The Ministry
A mixture of practicality, efficiency, and fun.
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The team maintains an organizational structure parallel to many professional sports teams, with an owner, team manager, and a series of coaches. However, we also aimed to innovate and set ourselves apart, while having fun with the process. The team has accordingly adapted its system into a constitutional monarchy, and is the only quidditch team in the world (to our knowledge) to do so.
This system has afforded the team stability and efficiency in its day-to-day administration. The owner is at the head of this system, and employs a set of Ministers to oversee different aspects of the organization.
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Below are a list of the current offices held within the Ministry:
- Owner/Head Coach
- Prime Minister (Team Manager)
- Minister of Logistics and Morale
- Minister of the Treasury
- Assistant Head Coach
OUR LEADERSHIP
Owner/Head Coach: Dante Close​
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Throughout the week, Dante spends much of his time working on Film and Television shoots as a lighting technician, having worked on shows like Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Younger, and a host of others.
As a player, he has been a part of the game and the quidditch community for 8 years (soon to be 9), starting as a chaser on NYU Nundu in 2011 and culminating in his current position on the Dragons. Throughout that time, he has helped train and coach players from several teams, including the NY Badassilisks and Tri-State Lightning Quidditch Club.
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As the founder, owner, and head coach of the Dragons, Dante spends the free parts of his week setting the agenda for the Ministry, organizing practices, finalizing drills and tactics to be utilized by the team, and seeking the feedback of his teammates to help improve team efficiency and morale.
Prime Minister/Team Manager:
Melanie Hackett​
"I play with the Dragons because the team provides a welcoming atmosphere where all team members are equally valued."
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As an athlete and a Harry Potter fan, Melanie has seen quidditch as the perfect combination of these two passions. As a result, Melanie founded the UConn Grimms, serving them as President and Head Captain during her college years.
Melanie continued to pursue her love for the sport with the Atlantic Dragons. serving as Minister of Logistics and Morale for the 2018-2019 Season, prepping the team for tournaments and serving as a powerful voice and advocate for her fellow teammates.
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Combined with her job as in Administrative Assistant, Melanie has a lot to bring to her role as Prime Minister, and will work with the Owner and other ministers to ensure the smooth operation of the team.
Assistant Head Coach:
Daniel Shapiro
"The Dragons have been like a family since the day I got here."
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Having been a leading force for Mizzou Club Quidditch in his college years, Daniel will be entering his 9th season of quidditch and his 2nd season with the Atlantic Dragons. This is also his second year as Assistant Head Coach.
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A multimedia journalist that specializes in social media content, Daniel began playing with the Dragons as a way to balance work life while making time for friends, and has found a community of like minded individuals.
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As Assistant Head Coach, Daniel helps guide the flow and direction of practices, stepping in to lead drills and working with players on an individual basis to enhance their skills. On the field, he acts as speaking captain and helps direct the team through plays and other tactics.
Minister of Logistics and Morale:​
Marina Vega
"We aren't just a team, we're a family. We celebrate each of our teammate's success and growth on and off the field."
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A full-time student, Marina has just finished her first year of competitive quidditch as a chaser. Having stumbled upon quidditch by accident, she did some research on the sport and found her way to the Atlantic Dragons, and has stayed with us ever since.
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In her dual role as Minister of Logistics and Morale, Marina will work with team leadership to help prepare the team for traveling to and hosting tournaments. She will also work to gather feedback from team members and help brainstorm ideas for fun social events and practices.
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Minister of the Treasury:
Eduardo "Lalo" Remes
"Playing as a beater satisfies my bloodlust, and the Dragons offer plenty of blood".​
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Along with Dante Close, Lalo is one of the original three members of the Atlantic Dragons. Having started the first year of his quidditch career with Tri-State Lightning, Lalo has a modest three years of quidditch experience.
A proficient beater with aggressive spikes of energy, Lalo also seeks to serve his team by keeping balance of the treasury. His other duties include scouting for deals on equipment, transportation, and other expenses. His skills as a motion graphics designer also come in handy for preparing the team's graphic designs.
