
Dave Galas
Dave is the founder and Managing Director of Lane United FC, Eugene’s current USL League Two and W League soccer club. Leaning on his science and technology background, Dave is an avid problem solver with a passion for environmental and social betterment and community building. His community-focused vision led Lane United to the 2014 Rookie Franchise of the Year award, and he was also awarded the 2016 Executive of the Year award. Having lived walking distance from Civic Park since 2000, Dave is now focused on reimagining the magic of south Eugene gamedays with the beautiful game. He serves on the Eugene Civic Alliance Board of Directors, the USL League Two Executive Committee, and formerly on the Oregon Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors.

John Galas
Head Coach of Lane United’s USL2 team, John Galas has over 25 years of coaching experience from youth to the professional levels. With multiple professional certifications from Europe and America, John instills passion, knowledge, and a comprehensive methodology into his teams. He has coached with Villarreal FC B, Portland Thorns FC, Portland Timbers FC, FC Tucson, Lane United, Real Salt Lake Academy, Florida State University, University of Oregon, and the University of Arizona, and has helped develop over 40 professional players who now play in La Liga, NWSL, MLS, USL League One, and USL Championship. He also has over 15 years working with European firms consulting on subjects such as soccer analytics, business insights, and perspective on the North American market.

John durbin
John Durbin has over a decade of experience in sports. Prior to starting his consultancy, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at FC Cincinnati overseeing revenue and marketing for the club. At FCC he honed the business practices of the club, setting revenue records, winning MLS Ticketing Team of the Year, and was recognized as a finalist for MLS Marketing Team of the Year. Prior to FCC, Durbin spent eight years in Buffalo with Pegula Sport and Entertainment, leading marketing and ticketing for the Bills and Sabres as well as assisting ownership on long-term strategic projects. Durbin began his career in advertising in Chicago with the Publicis Groupe, first with Starcom then with Denuo. He holds a BS from Boston College and an MBA from the University of Oregon Warsaw Sports Business Center.

Emily jensen
Emily Anderson Jensen is the founder of Thinking Tree Spirits and the Senior Director of Investor Relations and National Wholesale Control for Heritage Distilling Company, having facilitated the merger of Thinking Tree with Heritage and their subsequent IPO on NASDAQ. Emily is the driving force behind many of Thinking Tree’s initiatives, influencing change locally and industry-wide. Emily’s awards include the Governor’s Rising Star Award and one of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce Women of Year. As Vice President of the Oregon Distillers Guild, Emily worked with Senator Ron Wyden to pass the Craft Beverage Modernization Act and Oregon’s Senate Bill 316 to bolster agriculture and job creation. She is a Board Chair of Starve Ups and served on the mayor’s Blue Ribbon Business Council.

matt koehler
Matt Koehler has more than 28 years of experience in landscape architecture, sports planning, and urban design. As a design principal at Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture & Planning he has brought life and vitality to sports and community projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Matt’s sense of scale and design and his acute understanding of project management and process, have been the keys for smooth project development from start to finish. Matt is the President of Business Development for Siteco Lighting US with a focus on the expansion of the international sports lighting company’s offerings in the US and Canada. A key part of the management team creating the business and expansion plans, Matt is connecting designers, owners, and end users with a passion for the sporting experience.

jennifer middleton
Jennifer Middleton is a civil rights lawyer with particular expertise in Title IX and women’s sports equity. She is a shareholder at Johnson Johnson Lucas & Middleton PC in Eugene, where she is currently representing members of the University of Oregon’s women’s beach volleyball team and the women’s rowing team in their Title IX class action seeking equal treatment, benefits, and athletic financial aid for all female athletes relative to male athletes at the school. She also regularly represents employees and students in claims involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, equal pay, and other discrimination and workplace issues. Middleton was co-lead counsel in Oregon’s 2014 case winning the right to marry for same-sex couples. She is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.

evan o’kelley
A multi-generation Eugenean, Evan O’Kelley has worked for small startups to Fortune 50 multinational companies, ultimately thriving in healthcare finance. A current CEO, Evan has held executive leadership positions in several prominent healthcare companies throughout the region focusing on improving revenue performance and streamline processes to build top performing, growth-oriented organizations. He holds an MBA from Portland State University and a BS in Economics from the University of Oregon. As avid sports fans and parents of four, Evan and his wife spend a significant amount of their time supporting local youth and pre-professional clubs and cheering on their favorite pro soccer teams. Passionate about the community and the sport of soccer, Evan serves on the Board of Directors of a local youth soccer club, and that passion fuels his desire to see USL Eugene become a resounding success.