Front Office

Panagiotis Iakovidis

CEO/Majority Owner

Phone863-240-0101

Panagiotis Iakovidis, M.D., is a Board Certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon, practicing both Thoracic and Vascular surgery at Bond Clinic, P.A. in Winter Haven, Florida. Bond Clinic is a professional medical association, made up of over 70 providers, encompassing 25 medical specialties. Dr. Iakovidis assumed the role of Chairman of the Board in 2009 and has served as the CEO and President, since that time.

His career at Bond Clinic continues to span more than 20 years. During this time period, Dr. Iakovidis has managed all major aspects of the organization, including serving in roles from Chairman of the Marketing Committee, Chairman of the Operations Committee, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Board of Directors and most currently as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Board.

Dr. Iakovidis was born in Thessalonica, Greece and is where he developed his love for the game of soccer. He grew up as a young man on the playing fields of PAOKFC, which is one of the most famous soccer clubs in the country. After graduating high school in Greece, he traveled to Houston Texas. He earned a bachelors degree in biology from the University of Houston, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He continued his education at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and graduated Alpha Omega Alpha, with his medical degree. He then traveled to San Antonio, Texas, where he received his General Surgery training at the University of Texas Health Science Center and was Board Certified in General Surgery. He completed his Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of West Virginia in Morgantown and later became Board Certified in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

In addition to Dr. Iakovidis’ medical career, he also is the Owner of High Performance Car Care Centers located in Winter Haven, Florida; Dundee, Florida; and Auburndale, Florida. His interest in the auto mechanic field flourished when he first opened several different car wash centers in 1999.

Dr. Iakovidis has been involved in the amateur soccer arena, serving as a Coach and Manager of Clubs that have competed at the National level, for over 10 years. He was a Coach/Manager for the Royal Eagles Soccer Club; the Manger for the Kickers Football Club; a Board of Directors Member for the Florida Suncoast Soccer League and a participating member of the Lakeland Adult Soccer Organization.

Dr. Iakovidis has three grown children.

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Clay Roberts

Director, Soccer Operations / MASL Head Coach

Head Coach Clay Roberts has a very impressive resume both on and off the field. As a professional player, Roberts played for 3 years with the USL side Charlotte Eagles, advancing to the National Championship three consecutive years, ’04-’06, winning the title in 2005. From ’05-’07, ’09-’10, Roberts played pro indoor soccer for the Philadelphia KiXX (MISL). Roberts won an MISL Championship title in 2007, defeating the Detroit Ignition. Roberts played four years of collegiate soccer at Florida Southern College (NCAA DII), winning multiple conference and regional awards.

In 2008-1010, Roberts was the Head Coach for both the Men & Women’s teams at Philadelphia Biblical University (NCCAA DIII). Roberts led the PBU Men’s program to a third place finish in the NCCAA DIII National Tournament. In the summer of 2009, Roberts was the Head Coach of the Buxmont Torch, a member of the (WPSL) Women’s Premier Soccer League. In the fall of 2007, Roberts served as the Assistant Coach for the Palm Beach Atlantic University (NCAA DII). The team finished with the programs best record of 14-4-2, and an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game.

In ’10-’13, prior to his return to the professional game, Roberts served as Director of Coaching for the Brandon FC (Currently West Florida Flames) youth club, one of the largest in Florida. Roberts set the curriculum for the club that saw significant growth over 3 years, inclusive of many tournament, state, and national championship appearances across the club.

Before coming to the Fire, Roberts spent two seasons with the PDL side Ocala Stampede as Vice President. Roberts helped the franchise become two time Southern Division Champions, and two time Southern Conference Champions. The team also made two appearances in the PDL Final Four during Robert’s tenure with the organization.

From ’12-‘13, Roberts served as General Manager & Director of Soccer for VSI Tampa Bay FC, a franchise in USL PRO. VSI Tampa Bay also operated a PDL, W-League, and Super-20 franchise, all of which were under the guidance of Roberts.

Roberts is currently the Head Men’s Soccer Coach for the Southeastern University Fire, a member of the NAIA. In his first two seasons at SEU, Roberts led the team to an overall record of 26 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws, including a Sun Conference Regular Season Championship, Sun Conference Tournament Championship, and a Final 16 appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. The SEU Fire finished 2015 ranked #15 in the country. All accomplishments are first in the Fire programs history.

Roberts currently resides in Lakeland Florida with his 3 children and wife Darcee’.

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Brian Ackley

Director, PR and Communications

Emailbdouglasackley@gmail.com

Ackley is in his fifth season with the team as director of public relations and broadcasting, serving as the "Voice of the Tropics" on their home game broadcasts.

He brings to the Tropics a long background in covering the sport, beginning in the second year of the original Major Indoor Soccer league when he covered the Buffalo Stallions. He later covered the Columbus Capitals of the American Indoor Soccer Association, and spent four years as a color analyst and play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League.

A long time broadcaster of high school football in Western New York, and most recently as the play-by-play voice of the national webcast of the 2017 Lakeland vs. Plant high school football regional finas, he also spent several seasons as the color analyst for NCAA Division I University at Buffalo football and as the play-by-play announcer for UB basketball. He worked for almost five years as Athletic Director at Hilbert College, an NCAA Division III school in Hamburg, N.Y. He and his wife Dr. Lori Shank moved to Central Florida in 2007 where Ackley served as editor of the Lake Wales News, with previous stints as editor of the Fort Meade Leader and Frostproof News as well.

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Melvin Boateng

Multimedia Manager

Phone863-240-0101 ext. 1006

EmailMelvin@tropicssoccer.com