2019 Board Election Candidates
Vice President (1 Candidate)
Jess Gusler
Hey All! I'm Jess Gusler and I am running for Vice President of the Sons of Ben. I am currently Travel Director for the group, a position I have held for the past two seasons. If you don't know me by name, you may know me as the one who broke her foot during a match and spent most of the second half of the season in a boot.
Besides the wonderful world of travel, you can also find me under the merch tent on match days. During the match, I help out wherever I am needed. Jumping up on the ladder, grabbing extra smoke if we are running low, or helping tie up tifo on the stand.
I have been attending matches with my brother since the second season, I wasn't always able to attend, because of my 2nd job. Once I left the job, I started going with him regularly. The excitement of TRE, the fun and nonsense in the tailgate before hand. It all was just so overwhelming, but in a good way. It is something I still feel every match day.
Outside of the SoB, I am a Surgical Coordinator for four Doctors. I enjoy traveling, mostly to the shore or an island. Long rides with a good playlist, planting flowers, and spending time with my old pup, Poppy, are all things I could not live without.
Travel Director (1 Candidate)
Heather Reppert
In 2010, my then boyfriend (now husband) told me about how Philadelphia was awarded a professional soccer team and asked if I wanted to go to their first ever game. I wasn't really into soccer at the time, but went because I'm a Philly sports fanatic. Needless to say, I was hooked after only that first game. What caught my eye the most was the group of fans chanting, singing, and clapping the entire game; it was the best sports environment in the City. I purchased season tickets in 2011 and haven't looked back since. Over the years, I met more and more people involved in the Sons of Ben, and slowly I began volunteering here and there as well as going on away trips. The SOBs are my family through thick and thin no matter the team's record. On a personal note, my husband Matt and I have been married for 6 years. While the majority of my professional career has been spent as a litigation paralegal in personal injury law, I am currently a Contract Manager in the public sector and am enjoying my new line of work. Matt and I live with our rescue pittie named Frankie and three cats. I pride myself on being friendly and open and can't wait to meet even more Union crazed folk.
Philanthropy Director (1 Candidate)
Krystal Kane
My name is Krystal Kane, and I’m running for another term as Philanthropy Director for the Sons of Ben. I have enjoyed getting to know the membership of the Sons of Ben over the past two years, and I would love to continue serving the club in my role.
For my day job, I’m the Pro Bono Attorney at a large national law firm. I work with nonprofits across the country to provide access to legal services for people in need. In Philadelphia, I’m especially passionate about my work with Nationalities Service Center, a local refugee resettlement organization.
In my spare time, I volunteer with organizations that help children and families in the greater Philadelphia region. I’m Co-Chair and a founding members of Young Friends of the Support Center for Child Advocates, and am a regular volunteer with their annual Toy Drive. Most recently, I worked with Kisses for Kyle for Childhood Cancer Awareness Night at the Philadelphia Union, where we honored the #Fearless43. I’m a past volunteer with Philadelphia Reads.
I’ve been attending Philadelphia Union matches for the past 6 seasons, and I’ve been an active member of the Sons of Ben for the past several years.
I’m a graduate of Penn State and Drexel Law, and I’m an avid fan of Chelsea FC and the USWNT (after the Union, of course!). I enjoy local beer, comic books, and board games. Find me on Union Twitter at SoB_Krystal!
Tailgate Director (2 Candidates)
Jeremy Sharpe
Born 08/15/1976
SoB back in the ‘here before the team’ days (don’t even know if “MLS Philadelphia” was even a thing yet)
Creator of the “Yellow SoB Drum” (literally stripped, repaired, sanded, primered, painted, and rebuilt on my front porch)
Co-Creator of ‘Stach Bash. (My terrible 2011 mustache, some crazy ideas, big support, and a huge lack of sleep made that first Stache Bash a reality)
Co-Founder of (now defunct) Bearfight Brigade
Co-Founding Member of Bearfight FC of Wilmington, DE
Capo since 2010
Co-founder of Bearfight Winter Classic
Creator of many other questionable but terribly fun ideas
Food and Beverage Management at Wawa
Servsafe Certified
Helper without a title for Circa 68 Records in Wilmington, DE
Current President of Bearfight FC of Wilmington, DE
I’ve been an insider and an outsider. I have never been shy to express my joy or my discontent in 10 seasons of Union soccer and over 10 years of SoB involvement. Soccer is my recreation time, my escape from the daily.
I have seen the SoB move to multiple tailgate locations. I have seen shoulder to shoulder tailgate areas and tailgate areas that look like ghost towns.
I am not a ‘we need to make it just like to old times’ person. We did some things right back in the early days, and we did some things wrong.
Currently, we do some things right, we do some things wrong. We have an area with great potential. We have a great supporter base, but we have a bit of a disconnect between those two things.
Sid MacLeod
I’m Sid MacLeod, and I’ve been a loud and proud Son of Ben since 2010, and a Board Member since 2018. Lately, I’ve been observed lurking around Section 128 (every match this season- a first for me), and as many away matches as humanly possible.
For the past year, I have been Director of Tailgates, and in that short time, I have been able to:
Stabilize tailgate revenue, while increasing the variety and quantities of food served.
Made it easier to volunteer for tailgates, which has allowed more people to help out than ever.
Never once ran out of Beer!
Added to our tailgate assets, most recently, and noticeably, a flat screen tv.
Helped bring back the March-In. Loud and Proud!
Moving forward, I would like to keep improving our GameDay experience, with the first two points on my list for the off-season is to replace the picnic tables, and the cornhole courts. Someday it is also my hope to actually have live music at some of the tailgates, as well as other entertainment.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed serving as Director of Tailgates, with much thanks to all those who volunteered for us this season, and I’m ready to move full steam ahead into 2020!
Ad Finem Fidelis