Front Office Staff

President of Business Operations:

Mark Thomas - mthomas@bostonbreakers.com

Mark Thomas joined the Boston Breakers front office staff in November 2016. Thomas will oversee the day-to-day business operations of the Boston Breakers organization. Responsibilities include sales, marketing, sponsorship, and day-to-day management of the business operations. Thomas will work on building off the current platform with a view to continue its growth financially and expanding the Boston Breakers brand. Under his new role, Thomas will be working on both short- and long-term strategies that will continue moving the organization forward off the field. The former Head of Business Development for Norwich City Football Club (2013-2014), Thomas’ previous work includes nine years at Octagon Sports Marketing, where he began as a Senior Sales Manager and worked his way up to Vice President of Business Development. Thomas has worked in and around professional sport for over 25 years, beginning as a professional player with Wimbledon FC in the English Premier League. Throughout his career, he has provided several leading companies and sports organizations with consultancy in regards to creating and selling sports sponsorship packages, along with training and developing existing sales teams.

Head of Partnership Development and Marketing:

Elise McLear - emclear@bostonbreakers.com

Tel: 617-945-1704 ext. 202

Twitter: @EM_Breakers

In 2017, Elise will be entering her fifth year with the Breakers organization. In 2013 and 2014, she served as the Sales Director for the Boston Breakers after transitioning from the New England Revolution where she worked as an account executive, specifically working with Youth Soccer organizations throughout New England. In 2015, she became the Breakers assistant general manager.

Prior to working with the Revs, Elise had been in England working on her Master’s Degree at Durham University while also playing soccer there for the British University league where she won two national championships as well as participating in the FA Cup. In addition to playing overseas, she also played four years of college soccer and basketball at Mount Ida College where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. Elise has interned with Mass Premier Soccer and has coached soccer for various teams including UMass Dartmouth, Roger Williams University, and a variety of youth club teams.

Operations Director:

Laura Doran - ldoran@bostonbreakers.com

Tel: 617-945-1704 ext. 200

Twitter: @LDoran33

In 2017, Laura Doran will be entering her fifth season as Director of Operations for the Boston Breakers. Laura oversees the Professional Team, Reserve Team Program, College Academy logistics, and U-20s.

Laura also serves as the assistant varsity coach for the Wellesley High School girls soccer team. An avid Boston sports fan, Laura has held a part-time position in ticket operations for the Boston Red Sox since 2007 and internships with the Boston Celtics (2009) and WEEI Sports Radio 850 AM (2008). She first connected with the Breakers in 2010 when she came into the organization as an Equipment Intern.

Laura graduated from Simmons College in Boston, Mass., in 2009 with a degree in Communications. She worked in healthcare administration for two years at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center before realizing her passion was in athletics. With the formation of the NWSL in 2012, she had the opportunity to fill the Operations Director role with the Breakers.

Operations Assistant:

Angela Altamura

Angela joined the Breakers in 2017. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in May 2016, where she received her Bachelors Degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business Fundamentals. Throughout her senior year, she spent much of her time working for UConn Athletics in the Event Management Department, where she worked with many Division I teams. During her time in college, Angela interned with the New England Black Wolves and the Connecticut Sun. After graduating, Angela worked part time as a Sponsorship Activation Assistant at the Connecticut Open in New Haven, Conn. before coming to the Boston Breakers to work as the Operations Assistant.

Development Program and Education Director:

Jack Abelson - jabelson@bostonbreakers.com

Tel: 617-945-1704 ext. 206

Twitter: @jack_abelson

In 2017, Jack Abelson will enter his fourth year with the Boston Breakers front office staff as Development Program Director and as an academy coach.

A Graduate of University of Birmingham, England, Jack holds a BSc Hons degree in Sports and Exercise Science. He joins the Breakers organization after 2 years of working with Mass Premier Soccer (2008-2010) working as Clinic Director/Assistant Academy Director, during that time Jack worked with over 50 youth soccer groups across the state to provide coach/player education and summer camps.

Jack is experienced in coaching girls youth soccer during his time with Mass Premier Soccer Jack worked with the top girls teams aged U12 through to U17.

During his time at University (2010-2013) Jack also coached in community programs for English Premier League team Aston Villa Football Club in England enhancing his knowledge of the game.

Development Camp and Community Director:

Neill Caine - ncaine@bostonbreakers.com

Tel - 617-945-1704 ext. 208

Neill Caine joined the Boston Breakers front office as Development Camp Director in 2016.

Originally from Northampton, England, Neill moved to the U.S. in 2006, where he worked for Global Premier Soccer. After leaving GPS in 2010, Neill went on to start up and run his own soccer business, Number 1 Goalkeeping, where he specializes in running private soccer sessions and camps for goalkeepers across Massachusetts. In England, Neill coached at many clubs, including Leicester City FC, where he coached the development goalkeepers.

In 2012, Neill joined the coaching staff at Brandeis University women’s soccer program, where he helped guide the team to the NCAA Elite 8 in the 2012 season. Neill oversaw the goalkeepers that went on to break the shutout record (14 shutouts in 23 games). In 2013, he joined the men's coaching staff at Boston University. After a season at Nickerson Field, he made the short switch over to Northeastern University to join the men’s soccer program as goalkeeper coach. In June 2015, Neill returned back to Boston University where he rejoined the coaching staff and helped guide the team return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.

Neill currently resides in Marshfield, with his wife Meghan, and their son Gavin.

Communications Manager:

Ryan Wood - rwood@bostonbreakers.com

Tel: 774.454.3089

Twitter: @writerwood

Ryan has served as the Breakers communications manager since 2011, and 2017 will mark his seventh season with the organization.

An established freelance writer, Ryan has contributed to Thomson Reuters, The Sun (London), Our Game Magazine, New England Soccer Journal, Major League Soccer (www.mlssoccer.com), Soccer Banter, World Soccer Reader, Metro-West Daily News, New Bedford Standard-Times, Quinlan Publishing, Brockton Enterprise, and the Patriot Ledger. He also covered the FA Cup for the Sunday Sun (Northeast England). Ryan was also an award-winning sports editor for MPG Newspapers and later, GateHouse Media New England, from 1999-2014. He co-authored the book "Beyond Plymouth Rock Volume II."

Born in Plymouth, Mass., Ryan holds a bachelor of arts degree in English/Writing and Communications from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Head of Social Media Marketing and Design:

Seve Hirst - shirst@bostonbreakers.com

Tel: 617-945-1704 ext. 209

Twitter: @CoachSeve

Seve HIrst joined the Boston Breakers front office staff in June 2014 as Marketing and Design Director and as an academy coach.

A graduate of St. Martins College, England, Seve holds a BA (Hons) degree in Coaching and Sports Performance. He came over to America in 2008 and has worked for MLS Camps, Global Premier Soccer and New Jersey Soccer Group. During his time at GPS (2010-2012) he worked in their Technical Department and was the clubs videographer. Seve is in charge of producing videos for the Breakers as well as designing our marketing material.

Seve is an experience coach as well, with 11 years experience he holds his NSCAA Premier Diploma and currently coaches for the Boston Breakers Academy. In 2014, he started his first season as volunteer assistant women’s soccer coach at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass.

Before coming to America Seve was the first University of Cumbria Students’ Union Vice President. He spend his sabbatical year representing 15,000 students across four campuses, attended college board meetings, designed marketing strategies, leading a team of 30 student volunteers, and implemented national and local campaigns.

Head of Youth Soccer Partnerships:

Jamie Gillis - jgillis@bostonbreakers.com

617-945-1704 ext. 205

Jamie Gillis joined the Boston Breakers as an account executive in February 2016. Jamie spent the past two years as an assistant coach at Long Island University Brooklyn where she had a hand in all aspects of the program. Jamie graduated with a degree in Business Management from UMass Lowell, where she returned as an assistant coach in 2013-2014 after spending three seasons playing in Finland's first division. She has also spent time coaching youth soccer with many clubs across New England.

Account Executive

Ellen Goldhammer - egoldhammer@bostonbreakers.com

617-945-1704 ext. 207

Ellen Goldhammer joined the Boston Breakers in February 2017 after moving from Indianapolis, Indiana. Originally from Iowa, Ellen exchanged her native Hawkeyes for Buckeyes when she transferred to The Ohio State University in the fall of 2015 to study Sports Management and Marketing. While in Columbus, Ellen spent her time working for the Major League Soccer team Crew SC, as well as doing game operations for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hocke League.