Mitch is the Majority Owner and CEO of Westchester SC. He is the founder and Managing Partner of emerging pharmaceutical-focused private equity fund, Merida Capital, which has invested in 70 portfolio companies across four funds. He has more than 25 years of business experience in highly regulated industries. Mitch began his emerging pharmaceuticals career as an expert in the regulatory component of limited licensing and multi-state cultivation operations. He has founded seven emerging pharmaceutical operators that have each been sold for more than $100 million and is a frequent speaker on investment strategy. Mitch previously served as Associate General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of publicly traded MarketAxess and General Counsel of Pali Capital before leading investment banking operations for ACGM and Cavu Securities. Mitch holds a B.A. in History from Brandeis University, and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

Danny has been involved with soccer for the entirety of his professional life. He brings his operational expertise to Westchester SC having been owner and operations leader of the New York Dutch Lions FC, a Brooklyn-based Summer League team founded in 2016, and prior to that having led operations for the Miami Dutch Lions FC. With a vast network of soccer connections across Europe and the U.S., Danny has also worked for 15+ years in risk management and finance operations, leading teams in The Netherlands and Belgium at fintech companies ABN AMRO and Ebury, one of Europe’s largest international payment providers, now part of Banco Santander. Danny holds a Bachelor Degree (BA) from the University of Amsterdam.

Simon is the Sporting Director of Westchester SC. He founded New York Premier FC, an academy that has 9 teams across boys and girls, in 2018 and has achieved high levels of competitive success in both regional and national tournaments, including his 2023 Jefferson Cup winning team. For the past 20 years, 10 of which were spent in Westchester County, Simon has served as a lead coach of multiple academies in the U.S., England and South Africa. Simon began his soccer career playing for AFC Bournemouth and spent time at both English and South African professional clubs during his 10-year career. He holds coaching qualifications in UK, South Africa as well as the U.S. and is currently working towards his UEFA A License.

Jeff has been a senior partner at private equity firm Merida Capital Partners since 2018. He has been an investor in cannabis companies since 2013, funding both cultivation and ancillary businesses. He brings over 20 years of experience as an institutional investor including roles in investment analysis, M&A transactions, financial valuation, and corporate governance issues. He currently serves as an independent director of Leafly Holdings, Inc. and Lowell Farms Inc. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jeff serves as a trustee of the Friends Grow Friends Foundation, Inc., an after-school program that helps children with special needs improve their social skills. He has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Helen Leisengang is the Head of Media Partnerships & Sponsorships at WSC, where she spearheads strategic collaborations with brands and media to develop integrated programs that maximize visibility and drive measurable ROI. With a track record of success at iHeartMedia, CBS, Pandora, and SiriusXM, Helen has led innovative revenue and marketing initiatives tied to globally recognized events, including the iHeartRadio Music Festival, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and Naming Rights deals with CBS Radio Sports properties. She holds a BA from McGill University and is fluent in French and Greek. Renowned for her expertise in high-impact partnerships and tailored brand solutions, Helen is a leader in leveraging media and sponsorship strategies to amplify brand presence and value.

Ari Kwitkin-Close is the Head of Community Outreach for WSC, bringing a strong background in relationship-driven selling, strategic partnerships, and event planning. He leads the club’s efforts on community outreach and also oversees the relationships and activations between the club and corporate partners. His goal in his position is to connect WSC to the greater Westchester community through strategic partnerships that build up the entire region. Previously, Ari played a key role in the Washington Commanders front office sales team as he worked to rebuild the fanbase and drive strategic relationships. Ari holds a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst where he is proud to still be an active advisor to students. Ari is a leader and trailblazer in the collegiate sport management space and aims to leverage those connections to further establish Westchester SC as a prime destination for talent both on the pitch and in the front office. 

Hallie Hammond is the Head of Stadium Operations at WSC. She brings valuable experience from her previous role as Coordinator of Stadium Operations for the USL Championship team, Charleston Battery. Hallie holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management from The Citadel and is passionate about creating seamless game day experiences for fans, players, and staff alike.

Bryan is Head of Ticketing for WSC. Previously, he was Senior Coordinator – Ticketing for Major League Baseball, assisting the ticket sales departments of MLB and MILB teams. He also led service and retention seminars at MLB league business meetings. Prior to the MLB, Bryan headed ticketing operations for several New York-based sports organizations, including the New York Boulders, the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Bryan has an undergraduate degree in Sports Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Rachel Ross is the Head of Social Media at WSC, bringing fresh ideas and creative energy to the content team through impactful, trend-savvy strategy. Her goal is to grow the club’s social presence while strengthening connections within the club and broader community.
Before moving into this role, Rachel began working part-time with WSC while completing her Master’s in Business Analytics at Brandeis University. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Sport Management from the University of Maine, where she was a member of the Division I women’s soccer team.

Michael has spent his career operating at the intersection of sports, entertainment, gaming/tech, and culture. He has led marketing, business development, licensing, and operations at numerous sports and media companies, including NBC Sports, Octagon Sports Marketing, Live Nation, Samsung, Turtle Beach, and Atari. He has also been responsible for partnership cultivation with top brands while building high-performing execution teams. Most recently, he crafted and implemented branded sports lifestyle content programs featuring NFL and NHL players and creators.