Gavin Wilkinson Email & Phone Number

I originally joined this organization as player. I shifted focus and was progressively promoted into leadership roles based on my operational acumen, ability to represent the organization to players, fans, and ownership, and my innovative approach for rapidly growing the business. During my tenure, I oversaw the implementation of a long-term sustainable player recruitment strategy that identified, monitored, and acquired the best possible talent for the club. The scope of my work included overseeing 80 staff, 70 professional players, 90 youth players in 2 academies, with average of 25,000 fans / game, 2 facilities, and 60-70 games per year that generated $50+ million in revenue annually. I worked with multiple brand partners / sponsors while participating in community outreach projects and overseeing strategic planning. The work also involved managing player and coach contracts, scouting and recruitment for multiple teams, developing / implementing professional player pathways, setting annual budgets, administering player transfers (in / out), establishing college draft strategies, leading league subcommittees for men’s and women’s teams, creating KPIs and analytics to drive results and profitability, and building fan engagement & loyalty. * Timbers constantly ranked among top five MLS clubs in key business and sporting metrics, despite being in one of the smaller markets and twice nominated for Sports Team of the Year by Sports Business Journal. * Broke down internal communication silos by creating regular reporting structure that discussed challenges, successes, and areas where staff needed support; fostered trust and helped create cross-functional synergy that built collaborative internal culture. * Amplified team’s commitment to community involvement and creating goodwill, highlighted most recently through creating a charity game (PTFC for Peace) to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine following Russian invasion.

During this role, I was able to directly observe the fruits of all of our hard work under my leadership. The club and brand grew exponentially through the development of a strategic vision, and by setting a comprehensive strategy that required leading the organizational, management and cultural changes required to realize that vision. It was truly rewarding to be able to establish a playing philosophy that was exciting, consistent and recognizable. * Key figure in the launch of the MLS version of the Portland Timbers, creating the sporting blueprint, executed the roster planning, staff hiring and vision that has helped make them among the most successful franchises in MLS. * Architected 120-page roadmap outlining course correction shortly after stepping into leadership role which detailed objectives, philosophy, values, and club mission while setting clear expectations that mandated fixes to where club had previously fallen short.* Produced 100+ graduates that directly led to many player professional / college soccer careers since creating strategic partnership with alliance clubs and OYSA as well as the creation of the Timbers and Thorns academy's.

Helped start and run this incredible youth soccer club.Club programs inlcuded Recreational Soccer, Adult Soccer, TOPSoccer, Camps, Clinics and Competitive Soccer. Was one of the key individuals in starting / building this club. This role was very diverse and involved various responsibilities such as creation of club philosophy, mission statement, curriculum, website, operating manuals, marketing, community outreach, coach education and coaching boys/girls teams.