We're here for you.
because our community needs our momentum. We’re a diverse team
passionate about our sport, driven by our purpose, and devoted
to our community and the future of Carolina Core FC.
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Andy Smith
President
Andy Smith, a well experienced sports executive, joins Carolina Core FC as the team President. Having over 20 years of executive experience leading highly successful professional soccer teams on and off the field, Andy first began working at MLS clubs where he was a Corporate Account Executive for the Colorado Rapids, the Director of Sales at D.C. United, and the Vice President of Sales at FC Dallas.
Outside of MLS, Smith was the President & General Manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks, and then later GM of Reno 1868 FC during their expansion launch and inaugural seasons. The team in Reno, while sharing a stadium with their minor league baseball team partner, had the highest per capita attendance of any team in a U.S. soccer league and reached the playoffs in each year of its existence.
Andy graduated from Roanoke College where he was a four-year starter on the soccer team, and is top-5 all time in points and goals. Smith now lives in High Point, NC with his wife, two daughters, and son.
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Eddie Pope
Chief Sporting Officer
Eddie Pope, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, joins Carolina Core FC as Chief Sporting Officer, overseeing all soccer operations, including technical staff management, player personnel, transactions, and scouting.
Pope was born in High Point, NC and attended Southwest Guilford High School. He played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1992-1995 and was drafted second overall by D.C. United. In just his second year, Pope was named Major League Soccer Defender of the Year. Widely considered one of the best defenders in American history, Eddie Pope was a four-time MLS Best XI winner, part of the “Top 25 MLS Players of All Time,” and was selected to the MLS All-Time Best XI. Pope retired from MLS play as a 3-time MLS Cup Champion, Open Cup Champion, a CONCACAF Champion, and an InterAmerican Cup Champion. Pope also represented the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1996-2006, appearing in 82 games and appearing in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002 & 2006).
Following his on-field retirement, Eddie Pope served as the director of player relations for the MLS Player Union from 2008-2015 and helped negotiate two collective bargaining agreements. From 2015 through 2022, he became the Director of the North American Soccer Division at Octagon Sports and Entertainment. Octagon Sports is one of the premier sporting agencies in the world, representing some of the world’s biggest talent, such as Stephen Curry, Gabriel Jesus, Michael Phelps, and Simone Biles.
Eddie returns to High Point with his wife, daughter, and two sons.
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Evan Mitz
Chief Operating Officer
Evan Mitz joins Carolina Core FC as the Chief Operating Officer, where he works in collaboration with the club’s executive staff within all areas of the organization.
Mitz first began working at FC Dallas in 2006, where he won many league-wide annual MLS awards as an Account Executive. Later, he developed a comprehensive skillset from managing the operations of San Antonio’s professional soccer club expansion launch, serving as a Competition Manager at Copa America Centenario, and working for the Atlanta Silverbacks as the Vice President of Business Operations and Assistant General Manager. Specifically, while he was in San Antonio, the Club had immediate success in winning the second division regular season championship, shattering second division attendance capacity records, and generating support for its non-profit enterprise partner Morgan’s Wonderland (The World’s First Ultra-Accessible Theme Park).
Evan graduated from the University of Wisconsin after playing soccer for two seasons at Butler University. He and his wife have relocated to High Point, where they are raising their daughter.
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Chris Baretta
Chief Revenue Officer
Chris Baretta joins Carolina Core FC as the Chief Revenue Officer, where he will be responsible for building out all revenue streams to include Sponsorship, Ticketing, Merchandise, Ancillary Game Day Revenues as well as oversight of all Marketing initiatives.
Baretta previously served as the Chief Revenue Officer for the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty, where he oversaw all club revenues, which grew by over 185% from 2019 through 2022. Following the 2021 season, he was awarded the Chief Revenue Officer of the year in the United Soccer Leagues.
Before working in Greenville, Baretta worked in Account Executive roles at FC Dallas (MLS), and with the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) and Seattle Seahawks (NFL). At those teams, he was recognized for league awards including: MLS Sales Executive of the Year, MLS Total Ticket Sales Revenue Leader (4 seasons).
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Robert Ritchie
Director of Soccer Operations
Robert Ritchie, an experienced soccer executive, joins Carolina Core FC as the Director of Soccer Operations. Having numerous years of sales, business development, and football operations experience, Robert is most notably versed with launching franchises across the country from west to east coast.
Robert first began his career with Coca Cola in Nevada before starting his journey in soccer in Reno. He first started out as an Account Executive with Reno 1868 FC during their expansion launch and inaugural seasons before becoming Ticket Sales Manager and then latterly switching over to the technical side as the club’s Director of Football Operations.
The team in Reno, while sharing a stadium with their minor league baseball team partner, had the highest per capita attendance of any team in a U.S. soccer league and reached the playoffs in every year of its existence, while attaining the highest level of operational excellence.
In 2019, Robert was instrumental in making American sports history by signing the 1st and only Cuban athlete to a club in any sport on an immigration visa without the player having to defect from the country of Cuba. This tenure culminated in winning the 2020 USL Championship Regular Season.
Robert was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from the University of Dundee, Abertay. Robert now lives in the USA with his wife Cierra and two sons, James & Milo.
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Alen Izić
Business Operations and Data Analytics Coordinator
As a local of the Carolina Core, Izic's roots run deep in the community. He brings Carolina Core FC a wealth of soccer knowledge, having excelled as a soccer player at Piedmont Triad Football Club and Westchester Country Day School before earning a degree in Economics and Sports Administration from the esteemed University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alen Izic has joined the Carolina Core FC team as the Business Operations and Data Analytics Coordinator. In this pivotal role, Izic will provide leadership and oversight for our organization's special events, business intelligence, and customer service operations.
With his strong analytical skills and strategic approach, Izic is well-equipped to optimize CCFC operations and enhance the overall customer experience. His leadership and dedication will be instrumental in driving CCFC forward.
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Reese McCormick
Marketing & Partnership Coordinator
Reese McCormick brings her passion for the NC Core community to Carolina Core FC. After an extensive soccer career at Piedmont Triad Football Club, she stayed in the Core to attend UNC Greensboro. Reese earned her Marketing degree from UNC Greeenboro's Bryan School of Business in Spring 2023.
Reese has joined Carolina Core FC as the Marketing & Partnership Coordinator. In this role, Reese will manage the social media accounts of the CCFC Academy and Carolina Core Soccer Foundation, as well as establish and maintain partnerships with companies around the community. -
John WermelingDirector of Business Development
John Wermeling joins Carolina Core FC as the Director of Business Development by way of FC Tulsa after three seasons with the club. He has extensive experience working in pro soccer, having previously played an integral part in the launches of Reno 1868 FC, Las Vegas Lights FC and El Paso Locomotive FC with stops at Forward Madison and the RGV Toros along the way.Outside of work, John can be found watching his beloved Arsenal, Green Bay Packers or any other pro soccer matches that might be on television. When the weather permits, he loves to hike, swim and explore whatever new city he might be living in. If you see him around the CORE feel free to say hi and ask him to buy you a pint or two.Originally from Fort Collins, Co., John earned his bachelor's degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Department of Human Performance and Sport in Sport Industry Operations with a minor in Sports Journalism. John is relocating to the CORE with his fiancé Julia and her daughter Olivia. -
Jacob Revell
Account Executive
Raised in Atlanta, Jacob’s life mostly revolved around playing baseball and soccer. While playing sports was his passion, he always knew he one day wanted to work in sports, graduating with a degree in Marketing at Georgia College & State University in spring of 2023.
Following up his Box Office & Ticket Sales internship with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Jacob joined Carolina Core FC as the club’s Account Executive. His role at the club is to assist in business development primarily through ticket sales and to handle all things customer experience related. In his free time, you can find Jacob out on the golf course, skateboarding, watching his Braves and Falcons, or spending time with his 2-year-old husky, Gwen.
Andy Smith
President
Andy Smith, a well experienced sports executive, joins Carolina Core FC as the team President. Having over 20 years of executive experience leading highly successful professional soccer teams on and off the field, Andy first began working at MLS clubs where he was a Corporate Account Executive for the Colorado Rapids, the Director of Sales at D.C. United, and the Vice President of Sales at FC Dallas.
Outside of MLS, Smith was the President & General Manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks, and then later GM of Reno 1868 FC during their expansion launch and inaugural seasons. The team in Reno, while sharing a stadium with their minor league baseball team partner, had the highest per capita attendance of any team in a U.S. soccer league and reached the playoffs in each year of its existence.
Andy graduated from Roanoke College where he was a four-year starter on the soccer team, and is top-5 all time in points and goals. Smith now lives in High Point, NC with his wife, two daughters, and son.
Eddie Pope
Chief Sporting Officer
Eddie Pope, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, joins Carolina Core FC as Chief Sporting Officer, overseeing all soccer operations, including technical staff management, player personnel, transactions, and scouting.
Pope was born in High Point, NC and attended Southwest Guilford High School. He played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1992-1995 and was drafted second overall by D.C. United. In just his second year, Pope was named Major League Soccer Defender of the Year. Widely considered one of the best defenders in American history, Eddie Pope was a four-time MLS Best XI winner, part of the “Top 25 MLS Players of All Time,” and was selected to the MLS All-Time Best XI. Pope retired from MLS play as a 3-time MLS Cup Champion, Open Cup Champion, a CONCACAF Champion, and an InterAmerican Cup Champion. Pope also represented the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1996-2006, appearing in 82 games and appearing in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002 & 2006).
Following his on-field retirement, Eddie Pope served as the director of player relations for the MLS Player Union from 2008-2015 and helped negotiate two collective bargaining agreements. From 2015 through 2022, he became the Director of the North American Soccer Division at Octagon Sports and Entertainment. Octagon Sports is one of the premier sporting agencies in the world, representing some of the world’s biggest talent, such as Stephen Curry, Gabriel Jesus, Michael Phelps, and Simone Biles.
Eddie returns to High Point with his wife, daughter, and two sons.
Evan Mitz
Chief Operating Officer
Evan Mitz joins Carolina Core FC as the Chief Operating Officer, where he works in collaboration with the club’s executive staff within all areas of the organization.
Mitz first began working at FC Dallas in 2006, where he won many league-wide annual MLS awards as an Account Executive. Later, he developed a comprehensive skillset from managing the operations of San Antonio’s professional soccer club expansion launch, serving as a Competition Manager at Copa America Centenario, and working for the Atlanta Silverbacks as the Vice President of Business Operations and Assistant General Manager. Specifically, while he was in San Antonio, the Club had immediate success in winning the second division regular season championship, shattering second division attendance capacity records, and generating support for its non-profit enterprise partner Morgan’s Wonderland (The World’s First Ultra-Accessible Theme Park).
Evan graduated from the University of Wisconsin after playing soccer for two seasons at Butler University. He and his wife have relocated to High Point, where they are raising their daughter.
Chris Baretta
Chief Revenue Officer
Chris Baretta joins Carolina Core FC as the Chief Revenue Officer, where he will be responsible for building out all revenue streams to include Sponsorship, Ticketing, Merchandise, Ancillary Game Day Revenues as well as oversight of all Marketing initiatives.
Baretta previously served as the Chief Revenue Officer for the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty, where he oversaw all club revenues, which grew by over 185% from 2019 through 2022. Following the 2021 season, he was awarded the Chief Revenue Officer of the year in the United Soccer Leagues.
Before working in Greenville, Baretta worked in Account Executive roles at FC Dallas (MLS), and with the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) and Seattle Seahawks (NFL). At those teams, he was recognized for league awards including: MLS Sales Executive of the Year, MLS Total Ticket Sales Revenue Leader (4 seasons).
Robert Ritchie
Director of Soccer Operations
Robert Ritchie, an experienced soccer executive, joins Carolina Core FC as the Director of Soccer Operations. Having numerous years of sales, business development, and football operations experience, Robert is most notably versed with launching franchises across the country from west to east coast.
Robert first began his career with Coca Cola in Nevada before starting his journey in soccer in Reno. He first started out as an Account Executive with Reno 1868 FC during their expansion launch and inaugural seasons before becoming Ticket Sales Manager and then latterly switching over to the technical side as the club’s Director of Football Operations.
The team in Reno, while sharing a stadium with their minor league baseball team partner, had the highest per capita attendance of any team in a U.S. soccer league and reached the playoffs in every year of its existence, while attaining the highest level of operational excellence.
In 2019, Robert was instrumental in making American sports history by signing the 1st and only Cuban athlete to a club in any sport on an immigration visa without the player having to defect from the country of Cuba. This tenure culminated in winning the 2020 USL Championship Regular Season.
Robert was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from the University of Dundee, Abertay. Robert now lives in the USA with his wife Cierra and two sons, James & Milo.
Alen Izić
Business Operations and Data Analytics Coordinator
As a local of the Carolina Core, Izic's roots run deep in the community. He brings Carolina Core FC a wealth of soccer knowledge, having excelled as a soccer player at Piedmont Triad Football Club and Westchester Country Day School before earning a degree in Economics and Sports Administration from the esteemed University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alen Izic has joined the Carolina Core FC team as the Business Operations and Data Analytics Coordinator. In this pivotal role, Izic will provide leadership and oversight for our organization's special events, business intelligence, and customer service operations.
With his strong analytical skills and strategic approach, Izic is well-equipped to optimize CCFC operations and enhance the overall customer experience. His leadership and dedication will be instrumental in driving CCFC forward.
Reese McCormick
Marketing & Partnership Coordinator
Reese McCormick brings her passion for the NC Core community to Carolina Core FC. After an extensive soccer career at Piedmont Triad Football Club, she stayed in the Core to attend UNC Greensboro. Reese earned her Marketing degree from UNC Greeenboro's Bryan School of Business in Spring 2023.
John Wermeling
Director of Business Development
Jacob Revell
Account Executive
Raised in Atlanta, Jacob’s life mostly revolved around playing baseball and soccer. While playing sports was his passion, he always knew he one day wanted to work in sports, graduating with a degree in Marketing at Georgia College & State University in spring of 2023.
Following up his Box Office & Ticket Sales internship with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Jacob joined Carolina Core FC as the club’s Account Executive. His role at the club is to assist in business development primarily through ticket sales and to handle all things customer experience related. In his free time, you can find Jacob out on the golf course, skateboarding, watching his Braves and Falcons, or spending time with his 2-year-old husky, Gwen.
The Visionary
Eddie Pope
One of the top United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) players of all time and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Eddie Pope is our CSO and Ambassador. Homegrown in High Point, NC, he is ingrained in the past with a strong vision for the future of the area – with soccer at the forefront.
Our Sponsors
