Foundation Executives
Claudio Reyna - Founder/ President
Emory Plitt - Treasurer
Josh Morgan - Executive Director
Brett Perrine - Secretary
Board of Directors
Marcelo Reyna
Marcelo graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1993 and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where he currently lives with his wife Nicki and their two children. He is a Project Manager with Arrington Watkins Architects in Phoenix and has many years of managing and administrative experience. Marcelo has been very active with non-profit and charitable organizations including serving as the Education Committee Chair for the Arizona Chapter of the US Green Building Council. Other volunteer efforts include Habitat for Humanity, St. Gregory's Catholic Church, Toys 4 Tots, and various social outreach programs.
Rick Jacobs
As the head coach of St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, NJ since 1985, Rich has developed the finest high school soccer program in the country. His teams have fashioned a 481-24-13 record during his 23 year tenure. Winners of six "mythical" National Championships and a current national record of 21 consecutive State Championships, his philosophy of developing a mature and disciplined player has been understood by current and past All-America's National Team, Pan American, Olympic and World Cup players.
He has developed inner city soccer programs in New Jersey, runs soccer camps throughout the United States and has lectured regularly at coaching clinics, the NSCAA and soccer clubs that want to understand his "Communication Is the Difference" philosophy along with his ability to develop a championship culture with his teams over these past 30 years. Involved with the Foundation because as Claudio's former high school coach, mentor and friend for the past 10 years I believe in his desire to give back in this special way... He gets IT and wants other young people to get IT too.
Eddie Lewis
As a team mate of Claudio Reyna in two World Cups, we share a lot in common professionally. As a professional soccer player, I have played in both the MLS stateside as well as overseas in England for nearly a decade. As a friend to Claudio both on and off the field, I am honored to bring my experience as an international soccer player and international ambassador for goodwill to the Claudio Reyna Foundation. Alongside my professional career, I am the Patron of the Big Game James Foundation, a charity that serves the Down Syndrome community on both sides of the pond. Like Claudio, I share a desire to pool all the resources I am able to tap into from my vantage point as a professional athlete and use them to help others help themselves. It is with great enthusiasm that I stand by Claudio and his mission.
Ted Johnson
Mr. Ted Johnson is a graduate of Nathaniel Hawthorne College and has a BS in advertising and marketing. He has owned and operated Prime Time Plus, Inc., a promotional products agency and marketing firm, since 1990. Mr. Johnson has worked with such foundations as the Turn 2 Foundation, the Hold in the Wall Foundation, Rhett Syndrome Foundation, and the Marvin Jones Foundation. He is a board member of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.
David W. Johnson
David Johnson has worked in the investment business for 20 years - with UBS Financial Services Inc. He currently serves as a First Vice President-Investments as well as the lead partner of the team creating solutions for his high-net-worth clients. David draws upon his considerable experience in investment planning and management to deliver the finest possible customer experience. Following his undergraduate studies at Old Dominion University in Virginia, David went on to earn his Series 7, 66, as well as life and health insurance professional licenses. In his spare time, David has been active in numerous community organizations, including Bond Club of New Jersey and his local church, and serves on the board of both Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey. David resides in Tewksbury with his wife and three sons.
Brett Perrine
Professionally, Brett Perrine has spent the past 18 years in various Sales and Sales Management capabilities. Brett had his "ah ha" moment when his good friend Stephen Paletta came back from Rwanda and they started the International Education Exchange. The IEE is a non profit organization linking American schools to Rwandan Schools. Since forming the IEE, Brett has joined forces with other like-minded social entrepreneurs to create and develop grass root organizations that are 100% accountable and cut through bureaucratic red tape. Brett is excited to work with his wife, Kathy, on the CRF Board to help make Claudio's philanthropic visions become realities.
Ryan Giunta
Ryan is a graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology and currently resides in downtown Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood with his fiance Lindsey Guerrera. He is the Marketing Manager for Red bull in Metro NY, and has been in various marketing management positions throughout the company for the last 6+ years. Ryan is honored to be on the Board of Directors for the Claudio Reyna Foundation, and is looking forward to working alongside Claudio and the other members of the board to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged youth.
Brian Weidling
Brian Weidling attended Emerson College in Boston Massachusetts where he studied television and film producing. He was a college athlete, playing soccer on a prosthetic leg and becoming a three-year starter and team captain his senior year while earning the ECAC award of valor. Briand and Claudio's friendship took hold while Brian wrote, produced, and directed The Goal-Claudio Reyna, a four-year odyssey following Claudio's journey through World Cup qualifying and his ascent to the World Cup All Star Team in 2002. The film was narrated by Robert Duvall and was critically acclaimed by Sports Illustrated as a "soccer nut's dream".
Since starting Tumbleweed Entertainment in 2006, Brian has produced and directed over 100 animatics, co-created several online series, and has produced and directed several documentaries, including chronicling the path of twin girls from Arkansas whom have their eyes set on careers in professional music and "SpeakEasy", a film about the fear of public speaking and the Toastmaster World Championship of Public Speaking. As a lifelong player and fan of the game, Brian is humbled and honored to have the opportunity to give back to the game he has loved so much and to help accomplish Claudio's mission. Brian is also on the Board for Poker4Life, a non-profit raising money for spinal chord research through the power of poker.
John New
President of source Trading in Stamford Connecticut. Prior to joining was Sr. VP, International Wealth Specialist and a rule 144 Specialist at Morgan Stanley based in Greenwhich Ct. Prior was a Managing Director at Wachovia Securities in NY. John lives in Beford with his wife Gina and tree children, Sean (11), Gianna (9), and Blaise (5). John serves on the Board of Directors at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester. John coaches several teams and helps organize the basketball program. Also, has served on Golf committee for several years. John also serves on the Bedford Pound Ridge Baseball Association board where he coaches several teams including summer travel. John and Gina are very active in their church, St. Patricks' of Bedford. John coaches CYO and AAU basketball teams as well. A proud member of the Knights of Columbus for almost 3 years. John was a college basketball player at Southern Connecticut State University.
Robert Mac Kay
Rob has over twenty years of finance experience, the last fourteen at PepsiCo, where he is the Senior Vice President and Controller for Pepsi Bottling Company. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Rob worked at Mercedes-Benz Leasing Mexico and KPMG where he held senior finance positions. Rob graduated from the University of San Diego (USD) with a BBA in Accounting and was a member of the Men's Tennis Team. He was captain during his senior year. Currently he sits on the Board of Advisors for the School of Business at USD. Aside from sitting on the Board at the Claudio Reyna Foundation, he is also on the Board of the Eastern Soccer Foundation and was a founder of the J. Collins Memorial Scholarship Tennis Fund in San Diego. All these organizations fund scholarships for financially deserving children to play sports at a higher level. Rob lives in Riverside CT with his wife, Aida, and two soccer playing sons, Robby and Chris. He is excited to work with Claudio and the other board members to further Claudio's vision.
Dylan Leiner
is Sony Pictures Classics Executive Vice President, Acquisitions & Production. Involved with the acquisition and production of a broad range of films dating back to IN THE COMPANY OF MEN, RUN LOLA RUN, THE SPANISH PRISONER, POLLOCK, DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS, THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, CACHE, FRIENDS WITH MONEY, THE LIVES OF OTHERS, FROZEN RIVER, THE WACKNESS, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG, THE CLASS, WALTZ WITH BASHIR, MOON, WHATEVER WORKS, COCO BEFORE BEFORE CHANEL, BROKEN EMBRACES, AN EDUCATION, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR, THE WHITE RIBBON, A PROPHET, THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, GET LOW, ANIMAL KINGDOM, and recent Academy Award winning films INSIDE JOB and IN A BETTER WORLD. Dylan oversees Sony Pictures Classics' physical and post production services. Dylan has been named by The Hollywood Reporter as a member of its 35 under 35 "Next Generation Group" and by Crain's New York Business among its 40 executives under 40. Dylan attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut where he played on the Men's Soccer Team for 4 years, and contributed to what remains Wesleyan's best season ever in 1991, where the team went 15-1-1, won the ECAC Tournament and was ranked #1 in New England. Dylan is also Co-Founder of NYFEST, the New York Film & Entertainment Soccer Tournament.
Thomas O'Connell
is President and Managing Principal of International Financial Advisory Group, Inc. (IFA), in Parsippany, New Jersey. As one of New Jersey's premier advisors - assisting families in the financial advisory field for over two decades - Tom is a nationally recognized author and speaker on the various subjects of estate planning, retirement planning and wealth management. His firm specializes in working with high net worth individuals, families and business owners in all aspects of financial and wealth planning and preservation.
Tom has been trained as a Master Elite IRA Advisor by Ed Slott, CPA, who is recognized nationally as America's leading IRA expert as well as a certified advisor of the Infinite Banking Institute.
He is currently a Board of Director member for the New Jersey Better Business Bureau and the Claudio Reyna Foundation. In his spare time, Mr. O''Connell is an avid mountain climber using his hobby to help raise money and awareness for wounded veteran organizations and children in need.
sTEPHEN a. BORG
Stephen A. Borg currently serves as the Vice President at The Keelen Group (TKG), a boutique government relations and consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. Prior to his time at TKG, Stephen spent 10 ½ years on Capitol Hill working for a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives where he served as the Congressman’s Acting Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director during his time in the office. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Stephen worked as a member of the House Research Staff in the State Capitol of Illinois. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Stephen graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Sociology. He currently resides in Falls Church, Virginia with his wife and two children. Having started playing soccer at the age of 4, Stephen has continued his lifelong love of soccer by coaching his son’s youth soccer team for the past 4 years and looks forward to coaching his daughter’s kindergarten team in the near future.
JEF THIFFAULt
Jef Thiffault is Founder and Operating Manager of Contigo Sports Management, a consulting company primarily focusing on soccer with strengths in event management, strategic planning, sponsorship and athlete representation services. Prior to establishing Contigo Sports Management, Jef worked at Major League Soccer’s League Office and Soccer United Marketing for over a decade. A 1999-graduate of the University of New Haven with a double major in Business Administration / Sports Management, Jef continues to participate in the university’s student-mentor program. He resides in Metuchen, New Jersey with his wife, two children and dog. Jef takes great pride in serving the Claudio Reyna Foundation and strives to leverage his experience working in the sport of soccer to benefit this great organization.