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Meet our Presenters...

Michael Karon

AYSO National President

Beverly Hills, CA

Contact: 

mkreferee@gmail.com

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WORKSHOP:

VIRTUAL LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Our President will have some brief remarks to share, followed by an open forum with Q&A. 
 

 

AYSO Background:

 

  • AYSO Volunteer since 1976

  • Before beginning his volunteer career in an AYSO as a youth referee, Michael was an AYSO player.

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • AYSO National President 2019-present

Other AYSO Experiance:

  • AYSO National Board of Directors 2016-2019

  • Section Staff: SDRA (4 years)

  • Area Staff: ARA (6 years); EXTRA Program Manager (2 years); Asst Area

  • Director (2 years)

  • Regional Staff: RC (4 years); RA (10 years); ARC (9 years)

  • National Programs Staff: Development Commission (4 years);

  • Instructor Certifications: Basic/Intermediate/Advanced/National Referee Instructor (30 years)

  • National Referee (43 years)

  • Ken Aston Camp Instructor (10 years);

  • National Referee Assessor (30 years)

Mark Schmalz

3/E/327 Marcy, NY

Contact: 

mrschmalz@schmalzmech.com

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WORKSHOPS:

  • Virtual Expo Moderator

 

AYSO Background:

 

  • AYSO Volunteer since 2000

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • Section 3 Director

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Region 327:

    • Coach

    • Referee

    • Regional Registrar

    • Regional Commissioner

  • Area 3E Director

 

AYSO Certifications:

 

  • Intermediate Coach

  • Intermediate Referee

  • Advanced Management

  • Dispute Resolution REV.

  • Safe Haven

  • CVPA

  • Registrar

  • Coach Instructor

  • Referee Instructor

  • Advanced Management Instructorement Instructor

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Bill Odendahl

 

3/B/ Trumbull, CT

Contact:

wodendahl7529@charter.net

WORKSHOPS:

  • Recruiting Volunteers

 

AYSO BACKGROUND:

  •  AYSO Volunteer since:  2007

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • Intermediate Referee

  • Intermediate Coach

  • Area Management Administrator

  • Area Referee Instructor

  • Area Coach Instructor

  • Area Management Instructor

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Region 186:

    • Intermediate Coach

    • Intermediate Referee

    • Treasurer

    • Registrar

    • CVPA

    • Auditor

    • Division Manager

    • Assistant Regional Commissioner

  • Area 3B:

    • Auditor

    • Area Management Administrator

    • Area Referee Instructor

    • Area Coach Instructor

    • Area Management Instructor

 

AYSO Certifications:

  • Intermediate Coach

  • Intermediate Referee

  • Safe Haven

  • CDC Concussion

  • Sudden Cardiac Arrest

  • Management Instructor

  • Advanced Referee Instructor

  • Coach Instructor

  • Advanced Dispute Resolution

  • Due Process

  • Coach Administrator

  • Safety Director

  • Financial Auditor

  • Registrar

  • Treasurer

  • CVPA

  • Division Coordinator

James Manwell

 

3/A/473 Brooklyn, NY

 

Contact:

hjmanwell@gmail.com

 

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AYSO Background:

  • Volunteer since 1985

 

Current AYSO Position/Activities:

  •  Section 3 Director of Referee Assessment

  • Advanced Referee Instructor

  • Assessor

 

Previous Experience with AYSO:

  •  Regional Commissioner Region 473

  • Advanced Referee

  • Referee Instructor

  • Instruction of Instructors

  • Section 3  Director Referee Instruction

  • Area 3A Director Referee Instruction

  • Workshop Leader – Section Expos

 

Courses Completed:

  •  Advanced Referee Instructor Course

  • Assessor

  • Advanced assessment of Instructors

  • Concussion Awareness

  • Safe Haven

  • Basic Referee Instructor Course

  • Intermediate Referee Instructor Course

 

Personal:

  • Retired Consultant-Retail Systems

  • Retail Financial Manager

  • Controller

  • MIS Manager

  • College Instructor

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Peter Goldberger

3/A/611

Contact:

peterg@eoftech.com

AYSO Background:

  • Active in AYSO since 1998

 

Current AYSO Positions:

  •  Section 3      Director of Referee Instruction

  • Area 3A        Director of Referee Assessment

 

 

Previous AYSO Positions:

  •  Member  National Nominating Commission  

  • Region 3/A/611  Assistant Regional Commissioner

  • Region 3/A/611 Registrar

  • Region 3/A/611  Division Coordinator

 

Certifications:

  •   Advanced Referee Instructor

  • Referee Assessor

  •  Referee Instructor Evaluator

  • Advanced Referee

 

Other Athletic Credentials:

  •  Certified USTA Tennis Umpire

  •  Certified Intercollegiate Tennis Association Umpire

  • Vice President – Eastern Tennis Umpires Association

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Larry Swertloff

 

3/R/473 Brooklyn, NY

Contact: 

lswertloff@brooklynayso.net

AYSO Background:

  • AYSO Volunteer since:  1993

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • VIP Instructor, R473

  • Intermediate Referee, R473

  • Advanced Management Instructor

  • Section 3 Director of Sponsorship and Fundraising

  • Member, AYSO National Audit Committee

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Board Member at-large supporting Regions in Area 3-A

  • Coach

  • Referee

  • VIP Coordinator/Trainer

  • Safety Director

  • CVPA

  • Director Supplemental Programs - Camps, Clinics & Travel programs

  • Area 3A Director

 

AYSO Certifications:

  • AD Training 

  • RC Training

  • Due Process

  • Dispute Resolution,

  • Dispute Resolution Rev

  • Safety Director

  • CVPA,

  • CVPA Annual Update

  • Safe Haven

  • Safe Haven Update

  • Safe Haven Coach

  • VIP Coach/Referee

  • VIP Instructor

  • Coach Instructor

  • U6 Coach

  •  U12 Coach

  • Intermediate Coach

  • Referee

  •  Intermediate Referee

  • Advanced Management

  • Intermediate Management

  • Grade 5 Regional Teacher

Paula Meusse

Inglewood, Ca

Contact: 

paulamuesse@ayso.org

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WORKSHOP: R

  • Registration, Education

 

VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND:

 

  • AYSO - Team Parent & Coach 1/P/19 1991-2000

  • PTA - Site President, Culver City Council PTA Board Member, District 31 Delegate 1990-2003

 

Current AYSO Role:

  • Business Solutions and Strategy Leader

Special Guest 

Speakers...

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Dan Howald

3/T/455 Croton-on-Hudson, NY 

Contact:

danhowald.ayso@gmail.com

WORKSHOPS:
• Marketing Your Program in “The New Normal” - Co-Instructor with Yvonne Lara
• Return to Play Roundtable 1: Complying with local health guidance - Moderator
• Return to Play Roundtable 2: Region organization and training activities - Moderator
• Return to Play Heroes Forum - Moderator
• Social and Digital Marketing for Your AYSO program - Co-Instructor with Yvonne Lara
• Alternative Play Soccer, with Scott Snyder and David Kilpatrick


AYSO BACKGROUND:
AYSO Volunteer since 1998

 

Current AYSO Role(s):
 U5 Master Coach, Region 455
 VIP Head Coach, Region 455
 Section 3 Marketing Director
 National Vice President, AYSO National Board of Directors

 

Other AYSO Experience:
 Region 455:
o Coach
o Referee
o Regional Coach Administrator
o Regional Commissioner

 Area 3T Director
 Chair, AYSO National Marketing Commission

 

AYSO Certifications:
 Intermediate Coach
 Regional Referee
 Safe Haven
 Advanced Management Instructor
 Coach Instructor

Randy Pittman

Section 3  

Fitchburg MA

Contact:  rpittman.nbod@gmail.com

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WORKSHOPS:

  • Return to Play Roundtable 1: Complying with local health guidance - Moderator

 

AYSO Background:

 

  • AYSO Volunteer since 2002

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • Section 3 Liaison and management instructor

  • AYSO National Board of Directors

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Region 1476:

    • Regional Commissioner

    • Coach & Coach Instructor

    • Referee

  • RC Caucus Facilitator

  • Section 3 Director

  • Chair Person for the following committees: AYSO Nominating commission, Volunteer Membership Program, Return to Play.

 

 AYSO Certifications:

  • U5- Advanced Coach

  • Regional Referee

  • Safe Haven

  • Advanced Management Instructor

  • Coach Instructor

Gregg Solomon

 

 

3/A/611 NewYork, NY

Contact:

gmsolomon5@aol.com

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AYSO Background:

 

  • AYSO Volunteer since 2002

 

Current/Former AYSO Role(s):

  • Former Regional Referee Administrator Region 611

  • Former Member National Referee Advisory Commission

  • Referee

  • Assessor

  • Instructor

 

AYSO Certifications:

  • National Referee

  • National Referee Assessor

  • Advanced Referee Instructor

Peter van der Heijden

 

3/T/220 Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, NY

Contact:

peter@vanderheijden.org

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WORKSHOP:

  • VIP = Very Important Players, Soccer for Special Needs Players

 

AYSO Background:

  • AYSO Volunteer since 1998

 

Current AYSO Roles:

  • VIP Head Coach Region 3/T/220

  • VIP Coordinator Region 3/T/220, Area 3T, Section 3

  • Board Member Region 3/T/220, Area 3T, Section 3

  • Adult League Coordinator Region 5021

  • Assistant Section 3 Director

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Region 3/T/220: Coach, Regional Commissioner

   •Region 3/T/220, Area 3T, Section 3 Webmaster

  • Acting Area 3T Director

  • Section 3 Director

 

AYSO Certifications:

  • Safe Haven, CVPA, Treasurer, Safety Director, Advanced Management, AD Training

  • Intermediate & VIP Coach

  • Regional Referee

  • Intermediate Coach Instructor

  • Advanced Management & VIP Instructor

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David Kilpatrick

3 /Coach Trainer, Canajoharie, NY

Contact: 

dkilpatrick@mercy.edu

WORKSHOPS:

  • Coaching

 

AYSO Background:

  •  AYSO Volunteer since 2005

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • Section 3 Coach Trainer; Area 3T Coach Trainer

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Region 324:

    • Coach

    • Referee

    • Regional Coach Administrator

    • Regional coach Trainer

    • Regional Commissioner

 

AYSO Certifications:

  • Advanced Coach

  • Advanced Coach Instructor

  • Advanced Management

  • U-8 Official

Scott Snyder

AYSO Director of  Programs and Education Temecula, CA 

Contact:

ScottSnyder@ayso.org

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WORKSHOPS:

  • Enriching Children’s Lives:  Social and Emotional Learning

  • Alternative Play Soccer (with David Kilpatrick)

 

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

 

Scott has been with AYSO since 2011, initially in the role of Player Development Specialist engaged to rewrite the Coaching Curriculum.

 

In his current role as Director of Sport and Development, Scott oversees programs, education, and membership growth. A former professional player in both England and the US, Scott represented the USA in the FIFA U20 World Cup in Mexico.

 

Scott is also a U.S. Soccer Grassroots Instructor Educator and participated in the 12-person educator group to redesign grassroots soccer education in the US.

 

Scott is married to Allison (from Vermont) and has two daughters Madison (21) and Olivia (18).

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Yvonne Lara

AYSO Director of Marketing and

Communications

Irvine, CA

Contact: 

YvonneLara@ayso.org

WORKSHOPS:

  • Marketing Your Program in “The New Normal” (with Dan Howald)

  • Social and Digital Marketing for Your AYSO program (with Dan Howald)

 

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

 

Yvonne has 20 plus years of experience in entertainment, sports, corporate and non-profit marketing, communications, fund development and event planning.

 

Since December 2017, Yvonne has been AYSO’s Director of Marketing, Communications & Fund Development.

 

In this role, Yvonne directs and oversees the creation, implementation and management of all AYSO marketing strategies, campaigns, communications, messaging, branding, social media, PR, media production, sponsorships, events, fund development and design.

 

She cultivates and develops strategic marketing and media partnerships as well as sponsorships to benefit the organization and local programs as well as oversees production and execution of all major organization events.

 

She is a sports industry liaison with national and local organizations on behalf of AYSO and is dedicated to evolving the marketing and communication positioning of the organization based on new market trends and strategies.  

 

Prior to AYSO, she spent six and a half years at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, overseeing and cultivating the brand and voice of the organization. Before that, she spent nearly 12 years at FOX Broadcasting Company, where she launched groundbreaking shows such as American Idol, Glee and So You Think You Can Dance. And before working for those companies, she started her career at Cal State Fullerton University.

 

In her spare time, she is an active member of her church, a youth leader, and a community volunteer. She has been an athlete and performer since childhood and still enjoys dancing and singing in her spare time as well as finding new and challenging ways to stay active. She is a traveler, baker, avid musical theatre buff, Dodgers, Kings, Patriots, Lakers, and Manchester United fanatic and loves her USC Trojans and Fullerton Titans respectively.

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Michael Titowsky

3/A/611- West Side Soccer League (WSSL)

New York, NY

Contact:

michael.titowsky@mdafny.com

AYSO BACKGROUND

  • AYSO volunteer since 2003

 

CURRENT AYSO ROLES:

  • Regional Director of Referee Instruction, WSSL

  • Board Member, WSSL

  • Referee, all divisions

 

PRIOR AYSO ROLES:

  • Coach, U6-U9

  • Division Head, U9-U19

 

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

  • Co-founder, in 2006, of adult soccer club- Geezer FC

  • Civil trial attorney, NYC

  • Frequent lecturer for clients, bar associations, and other professional groups on various legal topics

 

AYSO TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Safe Haven

  • Concussion Awareness

  • Coach

  • U8 Referee

  • Regional Referee

  • Intermediate Referee

  • Referee Instructor

  • Advanced Referee

  • National Referee

Ed Kobos

3/E/222

New Hartford, NY

Contact: 

KK2B@aol.com

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WORKSHOPS:

  • Annual Referee Update

 

AYSO Background:

  •  AYSO Volunteer since 1986

 

Current AYSO Role(s):

  • Section 3 Referee Administrator

 

Other AYSO Experience:

  • Region 222:

    • Regional, Intermediate and Advanced Referee

    • Referee Administrator

    • Regional and Intermediate Referee Instructor

    • Referee Assessor

  • Area 3E Referee Administrator

    • National Referee

    • Advanced Referee Instructor

  • Section 3 Referee Assessor

    • National Referee Assessor

  • Section 3 Referee Administrator

    • Referee Instructor Evaluator

 

Other Soccer Positions:

  • United States Soccer Federation

    • State Referee Emeritus, Referee Assessor, Region I Assessor

    • Regional Referee Instructor

    • President Emeritus – Mohawk Valley Soccer Referee Association

    • Eastern New York, Area Referee Instructor and Assessor Coordinator

    • Region 1 Referee & Assessor

  • National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association

    • Referee

    • National Referee Assessor Emeritus

  • National Federation of High Schools

    • Referee

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