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A longtime teammate of Seattle Program Coordinator Robby Dohrn, Tom has been a big asset to our Seattle program as a volunteer coach since 2018.
When did you first start volunteering for SWB and how did you learn about the program?
I started volunteering in October of 2018. I heard about the program through Robby Dohrn who I was living with at the time. I have played soccer with Robby since middle school and could not pass up the opportunity to coach with him.
What has surprised you most about working with SWB?
What has surprised me most is the kids' enthusiasm to learn about each other's cultures. Their curiosity is very genuine and pure. The other day at practice, I saw a non-native Spanish speaker speaking Spanish to another player in order to receive a pass mid-game. It was an amazing sight to see!
What’s a favorite memory of your time as a volunteer with SWB?
My favorite memory is coaching the high school boys in 5v5 indoor soccer in 2019. Seeing them improve as soccer players and watching them come together as a group of young men was a joy. They competed together and it bonded them. We see many returners from that team as leaders at practice today.
What’s the best part about being a SWB volunteer/your favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do is greeting all the players at the beginning of practice. I try to give each player an elbow bump and a "what's good" before practice starts. The beginning of practice is such an energetic and positive time and I love interacting with all the players before we officially get things going.
What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
For work, I'm a product manager at PayScale, Inc. Outside of work, I love backpacking in the Pacific Northwest, listening to Wu -Tang Clan and playing soccer when my knee allows me to.
Anything else you’d like to add about SWB or yourself?
I have loved watching the Seattle program grow over the years. Without knowing the actual numbers, it feels like the program has doubled in size over the past 2.5 years!