareness of the need to assistproblem gamblers. Yandow also is the only lottery director to serve on the National Council onProblem Gambling board of directors.
On the national level, Yandow was elected to serve as President of the North AmericanAssociation of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), Chair of the Powerball Group; and,Vice-President of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL).
Other changes occurring during Yandow’s tenure included: going through two (2) conversion ofthe entire gaming system, including terminals, with two (2) different vendors to acquire state-ofthe-art equipment for the Lottery, players and lottery retailers; increasing overall sales by 29%,as well as achieving record lottery sales; and, bringing in two (2) large jackpot games (Powerball& Mega Millions), as well as other new games, to the Lottery.
‘Over the last fourteen (14) years I have worked with the most talented lottery professionals inNorth America, including our own Vermont Lottery staff’, said Yandow, ‘and wish them all thebest as they move forward with new challenges’.
Berlin, VT; February 24, 2012-