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Board of Directors

President

Walter Kirkland

Walter Kirkland has been involved in youth soccer in Montgomery County through many years of involvement with the Bethesda Soccer Club, Maryland Rush Montgomery, and most recently the Potomac Soccer Association.  He managed his daughter’s soccer experience from kindergarten through college recruitment and her years on the women’s team at the University of Pittsburgh. He now manages the 06B Potomac Premier 2 on which his oldest grandson is rostered. Professionally Walter is chief of publishing in the office of online services at the IRS after having managed the development and implementation of IT infrastructure behind the Affordable Care Act.  He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he and his wife Judy met on the first day of freshman year. He holds an MBA from University of Maryland, Master’s certification in IT Management from Villanova, and master’s certification in leadership development from Cornell. He is also active community governance. Aside from spending much of his free time on the soccer sidelines, he enjoys tennis and golf, and is an avid cellist.

 

Treasurer

Shannon Merkle

Treasurer Shannon Merkle

Shannon Merkle is a Senior Systems Analyst who works in the field of cancer research. She has two sons in Potomac soccer – a U18 senior and a U15 8th grader. The Merkles chose Potomac originally due to the strong reputation of the club. They stayed due to the fantastic coaches, wonderful friendships, and strong organization that Potomac has provided. Born and raised outside of DC, Shannon’s favorite professional sports teams include the Washington Football Club, Washington Nationals, and Washington Capitals. Additionally, they are often found donning the Maryland Pride colors to root for our Maryland Terrapins. When not on the soccer field (which isn’t very often), they can be found enjoying dinner out at local restaurants.

Secretary

Joe Gentile

Joe Gentile is a native of the DC Metro area and has been with Federal Title & Escrow Company, a local title company, for over 18 years as a Settlement Attorney and for 10 as the company President.  A life-long soccer fan, and player until a torn ACL in his late 20’s ended his dream of playing in the World Cup, Joe’s Italian ancestry has made Joe and Joe’s son, Alexander Gentile, huge fans of Serie A, the Italian National team and the US National team.  Alex turns 10 this month and has been with Potomac Soccer since March of 2019.  Alex joined Potomac upon the recommendation of his Brit-Am coach and has continuously been a member of Potomac Soccer.  Both Alex and Joe are thankful for Potomac Soccer’s efforts during the difficult 2020 stretch, which allowed Alex to continue to play and train – Potomac Soccer restored a bit of normalcy during a clearly difficult time.  Currently Alex is playing with the BU10 Potomac Premier I 13 team under the Coaching of Kareem Ladki and is looking forward to the spring season after an undefeated fall season and a second place finish in the Bethesda Premier Cup.  Joe is looking forward to watching his son play and contributing towards the success and future of Potomac Soccer.

 

Amos D. Brunson IV

 

Amos D. Brunson IV is a native Washingtonian and sports enthusiast who played in a local DC club (Soccer on the Hill) for many years. He strongly believes that team sports bolster confidence and character. He is very passionate about supporting that mantra here at PSA. Amos is currently a Market Vice President at Capital One Bank where he oversees a team of bankers who are responsible for driving daily operational compliance. Amos has led a very successful career in the banking industry for over 20 years. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and MBA from Hampton University. He also received a coveted award from the Maryland Bankers Association for his contributions to the banking field. In his spare team, he supports the Girls U14 Premier II team where his youngest daughter, Chloe, is rostered. When he’s not acting in a soccer dad capacity, he is a doting ballet dad! His older daughter, Camryn, is a ballet pre-professional with Metropolitan Ballet Theatre. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and former PSA team manager, Ebony and their dog Cooper.

 

Alan Zang

 

Alan Zang is the Managing Partner of Coho Climate Advisors. He has deep experience with corporate growth, development, strategy, financing, and transaction execution. Alan was one of four original Coho team members when it was founded in 2010 (then called CustomerFirst Renewables). Since then, he has jointly led Coho’s growth into a leading implementation-focused sustainability consulting firm with 70 team members and counting. Coho is now an ERM Group Company. Alan is active in the Washington, D.C. area sustainable business community. He is an investor and coach who is passionate about enabling sustainability-focused entrepreneurs to succeed. His passion for the environment stems from his roots growing up on the Chesapeake Bay and his family legacy of environmental conservation in the region and beyond.

Prior to Coho, Alan was responsible for the valuation, structuring, and execution of a range of strategic corporate transactions at DaVita’s M&A office. Prior, Alan was a Senior Associate at EY, where he served large private equity clients on various accounting and transactional matters. He is also a CPA. Alan enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, supporting and following all manner of soccer, playing pickleball, mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, and otherwise being active.

 

Join Potomac Soccer

Please fill out the form below to join us for a free training session with a PSA team.

Medical Release

In my absence, I hereby give my consent for emergency medical treatment for my child as approved by his/her coach, team manager, or other adult escort. I understand that this is to prevent undue delay and ensure prompt treatment, and that only a licensed physician, dentist, or other such licensed technicians or nurses will be engaged for such emergency treatment. I agree to be responsible for any and all fees/charges for any such necessary emergency treatment.

Assumption of Risk; Waiver of Liability; Indemnification

A.

I freely acknowledge that I have or will voluntarily register (myself/my child) to participate in soccer Activities. I acknowledge that participation in the Activities entails both known and unanticipated risks that could result in serious and permanent physical and emotional injuries, death, damage to property, and injury to others including, without limitation, the risks of physical or emotional injury, sickness, death, property damage, falls, damage to persons or vehicles from moving objects such as soccer balls, collisions with people and stationary objects, the unavailability of emergency medical care, and/or the negligence and/or deliberate act of another person. I understand that such risks are inherent in the Activities and that even with precautions and safety measures they cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the Activities. I also understand and specifically acknowledge that participation in the Activities includes possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases including, but not limited to, MRSA, influenza, and COVID-19, which may result in serious illness and death. I understand that the Released Parties (hereafter defined) shall have no obligation to provide medical assistance in the event an injury or illness occurs during the Activities. Understanding such dangers and risks, I hereby knowingly and voluntarily choose to participate in the Activities, and if applicable I give my permission for my child to engage in the Activities described above, and (myself/my child) fully assume(s) the risk of the Activities, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES. I acknowledge that this Agreement applies, without limitation, to any other risks encountered before, during or after the Activities, whether or not the Participant knows or expects them to exist at the time of signing this Agreement, including, but not limited to, driving to or from the Activities, in parking lots or access areas, being present in any Facility at which the Activities are held, slips, falls, stairs, exits, entrances, fire and/or any other occurrence or event, known or unknown.

B.

I represent that (I/my child) is in good health and that no condition of (mine/my child's) would constrain (me/my child) from safely participating in the Activities. I understand that failure to provide information of any health condition that would constrain (me/my child) from participating could result in serious injuries or death to (me/my child). I agree to bear the costs of any injury or damages (I/my child) may suffer while participating in any Activities. I hereby authorize any Entity holding/sponsoring Activities, or representatives of any of said Entities, to call for medical care for (me/my child) if in the opinion of such personnel or (my/my child's) coach medical attention is needed.

C.

Participant hereby knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever discharges and covenants not to sue the Entities and/or the owners, lessees, managers or licensees of the Facility, their respective affiliates, employees, coaches, instructors, assistants, officers, directors, owners, members, managers, shareholders, sponsors, advertisers, and other representatives, and the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of all of them (collectively with the Entities, the "Released Parties") from (1) ANY AND ALL ACTS OF ACTIVE OR PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF ANY ONE OR ALL OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, and (2) any and all liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, controversies, judgments, demands, injuries, sickness, damages (consequential, incidental, punitive or otherwise), costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, and any other legal, equitable or administrative actions or proceedings whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, known or unknown, accrued or unaccrued, arising out of or related to the Activities, the Facility, the Participant, the Participant's use of the Facility, the Participant's involvement in the Activities, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, and any other matter or thing whatsoever arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation, those based on death, physical injury, emotional injury and/or property damage (collectively "Losses"). Participant hereby agrees and shall indemnify, defend (with counsel acceptable to the Entity or Entities subject to liability) and hold each and every one of the Released Parties, jointly and severally, harmless from and against any and all Losses, including, but not limited to, any challenge by the Participant to this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Publicity Release

Participant hereby irrevocably grants to the entities and those acting with their authority or permission, the unrestricted right to copyright and use, re-use, publish, republish and display photographic and video images and audio of the participant or in which the participant may be included in connection with any activities undertaken by any entity, in whole or in part, separately or in conjunction with other photographs or video or audio, in any medium now or hereafter known, and for any purpose whatsoever, including (but not by way of limitation) illustration, art, promotion, advertising, trade and/or any other purpose whatsoever, and to use the participant's name in connection therewith. Participant hereby further expressly releases and waives any demand, action, claim, license, royalty and/or any other right to any form of payment the participant may have based on claims as to the rights of privacy, publicity, notoriety and/or any other rights arising out of or relating to any use by any entity or those acting with their authority or permission of the undersigned's name, likeness or appearance.

General Terms

This Agreement shall be enforced and interpreted under the laws of the State of Maryland except for the conflicts of law provisions of Maryland. The Participant hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Maryland and venue for any action arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be in Montgomery County, Maryland. Should any clause or any part of any clause be determined to be illegal or unenforceable such clause shall be amended to the smallest degree necessary to render such clause valid and enforceable and the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected. The introductory statements are incorporated into this Agreement. The Participant hereby seals this Agreement as a specialty, that is, subject to a twelve (12) year statute of limitations.

PARTICIPANT EXPRESSLY AGREES THAT THE ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASES, WAIVERS, INDEMNIFICATION, AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE INTENDED TO BE COMPLETE, UNCONDITIONAL AND AS BROAD AND INCLUSIVE AS PERMITTED BY THE LAWS OF MARYLAND AND ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHOSE LAWS MAY APPLY TO THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT CANNOT BE AMENDED BY ANY ORAL STATEMENTS OR OTHER WRITINGS AND IS BINDING ON THE PARTICIPANT AND THE PARTICIPANT'S HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, GUARDIANS, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, AND ASSIGNS. A FAXED, SCANNED OR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE SHALL BE BINDING IN LIEU OF THE ORIGINAL. THIS AGREEMENT IS EFFECTIVE FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE AND APPLIES TO ALL ACTIVITIES OF THE ENTITIES THAT THE PARTICIPANT ATTENDS OR PARTICIPATES IN AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, AND SHALL SURVIVE FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE PARTICIPANT. HOWEVER, IF PARTICIPANT IS A MINOR, IT MUST BE RESUBMITTED (1) UPON THE PARTICIPANT TURNING 18, OR (2) IF THE GUARDIAN OF THE PARTICIPANT CHANGES. PARTICIPANT WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

For Participants of Minority Age (Who Will Be Under Age 18 at the Time of the Activity)

This is to certify that I, as parent/guardian, with legal responsibility for the Participant, have read and explained the provisions in this Agreement to my child/ward, including the risks of presence and participation in the Activities and his/her personal responsibilities for adhering to the rules and regulations for protection against communicable diseases. Furthermore, my child/ward understands and accepts these risks and responsibilities. I, for myself, my spouse, and child/ward do consent and agree to this Agreement, and myself, my spouse, and child/ward do release and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties for any and all Losses incidental to my minor child's/ward's presence or participation in the Activities as provided above, direct or indirect, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THEIR NEGLIGENCE, including, without limitation, any damage to person(s) or property to the fullest extent provided by law.

BY CHECKING THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT BOX ON THE REGISTRATION FORM, I, THE UNDERSIGNED, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY PARTICIPATING CHILDREN OR GUARDIANS, HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT.

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