Extra Life Chicago Gaming Convention (ELCGC) is a brand new event designed to bring the gaming community in Chicago together. It is the first charity gaming convention in the area. ELCGC is a place to play games, support local vendors & performers, meet new friends, cosplay as your favorite character, and hear from expert panelists. The full programming schedule is available now!
IGDA Chicago will be moderating a panel of speakers discussing the Chicago Game Industry Scene. Curious about how to start a career in game development or just want to learn about some great communities where you can connect with other gamers? This panel talk and Q&A will help you join the game!
Ross A. Hersemann
Ross is the Founder of Loading Law, a Chicago-based law practice, and provides legal counsel to video game developers and entrepreneurs in the tech sector. Ross is also the Organizer of the Chicago Video Game Law Summit and an Adjunct Professor of Video Game Law at DePaul University. He speaks frequently on hot topics in law and technology.
Ross also serves as the Chair of IGDA Chicago, Chair of the CBA YLS Creative Arts Committee, and Vice Chair of the ABA Digital Games and New Media Committee.
Kailey Phan Mitchell
Kailey is an indie developer and project manager for UnitedHealth Group’s digital platform. She graduated from DePaul University majoring in game development. While in school she worked with Professors Allen Turner and Will Meyers as a producer for DePaul Originals Game Studio. She also led JDE, an organization dedicated to giving students more creative opportunities.
She has showcased games at BitBash, PixelPop, Super Magfest, Game Devs of Color Expo, C2E2, and Indy Indies.
She currently helps run Indie City meetup, a bi-monthly get-together for developers to show off their in-progress passion projects.
Ashlyn Sparrow
Ashlyn Sparrow is the Assistant Director of the Weston Game Design Lab at the University of Chicago. She has worked on scholarly board, card, and digital games, and public health apps. She works closely with researchers and faculty to lead in the development of serious games, interactive learning experiences, and digital media art with youth and for youth. She has a BS in Information Sciences and Technology Design and Development from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon.
Shane Rafferty
Shane Rafferty (MS,CCLS) is the Patient Technology Specialist (PTS) at Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. After working as a child life specialist in numerous pediatric settings for close to decade, Shane transitioned full time to the role of a PTS in August of 2021 through a grant via Child’s Play. As a PTS, Shane helps maintain and troubleshoot issues with all patient facing recreational technology, researches and implements new technology focused interventions (Virtual reality, 3D printing, etc) that can be used in the health care setting, and conduct direct bedside sessions both focused on normalization/socialization and co-treating with other medical professionals to integrate new technology into treatment.
A.J. Mortega
Born and raised in Chicago, with a Bachelor of Science degree from DePaul University. A.J. began his career in games at an arcade company back in 2005. Since then, he has worked in a variety of game and tech companies and had even launched his own game publishing start-up called Game Seed Inc. back in 2014. Presently, A.J.works on the Words With Friends team at Zynga. Outside of work, A.J. loves gaming on his Xbox Series X, taking aerial photography with his DJI Mini 2 drone, and volunteering with BUILD Chicago and iMentor.