Board of Directors
Helena Youth Soccer Association

Amy Christensen
PRESIDENT

Amy’s primary exposure to soccer has been as a parent/fan of her two younger daughters, Ellie and Jane, who have played through the rec, Academy, and Arsenal programs at HYSA.  

After coaching Jane’s rec team through a few seasons, it soon became clear that the kids knew way more about the game than she did, and she transitioned to being a manager for various teams over the years.

Amy has been a member of the HYSA Board since 2018, and she is the managing partner at Christensen & Prezeau law firm.

Email: Amy Christensen

Dawn Gallinger
SECRETARY

Dawn joined the HYSA Board in 2023. She has been coaching with HYSA (Recreation, Academy, and now Arsenal) for the past 6 years. She has two daughters, Rylee and Lachlyn who play with the Arsenal program.

She knows how important this program is to her family and wants to ensure that more Helena area families have the opportunity to participate. She has a background in technology, fundraising, and facility planning and wants to bring these passions and focus to the club. 

Email: Dawn Gallinger

Nate McCarthy
TREASURER

Email: Nate McCarthy

Andy Adamek
BOARD MEMBER

Andy played recreational and pickup soccer growing up and jumped back into the game several decades later as a parent of two young players who wound their way through local youth soccer in Helena to find the HYSA Recreational League in 2010.

Since then Andy has supported HYSA first as a Recreational League coach, then as an Academy coach, followed by numerous seasons of Arsenal coaching for U12 - U17 boys age groups. In his varying roles as a coach and manager, his teams have won State Cups attended college showcase/id tournaments and played into the USYS Region 4 Far West Regionals Championship. Andy is a Helena-based USYS Referee.

Along with his wife Marika, and sons Aidan and Nate, Andy has supported player development opportunities in Montana through MT ODP now known as the Montana Development Program. As an HYSA Board Member Andy remains committed to promoting positive club expectations and experiences for all players, coaches, officials, and HYSA Members as our club teams compete and grow on the pitch in Montana and beyond.

Email: Andy Adamek

Sarah Elliott
BOARD MEMBER

Email: Sarah Elliott

Timothy Leinonen
BOARD MEMBER

Timo, born and raised in Detroit, played youth soccer and became a devoted fan of the sport. He moved to Helena in the summer of 2019 with his young family, to be closer to relatives in Ennis and to find a supportive community.

He currently coaches his two young boys in Micro and Recreational, much to his enjoyment. After joining the board in 2022, he was part of the 2023 Strategic Plan development and is committed to seeing the growth and success of the Helena Youth Soccer Association into the future.

Outside of HYSA activities, Timo is a licensed architect, contributing to many community projects around Montana. He brings 12 years of experience in planning and project management to the board and aspires to elevate HYSA as the premier soccer club of Montana.

Email: Timo Leinonen

Greg Lemon
BOARD MEMBER

Email: Greg Lemon

Patrick Murray
BOARD MEMBER

Email: Patrick Murray

BOARD MEETINGS

The HYSA Board of Directors routinely meets at 5:30 pm on the third Monday of every month.

Please contact us to verify any change of day, time or venue for the meeting. 

MEETING MINUTES

The HYSA Board's Meeting Minutes and other public documents are available for review upon request.

STRATEGIC PLAN

The Helena Youth Soccer Association (HYSA) Board of Directors (Board) has committed itself to an ongoing strategic planning and thinking process to seek continuous improvement and expansion of HYSA’s service to the Helena community and surrounding areas. This process is now in its eleventh year of implementation and has become an important, integrated part of how HYSA operates.

FACILITIES SURVEY

Rose Crawford
BOARD MEMBER

Email: Rose Crawford