Peter Marlette, Jr. was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He played four years of varsity soccer at Nichols School, where he won two state championships; earned All-Western New York and All-State honors; and medaled in three consecutive Empire State Games (including two golds).

A 2009 All-American at Trinity College (Conn.), Marlette, Jr. followed his collegiate career with a season for now-defunct Woden Valley FC (Canberra, Australia) in the National Premier Leagues (2nd division), where he was named to the league all-star team.

After his playing career, he moved into the sports business, spending nearly five years with ADPRO Sports in Buffalo. He graduated from the prestigious A.I.S.T.S. Masters in Sports Management program in Lausanne, Switzerland, then re-entered the U.S. soccer fray in 2019 via positions with FC Dallas (Major League Soccer) and North Texas Soccer Club (USL League One).

In 2021, Marlette, Jr. took the reins as general manager of Union Omaha in USL League One. Over three seasons, he guided Union Omaha to two regular season championships (2021, 2023) and one playoff title (2021); constructed the only USL League One team to ever beat an MLS team twice in one season (against Chicago Fire, and then Minnesota United – 2022); twice topped his league’s player transfer fee record, with Damia Viader sold to the Sacramento Republic of USL Championship (2022) and Ryen Jiba dealt to MLS’s Minnesota United FC (2023); presided over the league leader in attendance, ticket sales, and ticket revenues (2021); and helped create the first-ever USL Special Olympics Unified Soccer series, which has since led to SO Unified team affiliations with multiple clubs throughout League One and Championship. Following Union Omaha’s regular season championship in 2023, the accomplished GM resigned to return home to Buffalo and dedicate his time and expertise to the establishment of Buffalo Pro Soccer.

Marlette, Jr. and his wife Sarah (also a Buffalo native) now live in the Elmwood Village with their young daughter, Margot and dog, Sydney—and are thrilled to be home.

Abby Ruggiero was born and raised in Amherst, New York where she attended Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart in Williamsville.

Ruggiero graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Communication with minors in Business and Marketing. She was a four-year varsity athlete on the Women’s Ice Hockey team.

Along with being a student-athlete, Ruggiero was heavily involved in extracurricular activities throughout campus. She acted as Producer and Board Member on the Big Red Sports Network, was the Player Representative for the Women’s Hockey Association: Board of Directors, and was a Marketing Intern for the Cornell University Athletic Department: Women’s Ice Hockey.

Ruggiero came back to Buffalo where she found a new love for her community. She worked at the non-profit Baird Foundation as a Project Associate. This past year, she interned at the Buffalo Sabres and Bandits on their Game Presentation team. After retiring from collegiate hockey, Ruggiero found herself coaching for the Buffalo Sabres as a Female Ambassador teaching the next generation.

Ruggiero joined Buffalo Pro Soccer in May of 2024 as a Marketing Intern, assisting with events, meetings, and social media. Now Buffalo Pro Soccer’s first hire, she serves as Marketing Coordinator where she manages all social media accounts and content strategy.