The Poker Players Alliance, the grassroots organization dedicated to the political protection of the rights of Americans to play poker online, named Dianna Donofrio as its Nevada State Director on Thursday.
“The PPA is fortunate to have over one million dedicated members, and even more fortunate that Dianna is one of them,” said former New York Senator Alfonse D’Amato, the Chairman of the PPA. “As Nevada’s PPA State Director, Dianna will help strengthen the PPA’s efforts both nationally and at the state level. We are proud to have her as part of the PPA team.”
Donofrio was chosen to be the Nevada State Director of PPA operations from over 1,000 applicants who wanted to assume the position. Donofrio was well qualified to be the Nevada state director of the PPA because of her 25 year career in the gaming industry. Starting with her work at the Bicycle Club in Los Angeles, CA, Donofrio made her name as Special Projects Manager for what would become one of the preeminent tournament stops in America, the Legends of Poker.
After a stint as the Satellite Tournament Director at the Commerce Casino, Donofrio was able to make the move to Las Vegas. She took over the same position at the Four Queens for the Four Queens Classic, which led her to work for over a decade in many of the casinos in town. Her crowning moment, though, was working her way through the ranks to a prominent position with the World Series of Poker.
She worked for Jack McClelland (whom she had also worked with at the Commerce) as Satellite Director when the WSOP was still held at Binion’s. In 2005, she moved over to the Rio to manage satellites before changing positions the next year to become the Payout Manager. She left the WSOP behind in 2007, but has been organizing and directing some of the best charity events around, including Jennifer Harman’s tournament to benefit the SPCA and Montel Williams’ MS Poker Gala in New York City, where she was Lead Tournament Coordinator.
As the Nevada State Director for the PPA, Donofrio will be responsible for the organization’s eyes and ears in Nevada, to alert the PPA on local news stories or legislation, as well as quickly mobilize her fellow local PPA members to attend poker-related events or rallies. She will also be tasked with recruiting individuals to join the PPA, contacting their elected officials, and serving as a spokesperson for local media. In the future, the PPA plans to help State Directors set up state PPA committees to strengthen the organization’s grassroots efforts.
The Poker Players Alliance continues to be aggressive in the battle for poker players’ rights and the State Directors program is a significant part of that fight. To learn who is your state director – or to potentially volunteer your services as a State Director – visit the Poker Players Alliance website to learn more.
