Ownership

Lanier James

Majority Owner

Andrew Haines

Co-Founder/Minority Owner

Andrew Haines, a Sports Executive, Entrepreneur and marketing guru is currently president of HSE, a sports & entertainment marketing, and consulting company. For the past several years, HSE has worked with professional sports teams in soccer, arena football, baseball, as well as properties within the sports & entertainment industry. Andrew was also the VP of sales for the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball team until August 2020.

Andrew has served as General Manager, CEO, and Owner in the Major Arena Soccer League since 2012 until 2020. Most recently, Andrew was General Manager of the Orlando SeaWolves in the MASL. From 2015-2018, he owned and operated Central Florida Sports Ventures which owned Florida Tropics SC (indoor soccer), and Lakeland Tropics (outdoor soccer).

During 2012-2015, Andrew led STL Sports Ventures which owned and operated both the St. Louis Ambush (indoor soccer) and St. Louis Attack (arena football). Prior to 2012, Andrew has owned and operated several minor league sports teams, and leagues since 2001.

Outside of sport, Andrew has his Florida 2-20 Insurance License, along with Florida 2-14 Life Insurance License. In addition to insurance, Andrew is a licensed Real Estate Agent in Florida.

Andrew has always been committed to the community, having volunteers with dozens of non-profit organizations and at community events. He has also served on the board of Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, Urban League, and the City-County Library Foundation.

With over 17 years of sales, marketing, and management experience within professional sports, Andrew had led some of the best front office staffs.

Awarded Top 50 in Business (St. Louis, MO), Best of the Best award from Street Scape Magazine in 2014.

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Michael Taylor

Co-Founder/Minority Owner

Michael Taylor's longevity in professional sports is matched only by his success. Most recently Michael was the owner of the Florida Tarpons arena football team from 2012-2020. For the last eight years, his Florida Tarpons have played in five league championship games, winning two, including titles in 2013 – and in 2015.

His history goes back all the way to the early 2000s, with the San Angelo Texas, an expansion team in 2004 in the Intense Football League which earned a playoff berth in their inaugural season. The year following, as President of the Richmond Bandits in the Atlantic Indoor Football League, the Bandits won that league's championship, going 11-1, in their expansion season.

Specializing in development of expansion franchises Taylor was VP of the Fairbanks Grizzlies in Alaska in 2008.

Born and currently living in the greater Tampa area, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Sports Coaching Degree from the United States Sports Academy, and graduated high school from Hollow Rock Bruceton Central High School in Tennessee.

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Shane James

Minority Owner

Brian Haines

Minority Owner

Enraptured by the game of soccer at the age of six through his church's recreation ministry and the instruction of Memphis soccer legend, Toni Carbognani, Brian Haines has been engaged with "The Beautiful Game" ever since.

Brian competed throughout high school initially as the only freshman and later as team captain for multiple years at Briarcrest Christian School before taking his game to Baylor University. While he left Baylor with two degrees, a beautiful wife (Shannon) and a new career in counseling adolescents and families caught in the throws of chemical dependency, soccer took a back seat until 2011 when he discovered the world of adult soccer.

Committed to scoring a hat-trick at least once a season through his half-century mark, Brian can't seem to give up the game. Now another Haines (sports executive and visionary, Andrew Haines) is bringing the Memphis Americans back to Brian's hometown some 40 years after his father (David) partnered with Kyle Rote, Jr. and Athletes in Action to bring the first iteration of the team to the Mid-South Coliseum.

Inspired by this new venture Brian has a vision for professional soccer that is sure to ignite the passion of the next generations of young boys and girls who dream of making the game an exciting and indelible part of their lives.

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Donald Thomas

Minority Owner

Joseph Perez

Minority Owner

Joseph Perez is an active duty armed forces member, sports executive and entrepreneur focusing in sports, fintech, streaming, and mobile projects and investments.

Maria Opeaye

Minority Owner

Maria Opeaye was born in New Orleans Louisiana and raised in Atlanta GA. She moved to Santa Barbara and attended Santa Barbara college of law.

After law school Maria moved back to Atlanta. She is a single serial entrepreneur that is a published Author of over 8 books. Maria designs her own brand of shoes called M’Opeaye Shoes. She also is the owner of London Marie coffee brand. Maria has a mediation and arbitration certification. She started a legal firm that specialize in mediation and arbitration cases.

In June 2021 Maria became the 2nd African American Female Professional Soccer Agent, for the USA Soccer Federation. Maria started her own sports agency Neoteric Sports & Entertainment in June 2021. Maria recently became the first Female African American female professional soccer team owner in March 2022.

Maria recently became one of the owners of Memphis Americans professional men and women’s soccer club. We welcome Maria to the National Indoor Soccer League and the Memphis Americans.

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