A Fond Farewell...
Will Simonds, Jr., a long-serving volunteer in the soccer world, is rolling off his Board position at Great Falls Reston Soccer Club (GFRSC) on March 31st.
Will began volunteering at Great Falls Soccer Club (GFSC) as a parent coach for his own children's teams some 14 years ago. With a previous career in sports management and an interest in helping to advance the sport of soccer in the Great Falls area, Will joined the Board of Directors, serving in various positions, and ended up as Commissioner from 2013-2018. Will has been an advisor to the GFRSC Board since the successful merger between GFSC and Reston Soccer Association took place last spring, thus completing a required 1-year overlap.
Will's extraordinary dedication is evident in his many significant accomplishments - he pioneered the Club's sponsorship program and introduced the first sponsors, he cancelled an ineffective and onerous coaching contract in favor of contracting directly with a technical director and coaches, he guided the Club through the USYS birth year changes, he championed the funding and turfing of the Club's flagship Nike 7 field, and he led the way to the merger with Reston Soccer Association last year, all while overseeing the routine operations of a Club that had grown by 50% during his tenure as Commissioner.
"Will has been a tremendous asset to the local soccer community and will be missed," says long-standing friend and fellow GFRSC Board Member, Ashi Chaturvedula. With a heart of gold, Will always settled on the "right thing to do." Will's calm demeanor and even temperament were essential in handling the many challenging situations that the Club encountered during his 6 years as Commissioner.
 Rado Pletka, GFRSC Technical Director, shares similar thoughts, "I am very grateful to Will because, as a young coach, Will was one of a handful of people to see my potential to take on the role of technical director. Will has been the most influential and supportive person in helping me do my job. I will miss him dearly because of the tremendous impact he has had on my career and my life."
Fellow GFRSC Board Member, Miguel Jansen, adds "Will has been a great asset to GFRSC. We thank him for his time and commitment to help bring the two neighboring clubs together to build a stronger and more competitive soccer club."
Originally from Locust Valley, NY, Will is a longtime resident of Great Falls where he lives with his wife Annie, 3 teens and 2 dogs. He is an avid golfer and tennis player and looks forward to spending more time enjoying those sports before he moves onto his next opportunity.
We would like to wish Will all the best in his future endeavors. If you would like to thank Will or wish him well, please reach out to him at GFRClubAdvisor@GFRsoccerclub.org.
The Board of Directors
Great Falls Reston Soccer Club
|
