WINNIPEG, Manitoba, October 3, 2013 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (“Pollard Banknote”) is pleased to announce that Margaret R. DeFrancisco, the company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, has been inducted into the Public Gaming Research Institute (“PGRI”)’s Lottery Industry Hall of Fame for 2013. Known and respected throughout the lottery industry as a dynamic and effective leader, DeFrancisco has nearly 15 years of experience working with lotteries in the United States. This marks the third year in a row that a member of Pollard Banknote’s team has been honored at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries’ annual conference (“NASPL”), following Jennifer Westbury, Executive Vice President, Sales & Customer Development, a PGRI Lottery Industry Hall of Fame inductee for 2012, and Greg Hoelk, Sales Manager, Licensed Products, winner of the 2011 NASPL Powers Award for Marketing.
Before joining Pollard Banknote in February 2013, DeFrancisco served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Lottery Corporation for nearly nine years, where she oversaw sales growth from $2.6 billion in 2003 to a record $3.8 billion in 2012. Prior to that, DeFrancisco was the Director of the New York Lottery. Under her leadership, lottery sales in New York increased from $3.6 billion to $5.4 billion in just four years, making it the largest lottery in the United States. She also actively participates in national initiatives concerning the future of the lottery industry and has served as President of NASPL.
“This prestigious honor recognizes Margaret’s key role as a visionary leader and agent of change,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “Her vision, drive, and enthusiasm are invaluable assets to Pollard Banknote and the lottery industry as a whole, and we look forward to her continued valuable contributions in the future.”
DeFrancisco has also been the winner of two Emmy® Awards for her television work for the Georgia Lottery; the recipient of the Major Peter O’Connell Lottery Lifetime Achievement Award; the winner of the Women in Leadership Award from LaFleurs; and has been cited on the “Most Influential Atlantans” and “Most Influential Georgians” lists, as determined by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend Magazine, and James Magazine.
The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame was established by the PGRI in 2005 to recognize exceptional professionals who have made a significant contribution to the lottery industry’s success worldwide. Every year, former inductees nominate and vote on the final recipients.
Before joining Pollard Banknote in February 2013, DeFrancisco served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Lottery Corporation for nearly nine years, where she oversaw sales growth from $2.6 billion in 2003 to a record $3.8 billion in 2012. Prior to that, DeFrancisco was the Director of the New York Lottery. Under her leadership, lottery sales in New York increased from $3.6 billion to $5.4 billion in just four years, making it the largest lottery in the United States. She also actively participates in national initiatives concerning the future of the lottery industry and has served as President of NASPL.
“This prestigious honor recognizes Margaret’s key role as a visionary leader and agent of change,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “Her vision, drive, and enthusiasm are invaluable assets to Pollard Banknote and the lottery industry as a whole, and we look forward to her continued valuable contributions in the future.”
DeFrancisco has also been the winner of two Emmy® Awards for her television work for the Georgia Lottery; the recipient of the Major Peter O’Connell Lottery Lifetime Achievement Award; the winner of the Women in Leadership Award from LaFleurs; and has been cited on the “Most Influential Atlantans” and “Most Influential Georgians” lists, as determined by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend Magazine, and James Magazine.
The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame was established by the PGRI in 2005 to recognize exceptional professionals who have made a significant contribution to the lottery industry’s success worldwide. Every year, former inductees nominate and vote on the final recipients.
