Here's a chance for you to check out the many faces behind Toronto FC - our front office staff who are dedicated to making your soccer experience the best it can be. We are pleased to have such passionate and experienced soccer professionals on board to help kick-off our inaugural season. Scroll through and click on a photo to contact us.
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// Tom Anselmi
Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer,
Maple Leaf Sports + Entertainment (MLSE)
Alternate Governor, Major League Soccer
Teams // Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Marlies
About Me // Tom joined MLSE in 1996 to lead the development and opening of Air Canada Centre. As Chief Operating Officer of MLSE, Tom is now responsible for the business operations of the Leafs, the Raptors, the Marlies and has overall responsibility for Toronto FC on and off the pitch. Tom's career in sports and entertainment spans 20 years. He previously worked with Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment in Vancouver and spent a number of years during the development and operations at the Rogers Centre. His soccer career was pushed aside in public school to make way for hockey, and he's looking forward to improving his skills on the pitch again, but will likely need to borrow Ronnie O'Brien's knee brace to help him fire in crosses from the left side.
full bio »
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// Mo Johnston
Manager, Director of Soccer
Sign // Aries
Best Desk Item // My Blackberry - I can't live without it
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Obviously, it was when Dichio scored our first-ever goal. The seat cushion celebration was tremendous ... until I was hit in the back of the head.
About Me // I have over 20 years of playing experience as a striker for clubs including Celtic, Rangers, Everton, the Kansas City Wizards and for the Scottish National Team. My career highlight is easily being part of the starting eleven for Scotland in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and scoring a penalty shot against Sweden. My middle name is Giblin.
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// Paul Beirne
Director - Business Operations
Sign // Aries
Best Desk Item // I have a 50ml bottle (unopened) of Glenfiddch that I'm saving for our first trophy. Also, a Steve Nash bobble-head.
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Without a doubt, the closing minutes of our first-ever home game, April 28, 2007. We had arrived in style!
About Me // Dry sense of humour. Anything I write here runs the risk of being misinterpreted. Never made it to Tiny Talent Time.
Phone Number // 416-815-5471
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// Cesar Velasco
Manager - Communications, Partnerships, Community Relations, Sales & Service
Sign // Virgo
Best Desk Item // Team signed TFC seat cushion from May 12th
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Thanking our fans from midfield at the end of our last home game.
About Me // Having been born and raised in Mexico, football is under my skin. I’m a proud member and keeper of the Ronaldo McDonalds in the Lunch-Time Soccer League (LSL). Everything I say gets misinterpreted, as I’m still learning to how to pronounce my ‘y’s and ‘j’s in English. I’m a devoted cheesehead for the Packers, I enjoy watching and playing tennis, and introducing the staff to the best Mexican restaurants around Toronto.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5315
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// Earl Cochrane
Manager - Team Operations
Sign // Pisces / Year of the Rooster
Best Desk Item // Marco Etcheverry Bobble-Head
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // There were two major highlights in a season of firsts. The first was being in LA for our inaugural game against Chivas and hearing ‘O Canada’ for the first time at an MLS game. Frank Yallop and I joked about this when we were in DC together but to actually hear it was really moving. But even more overwhelming was walking out of the tunnel on April 28th to a sold-out building and realizing that we had something really special.
About Me // As if launching a franchise wasn’t enough, I capped off the year by marrying the most wonderful woman in the world.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5020
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// Corey Wray
Team Operations
Sign // Scorpio
Best Desk Item // My pocket monitor cleaner
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Being kicked out of an away team locker room for questioning a coach’s choice of tactics during a post-game interview. Guess who still has a job?
About Me // A jack of all trades. Some trades include motivational speaking, tours, jokes, research, organizing, giving change to the poor, interviews, hugging babies, youngness, writing emails, and smelling good.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5321
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// Kelli Wood
Marketing
Sign // Scorpio
Best Desk Item // My 2008 Fraggle Rock Calendar
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Standing right beside the confetti machine when Danny Dichio scored the very first Toronto FC goal and having to leap over the field boards in a single bound to pick up seat cushions. We made the Sportscentre Top 10!
About Me // I was bitten by the football bug while backpacking across Italy, after almost dying in the Supporters Section during a heated Roma/Lazio match. I decided to apply to Toronto FC after Electric Circus went into syndication. I’m a right-brainer with artistic hands, armed with the ambition to be crowned the all-time champ of Rock ‘n Roll Jeopardy.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5101
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// Breagha Carr-Harris
Community Relations
Sign // Gemini
Best Desk Item // Photographs
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // 1) May 12, enough said! 2) National anthem sung by fans…goose-bumps every time! 3) Working field side during games…what a rush 4) The ‘Beckham’ Game... unreal! 5) Introducing Jimmy to a huge fan... I LOVE MY JOB!
About Me // Soccer... that’s it for me. Hooked since my brother explained me the rules the night before a ‘big’ tryout! I have an unexplainable love for: new pinnies, cone stacks, fitness ladders, the #13 and the smell of a fresh cut field…I know, weird!
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 ext 5335
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// Kimberly Edwards
Administrative Assistant
Sign // Scorpio
Best Desk Item // My vintage surfing postcards from Australia
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // The day of firsts - May 12th – first goal, first red card, first win and one absolutely amazing crowd!
About Me // After scoring my first career goal on my OWN net, I have worked hard and proudly improved my game on the pitch during the Lunch Time Soccer League (Right Team Green?!?!). I am an avid figure skater and skier who loves being outdoors in the many varieties of Canadian weather. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Laurier Golden Hawks and their 2005 Vanier Cup win, but I’ve definitely made room for Toronto FC and an MLS Cup!
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5107
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// Chris Shewfelt
Manager, Corporate Sales
Sign // Capricorn
Best Desk Item // Picture of Maple Leaf Gardens
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Without a doubt, witnessing the first goal in TFC franchise history. It’s one of those special sports moments that I will never forget.
About Me // Growing up in the Hamilton area, softball and hockey were my two passions. After being hired at MLSE in 2001 out of the Brock Sport Management program, I soon added basketball to that list of passions, and in the past couple of years have added soccer as well! I have competed internationally in Mens Softball as a member of Team Canada in 2006 and have won a number of National Championships over the years. I have recently put my softball aspirations on hold in order to focus closely on family and work.
Phone Number // 416-815-5414
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// Joe Jesseau
Corporate Partnerships
Sign // Scorpio
Best Desk Item // My tape measure
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // TFC’s 4-0 win over FC Dallas on June 17, 2007 ... I knew we had finally arrived.
About Me // I’ve earned the nickname, Joe ‘Snipeshow’ Jesseau, in the Lunch-Time Soccer League for my many bicycle kick attempts (cough, failures, cough cough), and for being the all-time league goal scoring leader. I play, coach, watch, and live soccer, and am on course to follow in the footsteps of the great, Bobby Charlton. I am also the office go-to handy-man – ready to assemble whatever comes my way whether its soccer nets, Michelle’s kitchen cabinets, or Joanna’s desk organizer.
Phone Number // 415-815-5400 x 5103
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// Jeff Payne
Corporate Partnerships
Sign // Taurus
Best Desk Item // Leeds United Scarf (2001)
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Jimmy B’s cracker at Columbus and Mo Edu’s chest-down and finish at Chicago were probably my high points of the year because I think they were the best goals we scored in ‘07. The first goal was obviously special, but I’m trying to be unique here.
About Me // I’m a nut for football and a sports junkie in general. After some recent introspection, I’ve realized that if I had to list the top 5 moments in my life, they would all include sports (at least 3 would be football) in some way. Kids: don’t let people tell you that being hopelessly addicted to sports won’t get you anywhere in life. Oh, and stay in school... and don’t do drugs.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5391
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// Michelle Lissel
Media & Public Relations
Sign // Pisces
Best Desk Item // My Chelsea action-figures of Bridge, Parker, Terry and Lampard
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Surviving my first ever road game, David Beckham’s presser, and Dichio’s tying goal in final home game.
About Me // Leaving a career in broadcasting, and joining TFC has been an exciting career change and I’m enjoying every minute of it. I am still trying to discover all the wonderful things Toronto has to offer – besides the shops of Queen West, the great restaurants ... and the nightlife.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5399
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// Luke Wileman
Communications
Sign // Sagittarius
Best Desk Item // Tea Bags! I drink far too much tea.
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // The reaction to the first goal. I have watched thousands of football games all over the world but have never seen a celebration as good as that.
About Me // Growing up in England I wanted to be a football player. I quickly realized I was never going to be good enough, so made a career from talking about the game instead! After 10 years as a soccer broadcaster, I married a Canadian and moved across the Atlantic. I am an optimistic Sheffield United fan who believes they will one day be in their rightful place at the top of the football world.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5375
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// Anton Wimmer
Ticket Sales and Service
Sign // Aries
Best Desk Item // 2007 TFC Inaugural Team signed jersey
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Final match of 2007 at BMO Field, Dichio’s chop shot outside the 18 yard box goes in to tie the game ... in extra time.
About Me // Outside of the world of soccer, I’m a huge fan of music. The best show I have ever seen is the Strokes at the Opera House; but a close second was the Hip at the Horseshoe Tavern! I’m not in a band but I aspire to be a real guitar hero.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5105
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// Matt O’Brien
Ticket Sales
Sign // Virgo
Best Desk Item // My wallet-sized picture of Anton Wimmer (pre hair cut) at a photo shoot
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Entering section 114 during the May 12th game while wearing a freshly dry-cleaned suit and leaving wearing the same suit covered in $36 worth of ice cold beer after goal celebration #2.
About Me // I’m passionate about sports, probably to a fault. I’ve learned to measure the doorway, not just the floor space when building anything and I’ve never been more afraid for my life than when I was being chased down the Champs-Elise by the Parisian riot police after the World Cup ‘06 final.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5390
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// David Barker
Sales & Service
Sign // Pisces
Best Desk Item // Chris Bosh Lunch Box
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // The absolute pandemonium that followed Danny Dichio’s last goal of the season.
About Me // I came to TFC with zero soccer skills. I can proudly say that I have officially moved up a peg on the soccer skills board after mastering the ‘neck stall’. I’m also a diehard Raptors fan. My favourite movie is Good Will Hunting and I sit between Jeff and Asif at work.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5384
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// Asif Hossain
Sales & Service
Sign // Crop circles?
Best Desk Item // Any and all Liverpool FC stuff
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Wherever I was I always had a good time
About Me // Updated from 2007: I have moved back downtown. I’d like to thank everyone for their outpouring of support as I fought through my year-long adversity of living outside the downtown core. I will forever be haunted by chilling images of ‘closed’ signs on shop windows as nothing stayed open very late north of Bloor Street. I still shudder at the thought. Never again do I wish to face such hardship ... Kensington Market forever!
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5387
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// Laura Magee
Sales & Service
Sign // Capricorn
Best Desk Item // My May 12th seat cushion, signed by Greig Young
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Danny Dichio’s goal in the final game of the 2007 season, then getting an opportunity to rush the field with the fans.
About Me // I’ve played, watched and worked in soccer most of my life. When Toronto FC and MLS came to town I was ecstatic, and had to be a part of it, both as a fan and an employee. We’re on our way to becoming the top soccer county in the world.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5389
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// John Driscoll
Sales & Service
Sign // Gemini
Best Desk Item // My "That Was Easy" Button
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Road tripping to New York City with the TFC Supporters
About Me // This is my second season with Toronto FC. Prior to joining Toronto FC I worked with the Toronto Argonauts for 3 seasons. Excited about year 2 and looking forward to hopefully adding an MLS Cup to my sports career.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5397
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// Greig Young
Sales & Service
Sign // Leo
Best Desk Item // Ally McCoist Autographed Picture
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // April 28th 2007 – Canadian National Anthem, no further comment.
About Me // I made my soccer debut at the tender age of four. I wore uniform numbers 2,4,7,9 and 11 throughout my lustrous fourteen year career. I officially announced my retirement at eighteen, however I can be seen playing in pickup games around the city every now and then. Although I had some solid seasons, I was never nominated for the FIFA player of the year.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 x 5382
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// Patrick Bakker
Coordinator, Corporate Partnerships
Sign // Leo
Best Desk Item // My 2008 Jeopardy Calendar. I enjoy Jeopardy.
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // October 4th vs. the New York Red Bulls. Winning that game 2-1 on ESPN at night in one of the most dynamic atmospheres I have ever been a part of. That night was unreal. Also the July 25th Aston Villa game. That was a special game and it was my birthday so it was even better.
About Me // I love sports!! So much so that the majority of the websites I go to are sports sites. The first season with Toronto FC was unbelievable and is something etched in my mind forever. Many have said my finesse, brute strength and unrelenting determination during the LSL has made them reconsider many things in their lives, well I don't know about that. What I do know is stepping on any pitch with me is like telling Chuck Norris you will out fight him, it ain't gonna happen pal, he's Chuck Norris.
Phone Number // 416-815-5400 ext. 5381
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// Maurice Grant
Game Operations
Sign // Gemini
Best Desk Item // Rubik's Cube
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Seeing the stands of the season and watching 20, 000 fans in red stand, stomp, shout and raise their scarves for their squad on April 28th…the first time I felt a stadium shake under my feet.
About Me // Growing up in the mean streets of Stoney Creek is where my passion for sports started. Mainly football (the American version) and basketball; now a converted football fan (the original version), I’ve been able to transfer my skills with combination of speed, power and a new signature move, running straight at a defender as fast as possible in the hope that they will move out of the way. This move has yet to produce any goals in the lunch time league…the ‘defender moving out of the way’ part is still in the works.
Phone Number // 416.815.5400 x 5111
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// Joanna Maksay
Accountant
Sign // Scorpio
Best Desk Item // My radio – I have the reputation for having the best tunes
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // The last game of the season, when Danny scored the last goal. It was such a perfect end to a great season.
About Me // I’m not a very gifted soccer player, but I love watching every match. Even though I look after every TFC department financially, I really enjoy learning about the different department initiatives and helping out with all of the Community Events (Can’t wait for the KickOff Party and the 90th Minute!) I’m also on my way to earning my CMA designation – only a few courses to go. Phew!
Phone Number // 416-815-5109
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// Debra Watkinson
Manager, People
Sign // Gemini
Best Desk Item // My Vision and Values tent card and collection of business books
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Shadowing the front office team on game day - exhilarating!
About Me // Although I try hard at lunchtime soccer, I’m sure the staff wish I’d stick to HR. A native of Toronto, I’m partial to this city but have travelled to many of the other MLS team cities and have caught some games there. The TFC team and staff are some of the most passionate people I’ve worked with.
Phone Number // 416-815-5470
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// Paul Giamou
Team Photographer
Sign // Cancer
Best Desk Item // Squeezable rubber toy that spouts obscenities
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // Loved the fact that the "Danny Dichio™" song caught on and will be belted out at every TFC game until the end of time! Genius!
About Me // When I am not dodging flying beer cups at BMO I am shooting mainly advertising and travel stories.
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// Ari Xenarios
Stadium Announcer
Sign // Leo
Best Desk Item // It's a tie between my "Property of Whistler BC" golf ball & a Brian Fantana Bobblehead.
Highlight of 2007 TFC Season // The first goal in TFC history. Not only did I jump up and scream like it was a game winning goal in triple overtime, but witnessing fans hurling their seat cushions on to the field was amazing.
About Me // I've been a sports announcer for over 6 years and am best known for my work with the Humber College Hawks and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Over the years I've announced everything from CCAA National Championships to Ultimate Thumb Fighting Championships to the Raptors Invitational Tournaments at the Air Canada Centre. In my non-announcing career, I work in Marketing and have recently joined the Jetstar Group as Account Supervisor in charge of Brand Experience. In my free-time I enjoy traveling, playing basketball and spending time with family and friends.
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