US Club Soccer announces several changes to Board of Directors

US Club Soccer has announced several updates to its Board of Directors, following a recent set of elections and appointments.

Soccer leaders Jason Dewhurst (East Region), Tim Lesiak (Midwest Region), Gary Buete (South Region) and Benjamin Ziemer (West Region) have been elected as Regional Board Directors, while Shannon Mac Millan, Hue Menzies and Colette Montgomery were reappointed as At-Large Directors.

The terms for these seats on US Club Soccer’s Board of Directors began March 30, 2021. Elected by a popular vote of competitive member clubs in good standing in each region, four Regional Board Directors will serve three-year terms, concluding 30 days after the U.S. Soccer AGM in 2024. At-Large Directors are appointed annually.

The Board of Directors is currently comprised of 13 members with extensive leadership, coaching and soccer experience, as follows (with term expirations in parentheses):

• Chairperson: Mike Cullina (2021)
• Immediate Past Chairperson: Phil Wright
• Regional Board Directors – Eastern Region: Jason Dewhurst (2024), Shannon Cirovski (2022)
• Regional Board Directors – Midwest Region: Tim Lesiak (2024), Mike Sweeney (2022)
• Regional Board Directors – Southern Region: Gary Buete (2024), K.C. Crabb (2022)
• Regional Board Directors – Western Region: Benjamin Ziemer (2024), Eddie Henderson (2022)
• At-Large Directors: Shannon Mac Millan, Hue Menzies, Colette Montgomery (annual terms)

Regional Board Director – East | Jason Dewhurst

Dewhurst, the Director of Coaching for FC Stars, will continue his service on the BOD. He has more than 20 years of club coaching experience and is also a Board Member for the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). He has served as an assistant coach on various U.S. Women’s Youth National Teams over the past seven years, including domestic and international camps in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Croatia. Dewhurst holds a U.S. Soccer Federation National ‘A’ License.

“I am excited about being re-appointed to the US Club Soccer Board of Directors,” said Dewhurst. “Being involved with such a great organization and like-minded board members is a privilege. I look forward to helping the development and growth of soccer throughout the United States.”

Regional Board Director – Midwest | Tim Lesiak

Lesiak, the Secretary and an Executive Committee member of US Club Soccer’s BOD in addition to his role as a Regional Board Director. He is also the Director of Coaching for the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy. Beforethat, the U.S. Soccer A-licensed coach Lesiak spent eight years as the Director of Coaching for the Cardinal Soccer Club. He played collegiately for the University of Cincinnati, where he earned All-Mid East Region honors twice, before continuing his playing career professionally with the Cincinnati Cheetahs in the USISL.

“I am once again excited to be re-elected to the Board of Directors for US Club Soccer,” said Lesiak. “I have now been a member of the Board of Directors since 2005 and it is an honor to be part of an organization that truly represents the youth players, coaches and clubs in this country. I’m very proud of the progress we as a board have achieved in the time I’ve been involved and the unbelievable board members I get to work alongside. I’m looking forward to helping improve our NPL, our Boys and Girls ECNL and working with and for any initiative that makes the youth game safer through our Players First program.”

Regional Board Director – South | Gary Buete

Buete is the Vice Chairperson and an Executive Committee member of the BOD. He is also the CEO of North Carolina FC Youth and former Executive Director of Baton Rouge Soccer Club. He served has more than 22 years of club leadership and coaching experience at various levels and holds a U.S. Soccer National ‘A’ License.

“I am excited to have been re-elected to serve on the US Club Soccer Board of Directors,” said Buete. “I look forward to working with the staff, board members and clubs across the country to continue to push the game forward at all levels.”

Regional Board Director – West | Benjamin Ziemer

Ziemer is the President and a founding member of NorCal Premier Soccer and replaces long-time US Club Soccer BOD member Shawn Blakeman, who did not run for reelection. Ziemer has over 25 years of experience as a Director of Coaching, Technical Director, Assistant Director, Age Group Technical Director and Director of Education with soccer clubs at various levels. A former scout/coach with U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Teams and US Club Soccer’s id2 program, The A-licensed Ziemer holds a LaLiga Level 1 Diploma and has traveled abroad to over 70 amateur and professional soccer clubs.

“I am very excited to join US Club Soccer’s Board of Directors,” Ziemer said. “US Club Soccer has helped transform the club soccer environment and I look forward to working with the board to continue this progress.”

At-Large Director | Shannon Mac Millan

Mac Millan is the Executive Director of DMCV Sharks (Calif.), a FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, and an Olympic gold medalist. In 2002, she was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year. Mac Millan is a Hall of Fame inductee at U.S. Soccer, University of Portland and West Coast Conference.

“I am excited and honored to be re-appointed to the US Club Soccer Board of Directors,” said Mac Millan. “US Club Soccer remains at the forefront of the game. I look forward to being able to continue to give back to the game by working alongside the other board members to help keep the focus on the development of players at all levels.”

At-Large Director | Hue Menzies

Menzies, the Executive Director of Florida Kraze Krush, brings more than 35 years of coaching experience to the US Club Soccer BOD. As head coach, Menzies led the Jamaica WNT to its first-ever berth in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019. Before moving to Florida, Menzies was one of the founders of the Lonestar Soccer Association (Texas) and Director of Coaching for the Warrior Soccer Association (Texas).

“As we travel through the terrains of the game, the focus of US Club Soccer continues to be on player development and coaching education,” said Menzies. “I am humbled and honored to be a part of this journey with the organization.”

At-Large Director | Colette Montgomery

Montgomery is a licensed U.S. Soccer Grassroots Instructor and the Director of Coaching for Edina SC and Edina Soccer Association (Minn.). She has over 20 years of coaching and management experience with soccer organizations. A student of the game, Montgomery has obtained 10 certificates and diplomas with the United Soccer Coaches. She played and studied at the National Women’s Football Academy in her native country of England.

“I am honored for the re-appointment to the US Club Board of Directors,” said Montgomery. “I am looking forward to working with the staff and board as we continue to serve US Club Soccer’s membership and fulfill the goals of the organization.”