Our Team

Here at The18, we are building a world where the day begins and ends with the beautiful game, and we invite you to join us.

We have thought about everything that fuels our passion for soccer / football / fútbol and used that knowledge to craft the quintessential experience for you, no matter what you call the sport.

From the newest boots, to the greatest goals, and all the way around to that one skill that you didn’t think was quite possible, we have opinions that matter and those that don’t. We strive to make you think, share, and discuss all things soccer, from around the block to around the world.

As you immerse yourself in The18, we invite you to learn more about us. Check out our team below. Interested in writing for us? Send us an email at: info@the18.com

Partners

Pete Burridge

PRESIDENT AND CEO

There is deep and rich history. There is infinite nuance and subtlety. There is pure physicality and raw aggression. And of course, there is grace. Soccer is that rare combination of elements that results in beauty....

Matt Jenkins

Chief Strategy Officer

It's a rare sport that counts its fans in billions. It's an even rarer sport that counts as fans everyone from Prince William to Will Ferrell, Pope Francis to Russell Brand, Sheikh Mansour to Shakira....

Saul Huerta

Chief Accounting Officer

There is nothing in the world that brings the world together like soccer. The beauty, simplicity and passion around soccer are what make it special....

Staff

Brant Backlund

Senior Associate Video Editor

To me the beauty of soccer is that anywhere you travel in the world, you will find it being played....

Connor Fleming

Associate Writer

Soccer is a game that emphasizes the journey much more than the result....

Mariel McCown

Associate Video Producer

Three nights a week you'll find me red-faced and sweaty sprinting around an indoor turf field, usually smiling, but sometimes ready to body that girl who just fouled me....

David Moore

Associate Writer

The game of soccer is more than feet and a sphere. Soccer is a uniting sport....

Jenevie Nunez

Associate Accounting

First and foremost, NO ERA PENAL! See, the special thing about soccer is its heart and its reach....

Rachelle Reichley

Assistant to the CEO

I am here to support from the bench and be a great teammate....

Howard Schwartz

Senior Associate Brand Partnerships

Soccer is the first foray into sports for so many. Starting at a young age, it's the introduction into the world of sport....

Luis Vidal

Associate Writer The18Fútbol

I could have been a great left CB, but fútbol abandoned me way too early, even when I had two perfect, healthy knees. So here we are....

Interns

Giancarlo Cornejo

Intern Writer

Soccer, fútbol, calcio, voetball, nogomet. We refer to the game we love in many ways, but the feeling it invokes remains the same. ...

Liam Hanley

Intern Writer

As a former goalkeeper, I find beauty in defense and dedication on the soccer pitch. For me, a fingertip save is just as elegant as a top corner goal, and a crunching tackle is more impressive than a nutmeg....

Joseph Reina

Intern Writer

Soccer has always been more than a game, it's a way of life. It brings communities together to bond over a shared love of their team and their unique culture....

Freelancers

Tabaré Azcona

FREELANCE WRITER

Fútbol is the air that I breathe. Only after the ball rolls on the field does the world start spinning....

Nathan Reynolds

FREELANCE WRITER

Soccer is the beautiful game and should be played as such....

Kery Ruiz

FREELANCE WRITER & VIDEOGRAPHER

Soccer made money from ticket entrances in the past. But now we've added TV and a splash of marketing to it. We have turned soccer into Walt Disney....

Felipe Vieyra

FREELANCE WRITER

I’ve always had a lot to say about soccer, especially when it comes to the Mexican national team and Mexican players abroad....

Our Boards

Governing Board

Our Governing Board represents a wealth of experience across industries and provides oversight and strategic direction to the company on an ongoing basis.

Pete Burridge

Governing Board Member

An entrepreneur his entire career, Pete has started seven companies, driving significant results including a 5.5x increase in valuation, a 30% pre-exit cash return for investors, and a 39% year-over-year revenue growth over 16 years....

TJ Rhine

Governing Board Member

Having served as the former global creative director for Planet Hollywood as well as international marketing agency The Integer Group, TJ has deep expertise in creative marketing....

Howard Donaldson

Governing Board Member

Howard is the CEO of Lunar Owl Consulting, a business consulting advisory firm focused on guiding video game developers towards success....

Ben Bressler

Governing Board Member

Ben is the founder and president of Natural Habitat Adventures, a $100M global business offering life-enhancing adventures to the world's most wondrous wild places....

Investment Advisory Board

Our investment advisory board is composed of successful executives, entrepreneurs, and investors who have assisted companies like The18 in attracting capital and positioning for future success.

Geoffrey Hansen

Investment Advisory Board Member

Geoffrey is a seasoned tech entrepreneur with multiple successful exits in communications, e-commerce, mobility, and biotech....

Andy England

Investment Advisory Board Member

Andy is the CEO of Phillips Distilling Company, a brand devoted to a consumer-centric approach, as well as striving to satisfy consumer needs, preferences, and ever-changing tastes....

Michael Hora

Investment Advisory Board Member

A retired SVP of AT Kearney, Michael currently serves as a trustee for five other nonprofit organizations....

Jeff Gregor

Investment Advisory Board Member

Jeff spent 18 years at Turner Broadcasting and held several positions including VP and SVP of Sports Marketing, General Manager, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Catalyst Officer for TNT and TBS....

Soccer Advisory Board

Our soccer advisory board provides insights and advice when it comes to the sport, in addition to helping build our network. The members come from different backgrounds with diverse experiences – from playing professionally, to coaching, to managing clubs, to overseeing the biggest tournament on the planet.

Hardy Kalisher

Soccer Advisory Board Member

Hardy is Boulder High’s longest-running and most successful boy’s soccer coach in the program’s 40-year history....

Jeff Plush

Soccer Advisory Board Member

Jeff is the current CEO of the United States Curling Association....

Eric Neal

Soccer Advisory Board Member

Eric is on the board for the Denver Host City bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup....

Nikki Marshall

Soccer Advisory Board Member

Nikki Marshall is a former USWNT and NWSL player and an alumna of CU Boulder....

Kevin Van Lieshout

Soccer Advisory Board Member

Kevin is a lifelong soccer player and fan, who currently works as a software engineer after a stint interning for The18 during his undergraduate degree....