Our Board of Directors
Zion Astro Board of Directors is a group of caring business and community leaders who are committed to providing opportunities that leads to victorious lives for youths in the US and Africa. Members are advocates for the organization and play an integral role in Zion’s development and program efforts.
Eugene Harmon is Chief Executive Officer at Zion Astro Biggest Football Academy, an education and developmental programs provider to Youth in the US and Africa. He is responsible for the overall management of Zion through the evaluation, planning, and implementation of all academic and recreational programs that serve the organization yearly.
Prior to joining Zion, Mr. Harmon worked as an Information technologist at the Cleveland Clinic and the State of Ohio. Over his career, he has acquired extensive experience in corporate, nonprofit, government institutions, and the Sports industry. Eugene Harmon played soccer at Bucks County Community College in Bucks County Pennsylvania PA, where he also served as an assistant coach at the end of his soccer career.
Eugene Harmon
Dr. Jim Krause
Dr. Krause is a graduate of Ithaca College and Elmira College in the Northeast and is also the author of Guardians of the Game – A Legacy of Leadership and a co-author of Hoops Heaven commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His third and final book was the memoir of Hall of Fame Coach Ted Owens and is called “At The Hang-up”. LinkedIn
Theo Economides is a techno-creative enabler. With more than 30 years of experience in TV and radio, audiovisual, higher education, telecommunications, and legal environments plus a lifetime of musical and theatrical performing, he brings an unconventional blend of expertise to the Zion Astro board. Mr. Economides is an AudioVisual Engineer for the Vedder Price law firm, and formerly for Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. His degrees are in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, but he is also a videographer, accomplished pianist, singer, musical conductor, and educator. He is also a skilled communicator, fluent in English and Geek, and able to translate between the two for any audience. LinkedIn
Theo Economides
MAYEL HADI
Eugene Harmon
Eugene Harmon is Chief Executive Officer at Zion Astro, an education and developmental programs provider to Youth in the US and Africa. He is responsible for the overall management of Zion through the evaluation, planning, and implementation of all academic and recreational programs that serve the organization yearly.
Prior to joining Zion, Mr. Harmon worked as an Information technologist at the Cleveland Clinic and the State of Ohio. Over his career, he has acquired extensive experience in corporate, nonprofit, government institutions, and the Sports industry. Eugene Harmon played soccer at Bucks County Community College in Bucks County Pennsylvania PA, where he also served as an assistant coach at the end of his soccer career.
Eugene is also an alumnus of Sports Management World Wide (SMWW) where he studied Sports Administration and Soccer Agent. Eugene’s overall passion is in youth development and Sports. In addition to his experience in Sports and Technology, Eugene brings to Zion Astro the cultural knowledge that connects Zion Astro Africa and Zion Astro USA.
Dr. Jim Krause
Dr. Krause brings 40 years of experience in the sports industry to Zion-Astro Soccer. His lengthy resume includes coaching, administration, recruiting, advising, and developing programs and athletes at multiple levels. His consulting companies, and, enjoyed clients around the world. He has also completed 20 seasons working with the NABC and the NCAA at the site of the Final Four.
For the past seventeen years, Dr. Jim has been preparing students and clients for professional opportunities with Sports Management Worldwide. His courses include Sports Administration and Coaching at the Next Level, as part of the SMWW core certificate program. It was in one of these classes where he took an interest in the career of Eugene Harmon and the idea of Zion-Astro Soccer really blossomed. In his new role as a Member of the Board, Dr. Krause will be charged with recruiting, fundraising, and placing a team of professionals who have served our global sports industry in a variety of roles.
One experience that has prepped Dr. Krause for this new role has been the Presidency of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The UIFL was a development league for players, coaches, front office personnel, and scouts with franchises from the northeast to southern Florida. This was a unique challenge as the leadership of the league required goals and objectives as a whole, but for each individual franchise as well. “Constantly rebuilding and retooling is an exhausting task. Building a strong foundation on basic business principles supports the development of the franchise. I always tell my students, and I will repeat this to the owners and coaches in the UIFL; “I will supply the knowledge base and some expertise, but you must supply the work ethic and the passion for any goals to be realized.”
Dr. Krause has experience coaching at multiple levels and in many different sports. His basketball experience spans middle school through NCAA Division I, but he has also coached college football, golf, baseball, and softball, and his resume stops also includes high school basketball, soccer, and softball. His years as an athletic administrator at multiple levels have created this mental framework that he believes makes sports a manageable and profitable enterprise.
Dr. Krause is a graduate of Ithaca College and Elmira College in the Northeast and is also the author of Guardians of the Game – A Legacy of Leadership and a co-author of Hoops Heaven commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His third and final book was the memoir of Hall of Fame Coach Ted Owens and is called “At The Hang-up”. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-krause-1b175a86/
Theo Economides
Theo Economides is a techno-creative enabler. With more than 30 years of experience in TV and radio, audiovisual, higher education, telecommunications, and legal environments plus a lifetime of musical and theatrical performing, he brings an unconventional blend of expertise to the Zion Astro board. Mr. Economides is an AudioVisual Engineer for the Vedder Price law firm, and formerly for Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. His degrees are in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, but he is also a videographer, accomplished pianist, singer, musical conductor, and educator. He is also a skilled communicator, fluent in English and Geek, and able to translate between the two for any audience. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/theoeconomides/
MAYEL HADI
Mayel is a graduate and postgraduate in Social work from India. He has also studied Comparative Social Change at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, Ireland. He has worked both in India and Ireland in various non-profits, government, and CSR projects. He is passionate about child rights, equality, and education. He is currently working with the Government of India for skill development and entrepreneurship amongst youth and women. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayel-hadi/