From the Pitch to Pricing Proposals, Vericol’s Ben Maalouf Brings Teams Together

Ben brings a deep appreciation for competition, teamwork, and the human stories behind sport to his work at Vericol. From organizing a weekly pickup soccer group for nearly a decade to following the global game closely, Ben thrives in environments where people come together around shared goals and passions.

Beyond the pitch, Ben’s lifelong fascination with cars and motorsport reflects the same strategic thinking and patience that shape his professional approach. Whether coordinating diverse personalities on the field or navigating complex challenges at work, Ben applies lessons from sport and racing to build thoughtful, collaborative outcomes for Vericol’s clients.

Read below for the full Q&A:

What first drew you to soccer, and what has kept you passionate about the game all these years?

My draw to playing soccer was standard – it was how to spend time with my friends competitively at recess and when hanging out after school. What’s kept me forever fascinated and passionate has been the view it gives you to places, communities, and people globally. Something as simple as a club crest, for example, can tell the story of a neighborhood, their industry, their history. A club’s supporters express who they are, what they stand for, and how they interact with their competitors through their fandom. It’s such a display of humanity, however inspiring or dreary.

You’ve hosted a weekly pickup soccer group for nearly a decade—what do you enjoy most about bringing people together through the sport?

As simple as it sounds, hosting the weekly pickup soccer group is probably one of my greatest accomplishments. Types of attendees range from my closest Kindergarten classmates to distant coworkers of cousins of roommates of friends from college. Managing the extremely big personalities and getting everyone to the field (even if they’re 45 minutes late) has been a monumental task every Saturday. Luckily, we have a massive group message where we can hold each other accountable for timeliness and, more importantly, terrible professional soccer takes. We’re a diverse group, a hilarious group, and some of us aren’t that bad at soccer either.

Car racing is another big passion of yours, from following the sport closely to co-owning a classic Nash Metropolitan. What excites you most about racing, both as a fan and as a driver?

Trust me, I really love soccer. But cars and, more specifically, car racing are my number one passion. I slept with a Matchbox car in each hand when I was three years old. I got my learner’s permit the first day I could. I simply still love driving, even around the DC area. I think it’s all part of a general interest in transportation and having something of your own to get around in. Similarly to soccer, car racing blends fun and competitiveness with different nationalities coming together to enjoy their passion globally. Luckily, I’ve gotten to do some laps of my own, and I always wish I could get more involved in racing.

I co-own a 1961 Nash Metropolitan, part of a hopefully burgeoning collection someday. It’s difficult to drive, it can’t go more than 55 mph, but people really smile when they see it on the road and it starts a lot of conversations.

How have your experiences in soccer and with cars shaped the skills you use in your career today?

As I mentioned, the weekly pickup soccer group brings a whole variety of people together just as a company is structured or as several companies would come together for a competitive contract bid. Managing the personalities, expectations, and individual capabilities is the largest part of a successful soccer session and a winning bid. As for cars – my general enjoyment of driving has taught me the most important thing you need to drive inside the beltway: patience!

If you could attend any major soccer match or car race in the world, which would you choose and why?

Rather than attending, my dream is to participate in a 24-hour race at least once in my life, no matter how amateur it may be. It’s the ultimate test of endurance, strategy, and teamwork!