VERSION1 - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of People and Culture
Andraya Lund is the Head of People and Culture responsible for cultivating Version1's #NeverDone ethos, built upon the commitment to fostering a culture where players, coaches, and staff can bring their whole selves to work and the Esports Industry. Andraya brings 15 years of leadership in organizational design & effectiveness, talent attraction & development, DEIB, and executive coaching. Her work spans several innovative industries, including aerospace, defense, medical device, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the lion's share of her career being spent in technology. Previously, she was the Director of Talent and Diversity at Code42, responsible for creating, implementing, and integrating a global talent strategy that resulted in the company's scaling by 300% in two years. Committed to building equitable futures for all, both professionally and in the community, Andraya is the Board Chair for WCCAR, a nonprofit whose mission is to combat racism; she is on the Board of Directors for Connections to Independence, a nonprofit working to end youth homelessness and jurisdictional recidivism; and she was named a Partner with Social Venture Partners of MN, whose mission is to catalyze equitable social change by expanding the impact of youth-serving organizations.
Ang Legein leads the Version1 marketing team and brings over 15 years of experience in online technology, marketing, television and film to the organization. Her background includes agency experience, working with national and global companies such as Caterpillar, Ammann, Lenovo, and Comcast on branding, digital and environmental experiences. She also has experience producing and managing documentary, reality and scripted television in Los Angeles. Ang received her MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and volunteers to give back to the community focusing on healthcare. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Marketing and Communications committee for the Hennepin Healthcare Young Professionals Foundation.
Annie Scott Riley oversees the creative and marketing teams at Version1. She is a seasoned storyteller and life-long gamer with 15 years of marketing and creative experience, and was a 2021 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree. Annie began her career as a blogger in New York City and has traveled the globe creating a high volume of journalistic content for travel, fashion, luxury and other lifestyle publications, covering experiences from waltzing at a Venetian palace ball to biking down the side of a Yukon mountain. Prior to joining Version1, Riley served as the editorial director at Aveda and spent seven years at marketing and advertising agencies in social and digital roles on accounts including Cadillac, U.S. Bank, Delta Air Lines, Subaru, Post Foods, Evereve, H&R Block and more.
Ashley Glassel joined Version1 in August 2019 as a consultant to help build the first Minnesota Røkkr roster. She soon joined full-time as director of content and continues to build and grow the brand via content and vision. She frequently hosts Version1 and Røkkr streams, tournaments and events and is co-host of The Rotation podcast. Glassel, known by her gamertag "MiDNiTE," has over 10 years of experience as an influencer in esports. She is an original core member of OpTic Gaming and helped build the organization's legacy from 2010-2019. She initially played for OpTic Girls and was kept on as a content creator. During her tenure, Ashley helped represent and grow the OpTic brand, whether it was through her own streams and videos, or being involved in native OpTic content and sponsor deliverables.
Brett Diamond was named chief operating officer of Version1 when the organization was founded in July 2019. He leads the organization's business operations from its headquarters in Eagan, Minnesota. Before joining Version1, Brett spent three years with the Minnesota Vikings, most recently as director of partnership strategy and 11 seasons in the National Football League's events department. In various roles on both the operations and business sides of the NFL's major events, Brett was involved in planning 13 Super Bowls and served as event director for the Pro Bowl for two years. From 2010-2016, Brett worked as a liaison from the NFL to communities bidding to host the Super Bowl, including working closely with the Vikings and the Minnesota community for Super Bowl LII.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Coach of Minnesota
- Coach, Call of Duty
Brian "Saintt" Baroska is the head coach of Minnesota Røkkr and a former professional Call of Duty player. Before joining Version1 when Røkkr was founded in 2019, Brian coached and played professionally for eUnited until 2018. Saintt is a highly regarded veteran who began his professional career in 2008 with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Job Titles:
- Principal at WISE Ventures
Brian Cargo is a principal at WISE Ventures, the Manhattan-based investment fund that owns and operates Version1. He leads the day-to-day of WISE Ventures on behalf of the Wilf family. Brian is responsible for sourcing, reviewing, and optimizing new business opportunities for WISE Ventures across all of its verticals. He serves on the Board of Directors of OS Studios, SportsHub Games Network, Loop & Tie, and The Penn Club of NY. He received his B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Cassie Batinich oversees Version1's communications and media strategy and its corporate social responsibility commitments. She has over 10 years of professional experience in corporate communications, media relations and sports and brand marketing. Previously, Cassie worked at Weber Shandwick Minneapolis and Ketchum New York as a media relations specialist. From 2015-2018, she served as a communications consultant to the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, supporting community engagement and philanthropic priorities and creating an immersive experience for nearly 6,000 media members who visited Minnesota in the 10 days leading up to the game. Cassie is on the board of the Hale Page Diamond Lake neighborhood association in Minneapolis and is a dog foster and volunteer for Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue of Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Director of Events & Business Operations
Chris Vanderbeek oversees live production and the operations team at Version1. He brings over eight years of experience in the sports & entertainment industry to the organization and has worked in multiple leagues including the NHL, NBA, WNBA, collegiate hockey and minor league baseball. Chris's experience is rooted in producing immersive events that blend lights, music and video with live entertainment to create a seamless experience for fans. Before joining Version1, Chris worked in event production and presentation at the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx and the St. Paul Saints. Chris has also supported live production at four NBA All Star Weekend events.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach in October 2021 Ahead of the Call of Duty
- Coach, Call of Duty
Danny "Loony" Loza joined Minnesota Røkkr as an assistant coach in October 2021 ahead of the Call of Duty: Vanguard season. Prior to joining Røkkr, Loony was a professional competitor with Seattle Surge in 2021 and Toronto Ultra during the 2020 CDL season. Loony brings a decade of experience competing at the highest level of Call of Duty to Røkkr's coaching staff. As a player, he won six major tournaments.
Job Titles:
- Short Form Content Manager
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chairman of VaynerX
Gary Vaynerchuk is an ownership partner of Version1. He is a serial entrepreneur, five-time New York Times Best-Selling Author, Chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia, CEO of VaynerSports, and Co-Founder of Empathy Wines. He's a highly sought after public speaker, as well as a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, and Uber.
Today, Gary is the chairman of VaynerX, a modern-day media and communications holding company and the active CEO of VaynerMedia, a full-service advertising agency servicing Fortune 100 clients with offices in the US, UK, and Singapore. In addition to VaynerMedia, VaynerX includes VaynerProductions, Gallery Media Group, The Sasha Group, Tracer, VaynerSpeakers and VaynerCommerce.. Gary also serves as a partner at VaynerSports, Green Street and Resy.
Immi joined Version1 January 2021 as the team's head coach. Before joining Version1, Immi coached NRG and Singularity in Counter-Strike and prior to that, played professionally for Endpoint. His notable wins include the iBUYPOWER Invitational - Spring 2018 with NRG and the ESL Premiership - Summer 2019 with Endpoint.
Job Titles:
- VP of Esports & Acquisitions
Jake Trobaugh supports business development by overseeing the evaluation of new opportunities to grow Version1's portfolio across the esports and gaming industry. He is a former professional Call of Duty player who retired to successfully earn degrees in finance and economics. Jake was an investment banking analyst and a consultant for private equity firms and hedge funds prior to returning to the esports industry in 2019 due to the growth and franchising of the Call of Duty League. In his spare time, he can be found petitioning to be verified on Twitter (@REPPINjt) or handcrafting mediocre memes.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Coach, Rocket League
Jayson "Fireburner" Nunez joined Version1 as the head coach of the Rocket League team when it was established in August 2020. Prior to this role, Jayson coached Torment and Gimmick at Cloud9 in Rocket League Championship Series 8 and 9. Jayson played competitively for NRG from 2015 to 2019 and participated in every RLCS LAN event until his retirement from competition in 2019, one of only two players to do so. He won four RLCS North American tournaments with NRG, including the 2017 FACEIT X Games Rocket League Invitational. Jayson earned Clutch Playmaker and Golden Striker awards in Seasons 7 and 3 respectively.
Job Titles:
- Director of Partnership Strategy & Activation
Job Titles:
- Ownership Partner & PRESIDENT
- President of Version1 Overseeing the Organization on Behalf
Jonathan Wilf is an ownership partner and president of Version1 overseeing the organization on behalf of the ownership group. Jonathan recently wrapped up his 15th season as a member of the Vikings ownership group and his 7th as the team's executive vice president of strategic planning and business initiatives. As vice president, Jonathan serves on the Vikings management team and plays a leadership role in developing revenue-generating initiatives for the organization as well as enhancing and expanding technology applications within the Vikings and at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jonathan served on the new stadium development team and in the planning of the new team headquarters in Eagan.
Jonathan is a partner in Garden Homes, the family-owned, nationwide leader in retail, commercial and private residential development based in Short Hills, N.J. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied computer science, and a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University. Jonathan is actively engaged in philanthropy as a trustee of the Wilf Family Foundations and has a passion for supporting causes that involve children and education.
Job Titles:
- Events & Operations Coordinator
Job Titles:
- People Operations & HQ Coordinator
Martin "Anderzz" Schelasin is the Head Coach for VersionX. After building a reputation creating analytical content and shoutcasting in VALORANT's earliest days, he further expanded that notoriety coaching the NA roster VIRTUOSO to the top free agent spot in their region, and later joined Fnatic with whom he finished Top-8 at Champions 2021. With professional background in management, optimization, and systems simulation, Martin brings both a wealth of leadership experience, and an unparalleled tactical mind for the game.
Job Titles:
- Community Management Intern
Mike Olson is the chief financial officer at Version1 overseeing financial reporting, accounting and related functions. Previously, Mike was a managing director and senior equity research analyst at Piper Sandler where he covered the video game, internet and digital media sectors and companies including Activision, Electronic Arts, Amazon, Google and others. As a senior equity research analyst, Mike received multiple awards, including the 2019 TipRanks Top 100 Analysts of the year, 2017 TipRanks Top 20 Analysts of the year, 2015 Thomson Reuters/StarMine Earnings Estimator, 2011 Financial Times/StarMine No. 2 Stock Picker and No. 2 Earnings Estimator, and 2010 Wall Street Journal "Best on the Street" for the Leisure Goods & Services sector. Mike earned an undergraduate degree in business, with a concentration in finance, investments and banking, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Job Titles:
- Senior Social Media Manager
Job Titles:
- Junior Content Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Production / Shannon
Shannon Tufford leads Version1's production team. With over 20 years of production experience, she has produced content and experiences for a diverse client portfolio. Prior to Version1, she was Executive Producer for BI Worldwide, producing content and events for Fortune 500 companies in a gamut of venues, spanning from convention centers and ballrooms, to the top of Aspen Mountain and in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Shannon has produced for virtual broadcasts and national PBS programs, post-produced for such brands as Activision and Purina, and has been spotted on various film and commercial sets.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Ownership Partner
Steven Wilf is an ownership partner of Version1 and a partner at Garden Homes, the family-owned, nationwide leader in retail, commercial and private residential real estate development. Steven graduated from the University of Michigan's College of Literature Science and the Arts. He also serves on the Young Benefactors of The First Tee of Metropolitan New York and the Rex Next Real Estate Committee of UJA Federation of NY. Steven is a trustee of the Wilf Family Foundations and supports many organizations with a particular focus and interest in education and science. Steven is an avid golfer and resides in New York City.
Job Titles:
- Junior Content Specialist