Heather Klusaritz, PhD, MSW, President

Heather is a parent to two boys in the club Gabriel (2008) and Jacob (2011), and has been a member of the Philadelphia youth soccer community for over a decade. She has extensive experience in non-profit management, acquiring and executing large grants, and is the Director of the Division of Community Health in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Director of Community Health Services for Penn Medicine’s Center for Health Equity Advancement, and faculty in Penn’s MPH program. She is very connected to the West Philly community and has devoted her career to improving access to healthcare and health fostering programs for all.

William “JR” Schroeder, Vice President

JR has been and continues to play, coach, and administer soccer since 1970. He has served as the volunteer assistant Men’s Coach at both Lafayette and Gwynedd Mercy University. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and played collegiate soccer at Penn when nationally ranked and played in the NCAA tournament. He is a practicing attorney and has an incredible love for teaching the game of soccer. With an extensive playing and coaching resume, he works with individuals and small groups to understand and improve passing technique and team efficient actions. JR is a student of European football tactics and brings an incredible passion for the game. He celebrates his 45th wedding anniversary this year, has 3 children and adores his 2 granddaughters.

Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen, PhD, MSW, Secretary

Robin has 15+ years’ experience developing soccer programs in the City of Philadelphia. While playing as a youth and into adulthood, she has vast experience on and off the field in a variety of futbol settings, and especially in the Latino community. She is the founder of Capitolo Youth Soccer (now Club Mexico) in South Philadelphia and continues to serve on their board as Vice President of the organization. She is the parent to two soccer players, Enrique (2008), and Flora, who is playing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and collegiately at West Chester this fall. She has supported dozens of youths in their soccer journeys over the years. She is a professor of social work and teaches in the MPH program at Penn.

Ylber Mezani, Director of Coaching

Ylber is Assistant Coach for Penn State Abington Men’s soccer program. He is a native of Albania, moving to the U.S at the age of 17 and attending Kensington High School for his senior year. He then attended and played soccer for Manor College for 2 years. He then transferred to Arcadia University to finish his studies in Communication in 2005. While playing at Arcadia he was a member of the Hall of Fame team that played in consecutive NCAA D3 national tournaments and made it to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds. Before joining Abington, he coached at Manor College and Springside Chestnut Hill High School. He has been involved in youth club coaching for almost a decade and currently coaches multiple teams at United Philly Soccer Club and Cristo Rey High School. Currently Ylber holds a UEFA B coaching license.

Steven Moosbrugger, Founding Board Member, Emeritus
Curtis De Veaux, Founding Board Member, Emeritus
Mario Bono, Founding Board Member, Emeritus
Rob Lamb, Founding Board Member, Emeritus
Amos Huron, Founding Board Member, Emeritus