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Special Recognition

The USBGF recognizes individuals whose service on USBGF boards or committees has ended but have made significant contributions to our organization.

Service on Boards and Committees

Rod Covlin (2009 – 2010)

Rod Covlin is a founder of the US Backgammon Federation and served as its first President and Chairman from its founding in 2009 until May 2010.   The  USBGF owes a debt of gratitude to Rod for his vision and drive in helping to make this dream a reality.

Rod was a member of the board and CFO of Pragma Securities, a firm offering algorithmic trading solutions.  Prior to that he was CEO of Index Securities, Executive VP of Track ECN, COO of Track Data Securities, and Managing Director at Tradescape (acquired by E*Trade and renamed E*Trade Professional).

He holds a  B.S. in engineering from Columbia University and an MBA from Fordham University.  He currently resides in New York and has two children: Anna and Myles.

Phil Simborg

Phil serves as Education Adviser to the USBGF, Editor of the USBGF Facebook, and “Ask the Pro” on the USBGF web site. He was instrumental in the USBGF’s formation as it stands today. He served on the Board of Governors from 2009 to 2010 and was Chair of both the Education Committee and the Rules and Ethics Committee, where he was the driving force behind the first ever Rules of Ethical Practice. He is one of the teaching professionals at http://thebackgammonlearningcenter.com which aims to promote the game by giving reasonably priced lessons to anyone interested. He offers free monthly seminars to USBGF members. He has been a competitive backgammon player for over 25 years and was ranked No. 2 on the ABT tour in 2005. He has been teaching for 20 years and now devotes full time to teaching and playing backgammon, lecturing at major tournaments, and writing articles. Phil is the world’s first “Backgammon Professor” teaching students via Webex at Georgia Southern University in an accredited course.  Phil is the driving force behind the USBGF Collegiate Program and started clubs at over 30 major universities, enlisted players from over 100 universities, and started numerous clubs at high schools and elementary schools.  He is currently working on a project to bring backgammon to major retirement centers.  Phil donates much of his time giving free lessons to students and seniors.

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Harvey Gillis (2009-2010)

Harvey served as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Backgammon Federation from May to September 2010, and served as a member of the Board from its initial formation until September 2010. His experience and efforts helped establish a corporate governance, planning and decision framework for the organization. He headed the development of the strategic mission of the organization, and he has been instrumental in the early success of the USBGF and its record of meeting strategic goals. During his tenure as Chairman he oversaw the search and recruitment of Perry Gartner as President/Executive Director of USBGF. He recruited a part-time contractor and accountant, Derrick Freeman, and prepared the USBGF budget, investment policy, and standard operating procedures.

He presently serves as CEO of Sunrise Capital Corporation, a venture capital and business investment firm and as CEO of HG Enterprises, a business strategy and performance consulting company. Mr. Gillis was Executive Chairman of the Board for Mosaix, a customer relationship management software company acquired by Lucent Technologies. Previously, Mr. Gillis was Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, and CFO of ATL Ultrasound, now a subsidiary of Philips Electronics. Mr. Gillis also served as Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, and CFO of NeoPath (acquired by Hologic, Inc.), a medical device company, and as Chief Operating Officer of Samuel Stroum Enterprises, a business investment and venture capital firm. Mr. Gillis was also VP & CFO of Activision, Inc. and Senior Vice President, Finance, of Bank of America.  Mr. Gillis has served on numerous public and private technology boards of directors. Mr. Gillis received a B.S. in engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University where he was Editor-In-Chief of the college magazine. He also holds an M.S. in engineering and an MBA from Stanford University. Additionally, Mr. Gillis has a Pacific Coast Banking School commercial banking degree. He has served on two, national finance and accounting committees; was President of the Washington Council for Economic Education (WCEE); and was an adjunct professor for Business Analysis & Valuation for University of Washington 2nd year MBAs.