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.

Brian Gavigan

Vice President of Corporate
Affairs & Legal

Brian Gavigan joins Carolina Core FC as its Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Legal. Gavigan is a versatile business attorney and innovative leader. He concentrates his practice in corporate law and has expertise in design, negotiation, drafting, and operations.

Gavigan has acted as a core figure in several new developmental projects in North Carolina. He is the founder and president of the Super PAC High Point Political Alliance, which focuses on regional economic development and public/private partnerships. He was the High Point Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 “Vision Investor of the Year” award winner. Gavigan was an important figure and leader in the $175 million downtown economic development and revitalization of High Point, including the creation of Truist Point.

Brian graduated from the University of Maryland where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor (Law School) degrees. He served in the Air Force, where he was Captain of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps. The Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps provides the Air Force with professional, full-spectrum legal support for mission success in joint and coalition operations. As a result of his exemplary practice of law, Gavigan was awarded three Air Force Commendation Medals for his service.

Brian and his wife are long term High Point residents, where he raised his children.

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

Business Development & Operations Manager

Robert Ritchie, an experienced soccer executive, joins Carolina Core FC as  the Business Development & Operations Manager. 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 1^st 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.

Kristen Moore

Marketing and Communications Manager

Kristen Moore is an experienced marketing professional from Northeast Ohio.  She attended the University of Toledo for her undergraduate degree where she developed her passion for marketing and international business.  Kristen began her career working in healthcare marketing where she spent six years mastering her craft which brought her to High Point, NC in 2018.  

Since moving to North Carolina, Kristen has become an active member of her community.  She serves on the committee for the High Point Young Professionals and Vice President of the High Point Jaycees where she helps develop and execute initiatives that support and engage young professionals in the region. 

Kristen's commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed.  In 2021, she earned her MBA from UNCP, further solidifying her expertise in marketing and business.  Her hard work and dedication to her career have led to numerous accolades, including being nominated for High Point Young Professional of the Year and being awarded the Triad Business Journal's 20 in their 20's.

Kristen is a global citizen at heart and an avid traveler who has visited 16 countries to date.  Her love of culture, diverse experiences, and sports have inspired her to pursue a career in soccer, where she can apply her unique perspective to the world-wide sport.

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.