Front Office Staff - Detroit City FC

Front Office Hours

Each week, leaders of the DCFC front office will set aside time for owners and fans of the club to set up a call to discuss anything pertaining to the organization, the sport of soccer, or even the City of Detroit. Please include a phone number where you can be reached.

To set up a call with CEO Sean Mann, use this link.

To set up a call with CCO Alex Wright, use this link.

Sean Mann – Chief Executive Officer/Co-Owner

Sean Mann was one of the co-founders of Detroit City FC and serves as CEO. Prior to joining the club full-time, Mann spent over a decade in various political roles in Lansing. A proud Detroit resident, Mann graduated from Kalamazoo College with degrees in History and Physics. While completing his postgraduate degree at the University of Bristol, he served as a researcher in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons for the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Sean is also an active resident of southwest Detroit, and board member of several non-profits; all of the above which help him execute his role for DCFC spearheading community and corporate relations for the team.

Every week, club leadership will set up Front Office Hours to connect with supporters. To set up a conversation with CEO Sean Mann, use this link.

Todd Kropp – Co-Owner/COO

Todd Kropp is one of the original founding owners of Detroit City FC. Kropp left the Henry Ford Health System after 12 years to assume a full-time role as the Club’s Chief Operating Officer. He oversees finances and operations for DCFC as well as at the City Fieldhouse and City Clubhouse. He also oversees DCFC’s youth development and programming.

Kropp graduated from Allegheny College with a BA in Political Science and Mathematics, and he earned a Master’s from the University of Michigan in Health Management & Policy.

T.J. Winfrey – Chief of Partnerships

T.J. Winfrey joined the front office in November 2020 and comes home to Detroit after spending the past two years with Major League Soccer as the Director of Digital Partnerships. Winfrey is tasked with overseeing the growth of Detroit City FC’s media partnerships, leveraging corporate and community contacts to grow the reach of the Club.

Prior to his time in New York with the MLS, the Columbia Business School grad spent time with Courtside Ventures, Madison Square Garden, Microsoft, Nike and Target.

Winfrey is a graduate of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Alex Wright – Co-Owner/Chief Creative Officer

Alex Wright is a Detroit native and one of the original founding owners of Detroit City FC. An award-winning TV producer, Wright is the club’s Chief Creative Officer. He oversees many of the outward-facing facets of the club, particularly broadcast and marketing operations, design, and story development. He is also the club’s primary contact for PR and Media purposes.

Wright graduated from the University of Michigan with two BA’s: Film and Video Studies and Italian Literature and Culture. He lives in Detroit with his wife and two daughters who enjoy participating in DCFC Youth Soccer Tots.

Every week, club leadership will set up Front Office Hours to connect with supporters. To set up a conversation with CCO Alex Wright, use this link.

Kevin Brehmer – Director of Operations & Merchandise

Kevin Brehmer joined DCFC in April of 2017 as Operations Coordinator, overseeing both retail and stadium operations duties. Kevin graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Marketing and Logistics Management in 2012. He previously worked with the Lake Erie Crushers in Avon, OH, and Delaware North at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI.

Chris Busyn – VP of Corporate Partnerships

Busyn joins Le Rouge with more than 25 years of experience in multi-integrated advertising, corporate sponsorship and partnership sales.

Before joining iHeartMedia, Busyn was responsible for selling multi-integrated advertising partnerships for all aspects of CBS Radio Detroit through the Play-by-Play broadcasts of the Tigers, Red Wings and Lions, as well as WXYT-FM (97.1 The Ticket), WXYT-AM, CBS Radio Events and CBSDetroit.com. In less than four years, the University of Tennessee – Martin grad generated $1.7M in new business.

Busyn comes with experience from the media side, spending nine years with Fox Sports Detroit, the venue side with Michigan International Speedway and Palace Sports & Entertainment, and the team side.

Steve Fox – VP of Ticket Sales & Service

Steve Fox joined the front office in September 2021 after having previously worked for the Detroit Tigers for 20 years, including 15 years as the Director of Ticket Sales. Fox oversees Detroit City FC’s ticket sales department and box office operations and is tasked with solidifying retention as well as maximizing expansion of the club’s season, group, and single game ticket sales and initiatives.

Fox graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a BA in Political Science, and he earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business. In addition, Fox earned a Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University School of Law and is a licensed attorney.

Cooper Baker – League & Facility Coordinator/Youth Program Coach/Away Team Liaison

Cooper joined the front office in December 2020, originally from Shelby Township, MI. He graduated with a degree in Sports & Entertainment Management from Northwood University.

He wears many hats – including overseeing all operations of the DCFC Fieldhouse, head coach of Detroit City FC Youth City teams, away team liason. He also organizes and runs the DCFL, the community-based adult recreational league that started in 2010 and eventually led to the creation of Detroit City Football Club.

Kyle Clayton – Videographer/Editor/Animator

Originally from Clinton Township, he received his Bachelors in Sports Communication from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, where he worked as a videography intern in the athletic department. He is currently working towards my Masters in Sports Media and Storytelling from Wake Forest.

Previously, Kyle was the Midwest Premier League videographer and graphic designer, as well as their social media manager. He worked for Stumptown AC as a photographer in Fall 2021.

Jon DeBoer – Team Photographer

Jon DeBoer has been the photographer for Detroit City FC since the team’s first season in 2012. Jon is a photographer and graphic designer living and working in Detroit, Michigan. He participated in classes on photography while enrolled at Lawrence Technological University, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 2010.

His background in graphic design and interest in architecture has strongly influenced his approach to photography. In 2009, Jon began exploring the city of Detroit and has been photographing the evolving urban landscape ever since. In addition to his cityscape and architectural work, Jon also works as a freelance commercial and event photographer.

Eli Freeman – Operations Coordinator/Supporter Liaison

From Corunna, Michigan, Eli joined the front office in December 2021. He graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology Sports Management with a minor as a Health & Fitness Specialist.

He’s in charge of all matchday operations which includes match day staffing, stadium setup, stadium teardown, and weekly preparation for match days. In addition, he has taken the lead as the club’s supporter liaison, as well as being in charge of staffing all merchandise shop locations.

Devante Kennedy – Graphic Designer

Devante Kennedy joined DCFC in April 2021 as a lifetime sports-fanatic and superhero enthusiast. As graphic designer, he’s responsible for creating and assisting on digital, print, and video content.

Devante is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Advertising. He’s worked with a variety of local Detroit brands and operates as a freelance graphic artist in addition to his work at DCFC.

Jarrett Maki – Sports Information Director & Content Producer

From Clinton Township, Jarrett has been a fan of Detroit City FC since 2015. In 2021, he interned with the team’s media department and has called broadcasted matches for the men’s and women’s first teams.

Jarrett is a Journalism Major with Sports Journalism minor at Michigan State University.

Monse Navarro joined Detroit City FC summer of 2019 as match day staff as well as a Supervisor at the Fieldhouse. She then joined the Front Office in April 2021. She is a southwest Detroit native who graduated from Lake Superior State University with a BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Management. She oversees the Suites and Hospitality on game day. As well as making sure there is a variety of Food Trucks on site every game!

She also helps in organizing various events such as the annual Golf Outing and Le Run for Le Rouge 5k. Also helps oversee the City Clubhouse during the off season and planning private events. Prior to her journey starting with DCFC she spent three years at TPC Michigan in Dearborn.

Katie Tomaszewski joined the front office in February 2021, but attended her first match in 2016. As social media manager, Tomaszewski is responsible for creating engaging content and expanding the reach of the club’s social media presence.

Tomaszewski is a graduate of Wayne State University with degrees in public relations and arts administration. Previously, Tomaszewski spent seven years managing various social media accounts for Wayne State and spent a brief period of her college years as a friend of W, Wayne State’s mascot.

Abi Varghese joined the front office in May of 2022 and lived in the Metro-Detroit area his entire life. Varghese is in charge of carrying out many of our Corporate Sponsorship activations, creating/developing relationships with different partners, as well as figuring out creative ways to expand the Club’s reach.

When he is not working, you can catch him traveling to different cities and MCing weddings! You may even see him on the mic during our halftime activations.

Friendly the Bear – Director of Mascoting

As the old saying goes, “One person’s polar bear costume thrown in a dumpster never to be worn again is another soccer team’s mascot.” Friendly the Bear joined the DCFC family as the unofficial mascot of Detroit’s soccer team in 2014. From his humble beginnings at the base of a waste receptacle, he has become an international sensation, loved and adored by millions around the world. There’s even a velvet portrait of Friendly at the Detroit City Clubhouse. Upon seeing the painting, a prominent art collector named Mean Sann estimated its worth as “priceless.” Friendly’s regular appearances at Detroit City FC friendly matches and community events provides smiles for fans of all ages. His crooked head, questionable stench and lack of pants has led him to be affectionately known as Detroit’s Dumpster Bear(TM). Friendly is an integral part of the DCFC culture, and you can support Friendly’s polar bear friends and their habitats – which are being impacted by climate change at an alarming rate – at https://polarbearsinternational.org/.