Jason Kelly plays and manages an O-30 Men's D2 team, with 10+ years in GSSL. Jason has 18 years as a leader in the tech sector. His blend of professional and soccer experience equips him to drive collaboration on and off the field.
With over 18 years of experience in the tech industry, specializing in cloud infrastructure and software engineering, and having held leadership roles at major corporations like IBM, SAP, and Workday, Jason has developed a unique blend of skills that allows him to bridge the gap between finance, technology, and non-technical areas. Being a passionate soccer player since childhood, with countless leagues, tournaments, and competitions under his belt (primarily as a goalkeeper), he believes his blend of professional acumen and love for the game equips him perfectly to excel as a GSSL board member. His career has been a vibrant blend of work in large companies, alongside exciting endeavors with startups and non-profit volunteering. Leveraging his multifaceted background, Jason is confident that he can bring innovative solutions and leadership to the GSSL board, bridging gaps and fostering collaboration that enhances the game for everyone involved.
Michaela joined the GSSL Board in late 2022. A CPA with more than 35 years of finance, accounting, and IT experience, she recently retired from her position as Controller at Ashley House, a nonprofit that serves the medically fragile community. As a GSSL Board member, Michaela desires to utilize her background to help strengthen and grow the league and its operations.
Michaela’s soccer journey began when Title IX was implemented, which added a girls’ team at her high school. No one had any experience, including the coach, who had been reassigned from the football team. 10+ years later she began playing in the WSWSA (Washington State Women’s Soccer Association) over-30 league. She continues to play in the legacy women’s divisions from that league, which are now managed by GSSL. Michaela also served on the WSWSA Board as Treasurer.
Outside of soccer, she enjoys doing anything active- bicycle touring and skiing are some of her favorites, and she is loving her newest role-as Grandma!
Linda Yasutake has been involved in soccer for many years now. Linda’s love of the game began as a small child, but started playing seriously as an adult. She has played indoor soccer, futsal, and outdoor soccer for the last 17 years or so, yet is always marveling how one never stops learning the game. Linda has played and continues to play on a Men’s Over 40 team in GSSL for the last 11 years and is an avid supporter of the Sounders and the USWNT. She organizes a futsal game on Bainbridge Island twice a week and also helps organize other pick-up game opportunities on the Island.
In addition, Linda has been involved in coaching and nurturing youth players on several recreational and select teams over the years in Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island, culminating with the local high school boys’ and girls’ soccer teams over the last two years. Linda was involved as an assistant GM at a local indoor soccer facility. While there, she managed several teams – men’s, women’s (including starting a beginner level league for women) and kids team.
Linda’s mission has been to bring her passion of soccer to other’s lives as well as teaching life through soccer.
Danny Eng officiated soccer with GSSL for about 20 years. Within the last year, he has done referee assessments on behalf of GSSL. Danny has been a referee for 25 years with the East King County Soccer Referee Association. In addition, he also officiated soccer at the collegiate level for about 15 years. He also officiated soccer with GSSL for about 20 years. Within the last year, Danny has done referee assessments on behalf of GSSL. The goal of the assessment is to improve the quality of refereeing for the "beautiful game". He appreciates your votes.
Daniel Deresh has played in O-40s and O-50s. He represented the US at the international competition. Currently, he is refereeing all different levels of competition in the Seattle area, as well as coaching youth.
Daniel has over 45 years of soccer playing, coaching, and refereeing experience. In addition, he spent over 20 years playing soccer on the East Coast, most of it in OTHSL, which is one of the largest adult soccer leagues in the country. Daniel played in D1 - Open, O-30s, O-40s and O-50s. After he moved to Seattle, I've played in O-40s and O-50s.
Eze is a lifelong soccer (football) player and has been a member of the GSSL Family since he moved to Seattle in 2016. From his academy days to his college and through his failed ambition to play professionally, Eze’s love for the game as a bringer of joy and an avenue to learn, build, and organize community has continued to grow and evolve.
Outside of the game, he pays his bills by transforming leaders and organizations into high performing and people-centered hubs for sustainable growth and development through Research, Organization Development & Leadership, Program/Project Management, and Executive/Leadership Coaching.
Eze has experience serving on and supporting numerous advisory bodies, including organizations working in and serving multi-generational and multicultural communities.
Connor is an adult soccer enthusiast and mental health/sport psychology practitioner. He began serving on the board in the summer of 2024, joining with the intention of improving league access to mental health resources, mental health trainings, and sport psychology skill trainings for league managers and members. Additionally, he hopee to increase equity and accessibility for the league through connecting with diverse soccer communities around the Puget Sound area, building relationships with other leagues and establishing a competitive women's division and a true beginners division.
Professionally, Connor works as the lead mental health counselor in Cougar Athletics at Washington State University. Despite working across the state from Seattle, his deep passion for the adult game there comes from years of playing and managing in GSSL, RATS and Starfire before moving to Pullman. He also grew up immersed in the local soccer scene in the Tacoma area, playing for Norpoint FC and WPFC prior to playing club for Loyola Marymount University and, later, attending graduate school in Boston for counseling and sport psychology.