Tim Richey was selected as Chief Executive Officer for Detroit PAL in January, 2012. He has served in various capacities since 2001, joining the executive management team in 2006. Tim was integral to guiding the organization through two successful mergers, crafting the strategic direction of the fledgling entity at pivotal points in its storied history. Throughout his tenure, Tim has been involved with fundraising, operations, and direct service programming for an average of 12,000 participants yearly. Together these experiences make him uniquely suited to lead Detroit PAL.

His roots in Detroit and community service started in 1996 when he co-founded one of the first youth soccer leagues in Detroit. He recruited volunteers and youth from every corner of the city to participate in this traditionally suburban sport. He also engaged the City of Detroit and Wayne County to create dedicated fields, and he secured resources from a number of entities including the United States Soccer Foundation. When The Detroit Youth Soccer League joined Think Detroit in 2001, it served 850 aspiring athletes in five locations.

The unique training curriculum he designed for the 1,700+ Detroit PAL volunteer coaches earned him The Crystal Apple Award from his alma mater Michigan State University. He has also been awarded the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association’s Coach of the Year and became a member of the Michigan Bucks Hall of Fame in 2011.