Snohomish County, WA – November 25, 2023
In case you didn’t know, the Steelheads organization has gone through quite several changes in the last year including a Restructure For Greater Impact update, new staff, and board of directors updates. We wanted to tell the world about our dedicated and diverse team of staff members who bring a wealth of experience and passion to the club. These individuals hail from various backgrounds and share a common goal of nurturing local soccer talent and promoting the sport in the community.
Meet The Management Team
Danielle Strumbeta
General Manager of Snohomish County Football Club & Board Member of The Steelheads Foundation. From Bellevue, currently residing in Granite Falls with her husband and puppy
Danielle Strumbeta is aCentral Washington University graduate and Certified Financial Advisor at Merriman Wealth Management, boasting over 8 years of experience in the industry. Outside of her professional life, Danielle enjoys an active lifestyle, including running, hiking, camping, soccer, snowboarding, and climbing. She also cherishes spending time with friends and family, playing board games, and playing with her puppy.
Danielle is deeply committed to volunteering and has contributed her time to organizations such as Camp Fire, WTA, and Evergreen Trail Runs. As a Steelheads Board Member and General Manager, she joined the club to utilize her skills to help others enjoy the game she loves and to become more involved in her community.
In the next 2-5 years, Danielle envisions the Steelheads thriving in USL 2 and looks to help lead the charge in bringing back women’s indoor and outdoor in 2024.
Sandra Agbotse (Osborn)
Marketing Coordinator & Lead Photographer at Snohomish County Football Club. Hailing from Lake Stevens, WA
Sandra Agbotse holds an impressive academic and soccer background, with a B.S. Degree in the Tobin School of Business from St. John’s University (NY), focused in Public Relations with a Minor in Advertising, where she was a member of the women’s soccer team. She pursued an MBA with a focus on Digital Entrepreneurship at Strayer University in Washington, D.C., achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. Sandra is currently a Product owner at Verizon where she has been the last 6 year. One small fact is that Sandra was the first goal scorer for the Steelheads Women when the club was established in 2019.
Beyond her involvement with the Steelheads, Sandra runs her own photography business, Sandra Agbotse Photography, and contributes to Game Pulse Media. She currently serves as the team photographer and Marketing Coordinator for the Steelheads, combining her passion for soccer and photography.
Sandra’s connection to the Steelheads began during her college years when she sought high-level training. Now, she captures the club’s moments through her lens.
Joel Childs
Club Ambassador & Board Member at The Steelheads Foundation. Originally from Belfast in the UK, and residing in WA since 2017, with 2 kids in the area
Joel Childs is not only an executive chef at 16Eleven in Everett but also a dedicated member of the Steelheads Board. In addition to his culinary pursuits, Joel enjoys football (soccer), spending time at the gym, wine tasting, and cherishing moments with his children. Joel was recently featured on the Food Network on season 35 of “Beat Bobby Flay” where Chef Michael Symon and Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec recruit chefs Poppy O’Toole and Joel Childs to master English specialties and mash up Bobby Flay in the competition.
Joel’s motivation for joining the Steelheads stems from his desire to contribute to the club’s business development and help foster teamwork and community engagement through soccer. He believes that soccer is a powerful tool for youth development, aligning with the Steelheads’ mission.
Joel’s ultimate goal, alongside the Steelheads, is to see the club rise to USL 2.
Purav Bhatt
Chief Strategy Advisor at Snohomish County Football Club & Board Member at The Steelheads Foundation. Originally from a coastal town in Gujarat, India
Alumni of Sardar Patel University, and University of Nebraska Omaha where he carries an MBA of Healthcare & Economics, and MS in Medical Biotechnology, Purav Bhatt has dedicated over 15 years to healthcare services, with the last much of the last several years focused on improving healthcare access for vulnerable and underserved community members in the Pacific Northwest including his time as COO at Evergreen Health, CTO at HarmonyCares, and Regional Vice President Operations - Management and Innovation at Everett Clinic. As a Steelheads Board Member, Purav is determined to provide equitable opportunities to soccer talent from all backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and diversity.
Purav’s passion for soccer and commitment to creating opportunities brought him to the Steelheads, where he aims to inspire players from all over the world who arrive in the PNW.
Dorian Lair
President and chairman of The Steelheads Foundation & Majority Owner at Snohomish County Football Club. Originally from Shoreline, WA
Dorian Lair brings seven years of experience in the digital marketing and technology industry to the Steelheads. He currently serves as the Lead Business Analyst for Lululemon in the Digital Analytics & Optimization group, where global analytics processes, technology, and user experience are at the forefront, and Head Coach at Snohomish United where he leads the 2016 & 2012 Girls squads.
His playing experience includes youth club with FC Shoreline and Emerald City FC. He is a graduate of Shorewood High School where he played all four years, ultimately earning him a scholarship to Edmonds College under Brandon Mitalas. From there he went on play for former pro and Portland legend Bernie Fagan at Warner Pacific University. Post-college he join NPSL side Portland Spartans and ultimately FC Mulhouse Portland. After 5 years in the NPSL, Dorian went on to play in the UPSL with the St. Petersburg Aztecs in Florida for a year and a half, then ultimately landing back in Seattle. Dorian initially joined the Steelheads to continue playing soccer at the highest level but found a passion for growing the sport and providing access to more players. He has taken on roles such as President and Chairman of the club and established “The Steelheads Foundation,” the non-profit branch of the club.
Dorian believes in grassroots work in soccer and aims to create free and subsidized programs for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and lower-socioeconomic families, challenging the “Pay to Play model.”
Joseph Leavitt
Asst. General Manager at Snohomish County Football Club. Originally from Kandern, Germany, currently residing in Lynnwood, WA.
Joseph Leavitt has held various contract roles in communications and operations for renowned companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, Wellspring Family Services, and Seattle Counseling Service. As the Assistant General Manager of the Steelheads, Joseph is deeply passionate about nurturing local soccer talent and transforming the sport into a non-pay-to-play model in Washington.
Joseph’s vision for the next 2-5 years involves helping Snohomish County FC achieve USL 2 status, continuing to provide opportunities for aspiring soccer players in the community.
The Snohomish County Steelheads are excited to have these dedicated individuals on board and look forward to a bright future for the club under their guidance.
Britta Bhatt
Assistant General Manager at Snohomish County Football Club. Originally from Snohomish, Washington, USA
Britta has over a decade of experience in Human Resources, specializing in management, benefits, compensation administration, recruitment, and employee relations. Currently, she serves as the Program Manager for Teammate & Provider Experience at The Everett Clinic, where she has worked for over 14 years. Her expertise includes HR generalist affairs, staff development, mediation, conflict resolution, and legal compliance. Britta is committed to implementing policies that enhance organizational efficiency and business growth. Britta also holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, with a focus on Business Administration.
The Snohomish County Football Club has undergone significant changes, including organizational restructuring and updates to staff and board members. The management team is diverse and passionate about soccer, bringing varied experiences to the club. They share a commitment to nurturing local soccer talent and envision the club achieving USL 2 status in the near future, all #forthecounty.
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