ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 11, 2023) – Orlando City SC has been named as Major League Soccer’s 2023 Strategy and Business Intelligence Club of the Year, it was announced today. Orlando City joins 12 other teams from around the league in being named as 2023 Mark Abbott MLS Club and Executive Award Winners.
Spearheaded by Chief Strategy Office Chris Kamke and Sr. Director of Strategy and Analytics, Julianne Jochym, 2023 marked the first full season Orlando City SC had a dedicated, centralized Strategy & Analytics department. In the last 12 months, the team recruited and hired top-notch talent, holding over 45 years of experience combined, including time at the Tampa Bay Lightning, San Francisco 49ers, National Hockey League, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic.
“In its first full year, this team did a tremendous job quickly establishing relationships and building trust within our clubs. They took time to understand where and how to add value,” said Orlando City SC Chief Strategy Officer Chris Kamke. “Sometimes adding value meant taking initiative to deliver something new or enhanced, other times just surfacing and packaging information, or even simply participating in conversations from an analytical position. The team focused its time and effort on other departments achieving their goals, and that approach helped cement data inclusion as the norm for operational strategies and practices within this Club.”
The Lions’ Strategy & Analytics department implemented new strategic solutions in data infrastructure and project management for several departments across the organization, providing support in key areas including revenue generation, foundational reporting, implementing a long-term organizational data infrastructure and enhancing the Club’s understanding of its own fanbase with data-driven research.
MLS announced its full list of year-end awards recognizing clubs and executives for outstanding contributions throughout the 2023 season. A complete list of 2023 Mark Abbott MLS Club and Executive Awards winners is below.
2023 Mark Abbott MLS Club and Executive Awards Winners
Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year – Xavier Asensi, Inter Miami CF
Sporting Executive of the Year – Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati
Academy of the Year – Columbus Crew
Club Administrator of the Year – Jeffrey Robben, Nashville SC
Communications Club of the Year – Sporting Kansas City
Consumer Products Club of the Year – Nashville SC
Corporate Partnership Activation of the Year – St. Louis CITY SC
Corporate Partnership Club of the Year – Los Angeles Football Club
Digital Activation of the Year – Nashville SC
Digital and Social Media Club of the Year – Inter Miami CF
eMLS Club of the Year – Atlanta United
Equipment Manager and Staff of the Year – Sean Ruiz, New York Red Bulls
Inclusion and Impact Award – Seattle Sounders FC
Marisa Colaiano Community Relations Club of the Year – Chicago Fire FC
Marketing Club of the Year – St. Louis CITY SC
Marketing Initiative of the Year – Inter Miami CF
Medical Staff of the Year – Austin FC
Operations Club of the Year – Los Angeles Football Club
Security Club of the Year – Inter Miami CF
Strategy and Business Intelligence Club of the Year – Orlando City SC
Supporter Management Club of the Year – Atlanta United
Ticket Sales Club of the Year – FC Cincinnati
Ticket Sales Initiative of the Year – Columbus Crew
Orlando City SC Contract Statuses (As of Dec. 11, 2023):
Iván Angulo: Loan Expired
César Araújo: Under contract through 2024, with Club option in 2025
Wilder Cartagena: Loan Expired
Antonio Carlos: Option Exercised
Ramiro Enrique: Under contract through 2025, with Club options in 2026 & 2027
Alex Freeman: Under contract through 2025, with Club option in 2026
Pedro Gallese: Under contract through 2024, with Club option in 2025
Gastón González: Under contract through 2024, with Club option in 2025, 2026 & 2027
Adam Grinwis: Out of Contract
Mikey Halliday: Option Exercised
Robin Jansson: Option Exercised
Favian Loyola: Under contract through 2025, with Club options in 2026 & 2027
Jack Lynn: Option Exercised
Felipe Martins: Option Exercised
Duncan McGuire: Option Exercised
Shak Mohammed: Guaranteed through 2025
Martín Ojeda: Under contract through 2025, with Club options in 2026 & 2027
Javier Otero: Under contract through 2024, with Club options in 2025 & 2026
Luca Petrasso: Option Exercised
Wilfredo Rivera: Option Declined
Abdi Salim: Option Exercised
Rafael Santos: Guaranteed Through 2024, with Club options in 2025 & 2026
Rodrigo Schlegel: Guaranteed Through 2024, with Club options in 2025 & 2026
Kyle Smith: Option Exercised
Mason Stajduhar: Under contract through 2025, with Club option in 2026
Dagur Dan Thórhallsson: Under contract through 2024, with Club options in 2025 & 2026
Facundo Torres: Under contract through 2025, with Club option in 2026
Júnior Urso: Option Declined
Thomas Williams: Under contract through 2024, with Club option in 2025
