Board of Directors

The Wildcats Board of Directors oversees all activity of the Wildcats Football Association. The Board is made up of volunteers who meet every 6-8 weeks and manage the affairs of the team and to conduct the business of the Association as per the By-Laws of the Association. The Board may appoint individual members to assist in various roles throughout the seasons. Individual team volunteers or members are not permitted to initiate any Club business with other members or represent the Wildcats without sanction from the Board. Proposals for new business must be formally submitted to the Board in writing and include all funding requirements and a meeting with the Board may be required.

Name	Portfolio	Re-election	Team Role
Craig Reardon	Executive Team - General Manager & Treasurer	2024	All Managers
Liza Stelmach	Executive Team - VP, Director of Fundraising & Sponsorship	2026	Former Bantam & PeeWee Manager
John Ropchan	Executive Team - VP, Director of Field & Lights	2026
Kevin Dooley	Secretary	2024	Bantam Coach
Shelley Lakatos	Director of Registration & Communication	2025	Former Bantam & Spring League Manager
Jessie Randall	Director of Graphics, Media & Technology	2024	Former Bantam & Spring League Manager
Greg Wilson	Director of Equipment	2024	Head Coach Bantam, Spring League & U17
Jason Williamson	Director of Alumni/Coaching Development Certification	2025	Bantam & Spring League Coach
Yorgo Nikolakis	Director	2024	Head Coach PeeWee
Evelyne Lamontagne	Director	2025	Spring League Manager
Ryan Brouwers	Director	2026	Spring League Coach
Patrick Aherne	Director	2026	Spring League Coach

Craig Reardon

Executive Team - General Manager & Treasurer

Craig is a life-long Calgarian who has a passion for youth sports and especially for youth football. Craig joined the Wildcats in 1996 as the Manager of the Pee Wee Wildcats. Subsequently he has held the positions of Bantam Manager, Spring Manager, General Manager, Treasurer and Board Member within the Association. Craig is also a member of the Calgary Bantam Football Association, Calgary Spring Football League and Greater Calgary Minor Football Boards. He has also been the Treasurer of the annual Ronald McDonald House Charity Football Jamboree since its inception.

Craig spent 40 years in the oil and gas industry, retiring as Vice-President of Administration at Encana. Since 2019 he as worked in the non-profit sector as Director of Finance for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary and with the EducationMatters Educational Endowment Trust. He is the Past President of the PaceKids Society for Children with Learning Disabilities, the Rideau Park School Parents Association and the Elboya Heights Community Association.

Liza Stelmach

Executive Team - VP, Director of Fundraising & Sponsorship

Liza Stelmach has been a member of the Wildcats family since 2016. Both her son and daughter have played. In 2020, Liza became Director of Fundraising and Volunteers and was elected Vice President in 2022. She was also a Bantam Manger for two years. Liza’s belief that all children should have access to sports and the benefits that result from being part of a team closely aligns with the Wildcats commitment to never turn away a player for financial reasons. Liza is married to Les, proud mom to Ethan and Naomi, and works as a Psychologist for a large provider of continuing care services.

John Ropchan

Executive Team - VP, Director of Field & Lights

John started with the Wildcat family in 2000 when there was a need for Atom coaches. John moved on to coaching Peewee and eventually the head coach in 2008. John has been on the board with Wildcats association since its inception and recently gave up his role as VP. Presently you will find him working on the Wildcats van, 5 light stands and practice fields.

John had 3 boys go thought the wild cat program and presently one grand daughter, step grand daughter and grandson playing with the club.

John retired in 2020 after 42 years in the oil exploration industry where he was the Director of Operations for TGS Canada and the Chairman of the board for the Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors.

Kevin Dooley

Secretary

Bio

Shelley Lakatos

Director of Registration & Communications

Shelley Lakatos is the Board’s registration director and now serving her second 3-year term. Shelley and family have been with Calgary Wildcats Football since 2015. She has been team manager for Atom, Pee Wee, Bantam and Spring Leagues for 7 football seasons.

Shelley is married – Trevor with two children Cole 17yrs – Wildcat Alumni and Evan 15 – Going into his third year of Spring League.

Jessie Randall

Director of Graphics, Media & Technology

Jessie became a part of the Wildcats family in 2012 when her son Colton started playing football and played as a Wildcat from PeeWee all the way through Spring League. She began as a parent volunteer for events, worked her way into a manager role for his Bantam and Spring League years (5 seasons), and merged into a Board Director role since 2018.

Although her son is now an alumni, Jessie's passion for football and giving back to youth sport, she continues to offer her graphic, web and technology experience to the Wildcat Organization.

Outside of Wildcats, Jessie is a Media Director with Life Support Mental Health and as a freelance graphic/web designer. In addition, she volunteers with Mamas for Mamas organization as an event coordinator.

Greg Wilson

Director of Equipment, Head Coach Bantam, Spring League & U17 Female

Coached in the Calgary Community for 21 years at the PeeWee, Bantam and Midget (Spring) Levels and is currently Head Coach of the Calgary Bantam (CBFA) and Midget Wildcats (CAMFA). Greg has contributed to the development of many fine athletes, students and coaches in his experience as a football coach boasting three players at the professional level and many at the CIS level from coast to coast. Greg has also spearheaded and participated in many fundraising activities and similar initiatives to contribute to the growth of minor football in the city and province in his capacity as Head Coach at the Calgary Wildcats. He has organized several exhibition and tournament opportunities over the years so his players and coaches can travel and interact with other players and coaches in the Province and has developed several positive relationships in that process.

Greg is married (Wife – Wendy) with two children Sarah, 27yrs and Garry, 30 yrs, a Wildcat Alumni, who spent 3 seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Club, 3 seasons with the Calgary Junior Colts while coaching at the Bantam, Midget and Highschool Levels in Calgary. Garry continues his football aspirations with Senior Mens Gators Football Club in Calgary. Greg also has two Grandchildren (Garry) – Barrett – 7 years old and Rya – 3 years old.

Jason Williamson

Director of Alumni/Coaching Development Certification

Jason Williamson joined the Wild Cats in 2000 as Pee Wee QB/RB coach after 17 years of playing football, 12 of which were as a player/ coach. Since 2000 Jason has coached 15 different Wild Cat teams, at all levels, Atom through to the Spring league. He has coached the Bantam Selects team, several football clinics and was a guest coach for the Calgary Rage. His passion has been focused on coaching the Bantam team as he is an alumnus of the 1979 Bantam Jaguars, the predecessor to the Wild Cats team. Coincidentally practicing at the same school field of which he attended elementary. He has served as a Board Member on two separate occasions, as Secretary and this current 6 year term as Coaching Development. Currently he is coaching the inaugural 2022 season of the Calgary U17 Girls Wild Cats team. When he is not coaching; Jason can be found enjoying the mountains in the Radium BC area or on stage doing stand-up comedy.

Yorgo Nikolakis

Head Coach PeeWee

Played football from PeeWee to high school in Wetaskiwin, Alberta as well as coaching OL for the Wetaskiwin Bantam Warriors before moving to Calgary for university. During my first Bachelors degree I took up with the Wildcats as a RB coach. Then, QB coach, Offensive Coordinator and, finally, Head Coach while working through a B.Ed.

I have my NCCP Level 1 coaching certification as well as my Intro to Position Coaching certification, Safe Contact, and Football Canada's Novice Coaching certification.

"It's like everything in football - and life. You need to think, you need to move, you need to find space, you need to help others. It's very simple in the end." - Johan Cruyff

Evelyne Lamontagne

Director

Bio

Ryan Brouwers

Director

Bio

Patrick Aherne

Director

Mr. Patrick Aherne is the Director, Internal Audit and Risk at NOVA Chemicals and is a member of Alberta’s Provincial Audit Committee. Patrick holds CFA, CPA-CMA and CIA designations and obtained his B.Comm from the University of Alberta. He and his wife Allison have two children who have been through all levels of the Wildcats program. Patrick has been involved in coaching at the Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Spring levels for the past six seasons.

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