Tonya Antonucci, Commissioner
For over two decades, Tonya Antonucci has expressed her passion for women’s soccer as a player, coach, executive and fan. Now her dedication to the game continues as she serves as WPS’s first commissioner.
Antonucci was named WPS Commissioner on Sept. 4, 2007 after working as the CEO of Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII) for two and a half years. At WSII, she successfully engineered the launch of a women’s professional soccer league in the United States by developing a viable business model, determining the demographics of the fan base, cultivating investor support and identifying team markets.
Prior to joining WSII, Antonucci spent more than seven years with Yahoo, Inc., where as she launched Yahoo! Sports and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports, and served as Director of those properties. Subsequently, she was named General Manager of Yahoo's partnership with FIFA and oversaw the commercialization of the official, global web sites for the 2002 FIFA Men's and 2003 Women's World Cups.
In addition, Antonucci has worked as a product manager at Starwave, a software company funded by Microsoft’s Paul Allen; as a content producer on a precursor to ESPN.com; and as an assistant women’s soccer coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University while working on an M.B.A. degree
A native of Everett, Wash. and a H.S. All-American and 1984 U.S. Jr. National Team member while at Mariner High School, Antonucci is a political science and economics graduate of Stanford University, where she played collegiate soccer, was named to the All-Far West team, and co-captained the Stanford team her senior year.
Antonucci resides in the Bay Area.
Joe Cummings, Senior COO Consultant, Chair of the Operations Committee
Joe Cummings has been a pioneer of soccer in the United States for more than 30 years. His career has encompassed experiences on both the coaching and administrative sides, covering the youth, high school, college and professional game.
Cummings is serving as WPS’s Senior COO Consultant and Chair of the Operations Committee while also working as the President and General Manager of the Boston Breakers. He previously served as the President and General Manager of the WUSA’s Boston Breakers from May 2000 through the final year of WUSA play in 2003. During that time the Breakers received the Team Community Service Award, Fair Play Award, Coach of the Year Award for Pia Sundhage, MVP Award for Maren Meinert, and Cummings was twice selected Executive of the Year, the only league administrator to receive the award. The Breakers also led the WUSA in attendance for two of the three seasons and consistently ranked as the top sponsorship revenue generator.
From 2005-2007, Cummings worked as the CEO and Executive Director of New England Soccer School and Amesbury Sports Park. He was charged with developing the business plans for the soccer school, clinic and academy programs. Cummings also oversaw all operational, financial, marketing and promotional aspects of the Amesbury Sports Park and Sports Turf International, a synthetic turf company.
Prior to that, Cummings was the Venue Manager at Gillette Stadium for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, managing all aspects of the summer competition involving teams from Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba and the United States.
During the 2004 Major League Soccer season, Cummings served as the Technical Director for the New England Revolution, where he oversaw all aspects of the Revolution Academy, team administration, player personnel, pre-season/post-season/off-season scheduling, and contract negotiations. He also served as President of the National Soccer Coaches Association in 2004, managing the 15 member board of directors.
Cummings began his foray into soccer administration at the professional level as the Director of Operations for the 1996 Summer Olympics at the Birmingham, Alabama venue, where he was responsible for all logistics pertaining to soccer competition.
Following the Olympics, Cummings returned to his native New England to become the Director of Operations for the New England Revolution during the inaugural season of Major League Soccer. He spent three seasons with the team and was promoted to Assistant General Manager in 1998. During his tenure with the Revolution, Cummings played a key role in securing and managing large-scale international soccer matches at Foxboro Stadium, including several U.S. Women’s National Team events.
In 1999, Cummings was appointed the Director of Operations for the Women’s World Cup matches at Foxboro Stadium, where he oversaw some of the most spectacular and best-attended soccer matches ever held in New England. He left the Revolution in July of 1999, following the Women’s World Cup, to serve as the General Manager of Mass Pro Soccer. He held that post until May of 2000 when he took the helm of the Boston Breakers in the WUSA.
Cummings’ remarkable career and interest in soccer began over thirty years ago when he coached at the youth level and founded the Northboro Youth Soccer Association program. He went on to coach the junior varsity and varsity boys’ soccer teams at Algonquin Regional High School in Northboro, Massachusetts in 1976. Cummings was inducted into the Algonquin Regional High School Hall of Fame in November 2001. After seven years of coaching at his alma mater, Cummings became the head coach of the men’s team at Holy Cross College, where he coached for two seasons.
Cummings is one of only two coaches in the history of the Central Mass Soccer Coaches Association to receive all four major awards: Coach of the Year, District Champions, Outstanding Contributor and the Sportsmanship Award. He was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000.
A 31 year resident of Upton, Massachusetts, Cummings and his wife Ann Marie have two sons, Joseph and Paul.
Rachel Epstein, Director of Marketing
Possessing over 10 years experience in developing, evaluating and implementing marketing strategies and campaigns, Rachel Epstein was named Women’s Professional Soccer’s Director of Marketing on May 12, 2008.
Epstein spent five years at ESPN most recently as an associate director of sports marketing where she developed and led integrated multimedia marketing strategy for NBA Sunday on ABC and led the strategy and production of all WNBA marketing initiatives including television, print, online and outdoor advertising. In addition, she co-produced integrated multimedia marketing campaigns for the NBA Regular Season, Playoffs and Finals.
Previously at ESPN, Epstein served as an associate director of marketing services and was responsible for the development and implementation of trade marketing and communication strategies supporting short- and long-term sales initiatives. She also produced trade advertising campaigns for ESPN Customer Marketing & Sales, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine and led the production of the annual Advertising Upfront event.
In addition, she has worked as a marketing manager for Wenner Media where she implemented trade marketing and communication plans for US Weekly, Rolling Stone and Men's Journal; and as an account executive for Niehaus Ryan Wong PR where she developed corporate positioning and strategic media-relations plans for Compuware.
A Bay Area resident, Epstein is a graduate of Indiana University where she starred on the tennis courts earning All-American honors in 1993 and All-Big Ten honors all four years of her collegiate career.
Vicki Veenker, League General Counsel
Vicki Veenker brings a strong and diverse legal background to the office of General Counsel. In addition to working with the League, she is Of Counsel to Shearman & Sterling LLP in its Menlo Park, California office. The founding partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Group, she has extensive experience in intellectual property-related matters and is also a member of the firm’s Sports Group. Veenker has been lead counsel to industry leaders in fields ranging from telecommunications to entertainment to biotechnology in patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright cases. She also counsels clients on licensing and other transactions.
Veenker is a federal court mediator, sitting on the mediation panel for the Northern District of California. Previously, Veenker served as adjunct faculty member at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law and at Santa Clara University School of Law. Currently, she is a Director of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley.
In 2002, Veenker was selected as one of the “Top 20 Lawyers Under 40” by California Law Business. She has been listed each year since 2001 as a “highly recommended” intellectual property attorney in Silicon Valley by the publisher of Global Counsel magazine in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ms. Veenker has also been recognized for several years as a Northern California Super Lawyer by Law & Politics and San Francisco magazine.
Veenker earned her J.D. degree at the Georgetown University Law Center where she was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law & Technology. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Veenker was an Associate at the Kettering Foundation. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University.
A resident of Palo Alto, Calif., Veenker is the mother of two soccer-playing daughters.
Aaron Burch, WPS League Development / Relationships Manager
With a strong background in business growth and client service, Aaron Burch was named WPS League Development/Relationships Manager on Oct. 15, 2007. Burch authored the organization’s grassroots membership growth plan while also contributing to numerous aspects of the League’s start up phase.
From 2004-2007, Burch served as a Senior District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America in the Bay Area. An Eagle Scout, Burch was responsible for developing and improving the local council’s largest district, which included over 2,500 youth members and 800 adult volunteers in 60 units, through membership growth, unit growth, fundraising, event management and fiscal oversight, and volunteer recruitment and support. In 2006, he was awarded the Chief Scout Executive’s Winners’ Circle “Above & Beyond” recognition for exceeding all membership and fundraising goals.
Prior to that, Burch worked as a Marketing Manager for Innovative Anglers LLC where he developed and implemented the sales and marketing program for the start-up company’s high-quality fly-fishing products, which were sold domestically and internationally. He managed production, inventory, and order processing while cultivating business relationships with customers and company sales representatives.
A native of Minot, N.D., Burch graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and resides in the Bay Area.
Karyn Lush, Managing Editor / Internet Producer
Possessing a unique combination of writing and project management skills, Karyn Lush was named the league’s Managing Editor / Internet Producer on March 19, 2008. Lush oversees all content and website functionality on womensprosoccer.com.
Previously, Lush served as US Club Soccer’s Public Relations & Marketing Manager from 2004-2007. She authored press releases, email newsletters, event blogs and promotional material for the national youth soccer organization, while also managing US Club Soccer’s website, building and managing its online store and serving as an on-site event administrator.
From 2004-2006, Lush also was an editor for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Players Association website. In 2005, an article she wrote won the NSCAA Writing Contest’s Non-Deadline/Feature award.
Prior to that, she worked as an Editor/Project Manager for a web development company where she primarily serviced contracts with Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) and six of the league’s eight teams by writing articles for and publishing content to the clients’ websites, overseeing a freelance writing staff and managing website functionality and design alterations. In 2001, Lush covered the WUSA’s Boston Breakers as a freelance writer.
A native of Biglerville, Pa., Lush holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. She resides in the Bay Area.
Tony DiCicco, Chair of the Technical Committee
Tony DiCicco has a long history of involvement in women’s soccer. He is the Chair of the Technical Committee and the head coach of the Boston Breakers. The former National Team head coach served as the WUSA’s COO in 2001 and it’s Commissioner in 2002 and 2003 and as the Chairman of the re-launch committee in 2004.
For six years DiCicco was the head coach of the United States Women's National Team, accumulating an impressive record of 103-8-8, making him the all-time wins leader in U.S. National Team Soccer history. DiCicco was the head coach of the 1999 Women's World Cup squad that changed the face of women's athletics forever, winning the championship over China in front of the largest crowd in women’s sports history (90,185 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on July 10, 1999) and a worldwide television audience. In 1996, he led the U.S. team to the first-ever gold medal in Olympic women's soccer. He also guided the U.S. team to a third-place finish at the second FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden in June of 1995 and championships at U.S. Women's Cups in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. DiCicco and the USA Women’s National Team also won the Goodwill Games Gold Medal in 1998. The 1996 Olympic Gold Medal team has recently been inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.
Before becoming the head coach of the U.S. national team, DiCicco had served as the squad’s assistant coach since 1991, working with the goalkeepers during the USA’s triumph at the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991. He also served as the goalkeeper and assistant coach for the 1993 Under-20 Men’s National Team when it finished in eighth place at the 7th FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia.
DiCicco played five years of professional soccer in the American Soccer League with the Connecticut Wildcats and Rhode Island Oceaneers, where he was team MVP and captain. In 1973, DiCicco played for the U.S. National Team.
In 1981, DiCicco founded SoccerPlus Goalkeeper Schools, which has grown to over 20 camps nationwide, and started the SoccerPlus FieldPlayer Academies in the summer of 1998. He currently serves as the Director of the NSCAA Goalkeeping Institute. He holds both the U.S. Soccer “A” license and the NSCAA Premier Diploma.
DiCicco founded the FSASoccerPlus Football Club in 2003 and serves as the club’s Technical Director. He is also coach of the U12 girls; the U17 boys and SoccerPlus CT Reds of the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League). The Reds won the U23 National Championship last summer.
DiCicco is the Technical Director to adidas ESP, a program that every summer brings in the top 100 youth female players for a unique learning and competition experience.
DiCicco, is also a member of the FIFA Panel of Instructors and Lecturers visited Santiago, Chile recently to help promote the FIFA U20 Women’s World Championship to be held in Chile later in 2008. He has authored three soccer DVD series, Goalkeeping, the DiCicco Method; The 3 front System 4-3-3; and Champions Soccer Series featuring Brandi Chastain and has completed a book, along with Dr. Colleen Hacker entitled “Catch them Being Good”.
DiCicco was an ESPN television analyst for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. He has also served this capacity during the 2003 Women’s World Cup and with NBC for the 2000 Olympics.
DiCicco has also recently started SoccerPlus Education Center, a non-profit company that provides seminars for young student athletes. Seminars range from “Life Skills…balancing a checkbook, managing a credit card, establishing credit” to “Adolescent Development…an Emphasis on Teen Depression” to “Leadership and Sustaining Excellence.”
He received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Springfield College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in physical education from Central Connecticut State University. DiCicco lives in Wethersfield, Conn. He and his wife, Diane, have four sons: Anthony, Andrew, Alex, and Nicholas.
Doug Rotatori, Chair of the Expansion Committee
A member of the NY/NJ Sky Blue Soccer investment group, Doug Rotatori is the Chair of the Expansion Committee. He also is a member of the League Finance Committee.
Rotatori joined Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm, in 1998 as a Principal and is now a Managing Principal. Prior to joining Odyssey, Mr. Rotatori was a partner at Wellspring Capital Management LLC, a New York-based private equity investment firm. From 1987 to 1995, Mr. Rotatori was at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. where he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Finance groups. Prior to Bear Stearns, Mr. Rotatori was a senior consultant in the Andersen Consulting Group of Arthur Andersen & Co.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Rotatori is a graduate of Bucknell University and received his MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He resides in Summit, N.J. with his wife and three daughters.
Michael Stoller, Chair of the Finance Committee
The Managing Partner of Boston Women’s Soccer LLC, the investment group behind the Boston Breakers, Stoller serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee. He is also a member of the League Expansion Committee.
Stoller is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Newton Senior Living LLC, which he co-founded, and successfully sold. The driving force in its growth, Stoller oversaw the strategic direction of the company by providing leadership and vision to the attainment of its goals. With a background in finance and real estate development, Stoller most significantly focused on the company’s capital needs and early development activities. As the company grew, his focus shifted from development to managing the company’s growth and building its infrastructure.
Previously, Stoller was the managing partner of MB Management where he oversaw all aspects of the company’s operations and established new corporate investment and borrowing relationships. Prior to joining MB Management, Stoller was an audit manager at Coopers & Lybrand from 1977-1983 specializing in real estate, healthcare and insurance client services.
Stoller received his B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Babson College, and he is a Certified Public Accountant. Stoller has served on various Boards of Directors and Executive Committees and is an active Board Member and former Vice President of Newton Girls Soccer, one the country’s largest all girls’ soccer clubs.
Stoller resides in Newton, Mass. with his wife and daughter, a dedicated soccer player.
Gary Weaver, Chair of Player and Competition Committee
Gary Weaver is a partner in the Women’s Greater Lakes Soccer Initiative, LLC which is the primary group founding the Chicago Women’s Professional Soccer franchise. In addition, he is a member of the investment group backing the WPS Chicago franchise.
Previously, 1983-2007, Gary was co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Rollpak Corporation, an Indiana based plastic films manufacturer. His entrepreneurial spirit was focused in developing a successful, innovative, and highly automated manufacturing business.
Upon the recent sale of Rollpak Corporation, Weaver continues pursuing his interests in real estate development, equity trading, and establishing the Chicago soccer franchise.
A long-time soccer player, coach, parent, and fan, he received his NSCAA National Diploma while coaching at the club and high school levels. He was instrumental in founding and developing his community soccer park and soccer clubs, Goshen Stars SC, and FC Indiana. He is co-owner of FC Indiana, a member of the USL W-League and developmental partner for the Chicago franchise.
Weaver received his degree in science education at Indiana University and taught biology, chemistry, and marine biology at the secondary level in Goshen, Ind. and Islamorada, Fla.
Currently, Weaver resides outside of Charleston, S.C. with his wife, Barbara. They have two sons, Andrew and Michael, both residing in Indianapolis, Ind.
Peter Wilt, Chair of the League Marketing Committee
Peter Wilt has worked for more than 25 years in professional sports, including the last 20 years in professional soccer. He has earned championship rings and record business growth for professional soccer teams in three different American soccer leagues and now turns his attention to the WPS where he is serving as the league’s Chair of the Marketing Committee and the President and CEO of Chicago Professional Women's Soccer.
Wilt was the founding general manager and long time president of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, from 1997-2005, where his teams set attendance and corporate sponsorship records, while earning an MLS Cup, a Supporters Shield and three US Open Cup Championships under his leadership. Wilt also led efforts to develop TOYOTA PARK, the first 100% publicly funded soccer stadium in Major League Soccer.
Wilt was the founding President of the FireWorks For Kids Foundation and also served as President of the non-profit Minnesota Thunder Youth Development Organization. He also worked with 1990 U.S. World Cup player Jimmy Banks to launch Banks' inner city soccer program, which has served Milwaukee youth since 1988. Currently, Wilt continues to serve on the boards of the FireWorks For Kids Foundation, America SCORES Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation and he volunteers for Peace Action Wisconsin.
Wilt is a member of the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame, the Marian Central Athletic Hall of Fame, the Farnese Hall of Fame and the Chicago Fire's Ring of Fire. In 1998, Wilt was named MLS's Executive of the Year and Northwest Herald Sportsman of the Year. He was named the Naperville Person of the Year by the Daily Herald in 2002.
Wilt, a native of
McHenry, Illinois, and his wife Ann are graduates of
Marquette University.