2025 Speakers

Nick Bicanic

CEO

Reload Pickleball

Nick started mixing sports and tech at an early age. He played Basketball at the European Junior Championships and was also awarded a young Nobel prize for optical athletic movement analysis, prior to studying at Cambridge University.nnHe is a multi-award winning filmmaker and he founded, ran and sold several companies – raising funds from high profile VC firms like Google Ventures and Lockheed Martin Ventures.nnHe invents things regularly and has more than 10 patents in the fields of Camera Accessories, Augmented Reality and Sporting Goods.nnHe also plays guitar, sings, windsurfs, skis, eats granny smith apples and corrects typos in emails.nnHe started playing pickleball in 2022 and quickly identified a key problem in the sport, the fact that paddles degrade very fast. He is the CEO, Creator and Co-Founder of Reload Pickleball, the world's first high performance pickleball paddle system with a replaceable surface.

Chandler Carney

Board Member

Global Pickleball Federation

Chandler Carney is an attorney with a strong background in both sports and immigration. A former Division I and II volleyball player, she later represented the United States in padel, competing internationally in Paraguay and Brazil. Now a key figure in pickleball, Chandler is a member of the Chilean national team and played a pivotal role in securing a fourth-place finish at the inaugural Pickleball World Cup in Peru. She currently serves on the board of the Global Pickleball Federation and chairs the legal committee, driving efforts to expand the sport across Latin America and the world. As an entrepreneur, she leads pickleball business ventures and club development, including KONDOR Pickleball and Pickleball UC by KONDOR, further advancing the sport’s reach and growth.

Jarrett Chirico

Director of Racquets

Royal Oaks Country Club

Andrew Cordova

Racquets Director

Maryland Club

Andrew Cordova is the Racquets Director at the Maryland Club in Baltimore, Maryland. With over 30+ years in the Hospitality and Racquets industries, he is passionate about building relationships and creating exclusive experiences in the racquets world. He specializes in program creation, national and international events, and fundraising. He is dedicated to crafting the ultimate experience for his members and guests. He is a former world top 20 touring professional in doubles squash, and is a member of the Maryland State Squash Hall of Fame. Andrew has a BA from Fordham University and a MS in Recreation and Sports Management from Western Kentucky University.

Todd Dettor

Vice President & Owner

Fast-Dry Courts, Inc. & 10-S Tennis Supply

Todd serves as Chief Idea Officer for Fast-Dry Courts, Head of Product Development for 10-S Tennis Supply and President and Founder of Tennclosure Fence Systems, LLC. He also covers sales of new residential construction in south Florida and all Caribbean and international construction and resurfacing sales. Todd serves as qualifying GC for Fast-Dry Courts. While attending college at FAU, he worked as a dock master and valet at Houston's Restaurant in Pompano Beach, FL from 1993-1999. His employment there afforded him the opportunity to learn about excellent customer service and the art of patience to deal effectively and professionally with all different types of hungry people. Upon graduation from FAU and from 2000-2003 he served as a project manager for Fast-Dry Courts, along with his brother, David, to professionally resurface Har-Tru courts throughout south Florida. During this same period, Todd served as the maintenance account manager for Fast-Dry Courts and was influential in further securing long-term relationships with clients for whom FDC built Har-Tru tennis courts. After a snowboarding injury in 2003 forced Todd to take an "office job" within FDC, he learned about hard court construction and resurfacing. Todd headed up the hard court resurfacing segment of the business for his south Florida territory and was in charge of the entire customer engagement process from sales to project management to project completion. With the help of Frank Froehling handling sales in northern Florida counties and with guidance from his father, Stephen Dettor, Todd helped develop this segment of FDC's business model which has proven to be a critical component in revenue growth in recent years. In 2010, Todd founded a new company, Tennclosure Fence Systems, LLC, which acts as the company that develops, markets and installs a patent pending retractable fence system, Tennclosure®, for tennis courts and other applications. Todd graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Sculpture in April 1999. Todd is a Florida State Licensed General Contractor (CGC-1518034) and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) since 2018. He currently serves as the President of the Courts Division.

Brian Dillman

CEO

RSPA

Rafael Filippini

Founder & CEO

Gearbox Sports

Rafael Filippini is the founder and CEO of Gearbox Sports. A composites expert with over 30 years in the industry, Rafael’s journey began in racquetball, where he excelled as an athlete on the pro tour and engineered leading racquetball racquets and accessories. His passion for racquet and paddle sports has driven him to innovate relentlessly, challenging norms and pushing the boundaries of what players expect from their gear. As the driving force behind Gearbox, Rafael's patented technologies have transformed the sport of pickleball, redefining consumer expectations in paddle design. Since its inception in 2007, Gearbox has remained at the forefront of sports technology, providing cutting-edge products in racquetball, pickleball, paddleball, and squash.

Jonathan Fralick

VP of Racquet Sports

Invited Clubs

Tim Gerrits

Executive Vice President

GMB Architecture

Tim Gerrits leads the Sports practice at GMB, with an emphasis on turf fields and tennis facility design. He has combined his background in landscape architecture and planning with a passion for sports and competition. With over 25 years of experience, he’s helped design over 45 tennis facilities, including over 175 post-tensioned courts.

Matt Grayson

Athletic Director

Ansley Golf Club

Ansley Golf Club’s Athletic/ Director of Tennis, Matt Grayson, played most of his tennisncareer in Texas, but his family members are native Georgians. He is a graduate fromnBaylor University (1994) with degrees in Business Broadcasting and marketing. Whilenattending school, he played tennis as a walk on and played men’s volleyball for thenuniversity for two years as well. As a summer job, he played on the Jose Cuervo BeachnVolleyball Tour. This was a two-on-two professional beach volleyball tour in Florida. Matt has spent his entire teaching career in the Atlanta area. He began as an assistant tennis professional at Atlanta Country Club and Atlanta Athletic Club and then moved to Laurel Springs as the head tennis professional in 1997. In 2003, Matt joined the CountrynClub of Roswell staff as the head tennis professional and moved into the director role in 2004. In 2009, Matt restructured the club’s management and took over as the Director of Racquets and Athletics. As of 2012, he now coordinates the tennis, fitness, aquatic and youth care programs at the Ansley Golf Club in mid-town Atlanta. Matt is certified with the United States Professional Tennis Association as an Elite Professional and has served on many boards and committees on the local and southern levels. Matt was honored as the Head Professional of the Year 1999-2002 by the GeorgianProfessional Tennis Association and as the Southern Professional of the Year by the USPTA in 2013. He manages the Ansley Golf Club’s annual pro-am that received the USPTA’s National Charity Event of the Year in 2012 and it raises over $200,000 a year annually for local charities. He has made presentations at the Southern and National levelnon club management and on-court strategies. Matt joined the Wilson Speakers Bureau innJanuary of 2012.

Gordon Kaye

Chief Experience Officer

Joola

Meindert Kooistra

Founder

Squash Retreats

Meindert Kooistra is the founder of Squash Retreats, creating unique experiences that combine world-class destinations with coaching by squash champions and access to prestigious PSA tournaments. He also founded the Global Squash Series, an international graded squash tour that connects players of all levels worldwide, with events across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. Additionally, Meindert co-founded Prestige Tennis Retreats, offering luxury tennis experiences that feature major tournaments, tennis legends, upscale accommodations, fine dining, and meaningful time on and off the court with Grand Slam champions.

Kyle LaCroix

Chief Education Officer

SETS

Kyle LaCroix is a renowned leader in the racquets industry with over 25 years of experience in racquet sports industry, player and coach advancement. A RSPA Master Professional, RacketPro Global Master Professional and Chief Education Officer of SETS Consulting, he has certified and mentored over 1,700 coaches worldwide, reinvesting more than $250,000 into professional education for his clients since 2022.nnA decorated industry veteran, Kyle has earned accolades such as the USPTA National Tester of the Year Award and the Florida Division Industry Excellence Award. In 2024 he was recognized by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine as the RSPA Member of The Year. He holds degrees from Ferris State University (B.S.), the University of Michigan (MBA), and Stanford University (M.Ed.), bringing unmatched expertise to the future of racquet sports education for industry professionalsnn

David LaSota

Founder

The Tennis Design Studio

David has provided over 6,000 communities and facility owners with tennis related planning, design and construction guidance. With over 30 years of tennis specific experience, David has an extensive background working with both new construction and court rehabilitation for public, private, collegiate, training, and tournament tennis facilities and large regional complexes.nnDavid is a licensed professional engineer in several states in the US. For over fifteen years, David served as the National Technical Consultant to the United States Tennis Association, where he also assisted in the development of standards for 36 foot and 60 foot tennis courts. David has been contracted to assist in the design of the USTA National Campus, The Home of American Tennis, located in Orlando, Florida, and the competition courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open in New York City, the Miami Open and numerous other major tournament venues.nnDavid has served as the chairman of the Joint Editorial Board for the industry publication, Tennis Courts: Construction and Maintenance Manual, and has contributed to the past five editions. For seven years, he served as a member of the Technical Commission of the International Tennis Federation and has been awarded the Tennis Industry Service Award by Tennis Industry Magazine for his extensive contribution to the industry.

Dominique Lemperle

Advisor

National Pickleball Task Force for RSPA

Dominique Lemperle was born and raised in Germany. She was recruited to play college tennis at the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduated with a master's degree in journalism and then worked as a statistician and graphics specialist in the TV industry for about 10 years, representing IBM at all 4 Grand Slams. She spent the next 10 years of her career in the club racquets industry, first as head tennis and pickleball pro at a Platinum Club, then promoted to Director of Racquets at a country club and recruited to be Director of Programming and Instruction at a corporate indoor pickleball club, called The Pickleball Club in Sarasota, FL, which went bankrupt in December of 2024.nnShe serves as on the National Pickleball Task Force for RSPA, regularly writes articles for RSI magazine and also leads a team of six pickleball coach developers for RSPA Florida.nToday she is here to tell us lessons from the trenches at the Pickleball Club and how we can learn from its failures.

Eric Loftus

Partner

Cape & Island Tennis & Track

Eric is the founder of Small Business Abundance, a consulting company in Falmouth, and the Vice President of Business Development for Cape and Island Tennis & Track, an award- winning sports construction company located in Pocasset. He has been involved with many different volunteer organizations and has been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2003. Eric believes very strongly in giving kids every opportunity to enjoy a healthy and happy start in life. He grew up on the Cape, graduated from Elon University in 1999, and moved back to the area in 2011 to raise a family. He lives in Falmouth with his wife and two children.

Tito Machado

CEO

DUPR

Tito is the CEO of DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the largest platform in pickleball with over one million users. Under his leadership, DUPR has become the leading global rating system and the official home of pickleball’s College and High School Tours, fostering growth and competition at all levels.n

Robert Mazzucchelli

Chairman & CMO

SportsEdTV

Robert has worked in sports, brand building and media for over thirty-five years. His passion for sports started as a young boy with baseball and hockey. Tennis took over as his favorite sport at age twelve, and he eventually earned a scholarship to play tennis the University of Richmond. He tried his hand at playing professionally for a few years, and in 1987 started his first sports marketing company, Pinnacle Promotions with a lifelong friend (and tennis playing buddy). At Pinnacle he created and managed many sports-related events and marketing campaigns for some very big brands, and was a pioneer in helping companies take a more business-driving approach to sponsorship. In 1993, he headed to advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi Holdings (which became Cordiant Communications Group), where he co-founded marketing agency 141 Worldwide, which grew to have over $200 million in revenue in six years. After helping 141 Worldwide grow to serve clients in over fifty countries, he headed to sports and entertainment giant SFX Entertainment (now called Live Nation), where he led the executive team creating global brand sponsorship alliances with major global brands. In 2017, he co-founded SportsEdTV and is again engaged in sports and media, helping people across the world learn to be better at their favorite sports. Robert also remains active in brand consulting, recently creating a special workshop for racquet sports professionals looking to gain a edge through stronger branding.

Scott McCulloch

President & Chief Operating Officer

Cliff Drysdale Tennis

With over 25 years of experience as a nationally ranked player, coach, director and executive in the racquet sports industry, Scott McCulloch brings unparalleled expertise and passion to his role as President and COO of Cliff Drysdale Tennis. Scott has honed his skills as an operations, programming and business development expert for over 17 years while leading the company domestically and internationally. nnA dynamic leader and keynote speaker, Scott is widely regarded as an industry innovator with a forward-thinking approach to the evolving world of racquet sports. With extensive experience in private clubs, resorts, residential communities and public facilities, Scott’s strategic vision and deep operational knowledge have made him a trusted advisor and thought leader in the field. nScott is also an active board and committee member, leveraging his insights and expertise to shape the future of the industry. Whether speaking at conferences or driving growth from within, Scott’s commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire teams set him apart as a transformative force in racquet sports.

Patricio Misitrano

Founder & CEO

Misitrano Consulting

Patricio Misitrano is the founder of Misitrano Consulting, a leading authority in padel and pickleball consulting. With over 20 years of experience as a Racquet Sports Director and Professional, Patricio is a recognized expert in the racquet sports industry. His innovative approach and deep knowledge have positioned Misitrano Consulting as a trusted advisor to clubs and organizations worldwide.nnPatricio is also the founder of The Sports Haus, an indoor club in Norwalk, featuring 5 padel courts and 4 pickleball courts. This was the first club in New England open to the public offering these sports. He is a proud member of the United States Padel Association National Teams Committee and a member of the US National Padel Team, further solidifying his commitment to the growth and development of padel in the U.S.

Peter Nicol

Co-Founder + Master Coach

Nicol

Squash World Champion and former World #1 for 5 years, Peter fell in love with many sports from a young age, with squash taking the lead for his pro career. Upon retiring from the pro circuit Peter started his eponymous junior squash program, developing young players into lifelong athletes through to professional players.nnAlongside his business partner and wife Jess, Nicol has opened multiple squash facilities, serving both kids and adults, with the goal of getting more people on any type of court. Nicol's model is public, accessible, with world class coaching. Nicol NYC is squash, fitness + bar; Nicol NJ is squash, pickleball, padel, bar + physical therapy. Nicol is actively expanding within the multi-sport space.nnOriginally from Scotland, Peter lives in downtown Manhattan with his wife, soccer-obsessed son, and dog.

Rob Oosterhuis

General Manager/COO

Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club

Brock Orlowski

Director of Racquet Sports

Fort Wayne Country Club

Brock Orlowski is the Director of Racquet Sports at Fort Wayne Country Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Brock is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a graduate of Kuyper College, holds an MBA from Indiana Tech, and a graduate certificate from the University of Florida's Director of Racquet Sports program. Brock is also one of less than 60 people who are certified Directors of Racquet Sports with the RSPA and PTR.nnBrock is RSPA certified as an elite tennis professional, padel professional and pickleball professional. He is also a Professional Pickleball Registry and RacketPro certified pickleball professional and is a certified padel professional with Padel MBA.nnPrior to being at FWCC, Brock was the Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach and Athletics Operations Manager at Indiana Tech, Assistant Coach of Women's Tennis at Huntington University, a tennis professional at Empowered Sports Club, and was the Head Girls' Tennis Coach at Blackhawk Christian High School and Head Boy's Tennis Coach at New Haven High School.nnBrock was named the 2023 RSPA Indiana Professional of the Year and currently serves on the RSPA Midwest Board. Brock is a proud member of the Directors’ Club of America and client of SETS Consulting.nnBrock is married to his wife, Abby, and they have five children.

Renato Paiva

Executive Director at Access Youth Academy

Access Youth Academy

Renato Paiva has been a pivotal force in the world of squash and youth development, serving as the Executive Director of Access Youth Academy since its inception. Over the past 19 years, Renato has led Access to remarkable achievements, establishing it as one of the premier urban squash and youth development programs in the world. Under his leadership, Access students have achieved a 100% college graduation rate, secured over $15 million in scholarships, and won 13 national squash titles. Renato was instrumental in the design and construction of a state-of-the-art education and squash facility in a federally designated Promise Zone in Southeastern San Diego, which opened in June 2021.nnA native of Brazil, Renato's passion for squash propelled him to become an internationally ranked player, competing across several countries. Before his tenure at Access, Renato honed his coaching skills at prestigious institutions, including Squash Coach at Harvard University and Head Coach at USC. His exceptional coaching abilities were recognized when he was named Development Coach of the Year by U.S. Squash in 2010 and honored as Coach of the Year by the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports in Washington, DC, in 2011.nnIn addition to his role at Access Youth Academy, Renato serves as a board member at the Panamerican Squash Federation and the PSA Foundation, where he continues to influence the sport's growth and development on a global scale. His dedication to both the sport and the holistic development of young athletes underscores his commitment to making a lasting impact in the community.

Trey Poerschke

Founder

Winners Only

Tennis Content creator and new tennis player highlighting his journey with the sport on Youtube, while highlighting recreational tennis and showing the coolest courts around the world.

Rachele Pojednic

Director of Scientific Research

Restore Hyper Wellness

Dr. Rachele Pojednic is an international authority on nutrition, supplementation and physical activity interventions for muscle physiology, performance and recovery. She received her PhD from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.nnIn addition to serving as Restore’s Director of Scientific Research and Education, she has a faculty appointment at Stanford University and holds research appointments at The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute. She has received NIH research funding from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VBRN), an NIH IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Is Medicine® initiative. nnDr. Pojednic has been an active fitness professional for over 20 years as a nutrition educator and coach for Olympic, Division I sports, and tactical athletes. She has a passion for science communication and is regularly featured in outlets such as NPR, Sirius Doctor Radio, Time, the Wall Street Journal, STAT News, Popular Science, Self, Shape, Women’s Health, Forbes, and Runners World.

Amanda Potter

Founder

Ballers

Amanda Potter is the founder and owner of Good City Studio, a Philadelphia-based design and strategy firm specializing in hospitality, private clubs and wellness, as well as the co-founder and Creative Director of Ballers, a new racquets-forward social sports and hospitality venue launching this spring in Philadelphia with the backing of sports giants Andre Agassi and Kim Clijsters, among others.nnTrained as an architect, Amanda’s nearly twenty year career has spanned concept creation, business strategy, interior design, creative direction, branding and project execution, with her early work in New York including wellness and hospitality giant Equinox, where she served as Director of Planning, overseeing design across new locations. While collaborating on Equinox Hotels, Amanda met her now life and business partner David Gutstadt. Later, the duo went on to launch the award-winning private members club, Fitler Club, in Philadelphia, where they currently reside and are opening the first Ballers location. The 50,000 sq-ft flagship will open in the city’s historic Battery, a breathtaking 100-year-old power plant, with a pipeline of twenty Ballers locations over the next five years in key US markets such as Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago.

Ryan Redondo

CEO

Taktika Padel

Ryan Redondo was born into the racquet sports industry, hailing from a large tennis family in San Diego, California. Growing up with a father who was a division 1 head coach and several professional tennis players in his family, Ryan followed the tennis path competing for the United States as a junior player, competing across the globe. Ryan started his racquet career as a collegiate tennis assistant coach at San Diego State University followed by nearly a decade as the director of tennis and head men's tennis coach at the University of the Pacific. While at Pacific, Ryan was instrumental in the development of the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center, a $5 million dollar 12 court facility consisting of a restaurant, locker rooms, training room and offices and bringing the first ever ATP and WTA challengers to the city of Stockton. In 2020, Ryan entered the non-profit space and became the CEO of Youth Tennis San Diego, a 501c3 that serves over 12,000+ youth in the City of San Diego. Youth Tennis San Diego is also the owner and operator of the award winning Barnes Tennis Center. While re-energizing the organization, Ryan was able to add millions of dollars in capital improvements that have led to the construction of 19 pickleball courts, 7 padel courts, and a dedicated performance and rehab center and more, being named the Facility of the Year by the USTA in 2021. Additionally, Ryan helped lead the charge to bring the first ever ATP Tour 250 event to the city of San Diego and leads the WTA 500 San Diego Open as the Tournament Director. On top of that, Ryan oversees the development of nearly 60 outreach programs throughout the city of San Diego providing free to low-cost tennis and educational assistance programs on school black tops and park and recreation centers. Most recently, Ryan has been charged with the development of Padel on the west coast, pioneering the growth of the sport as the CEO of Taktika Racquet Sports. Ryan has been instrumental in the partnership and development of the three current Taktika sites consisting of Taktika San Diego's 7 courts, Taktika Carson in partnership with AEG and the MLS LA Galaxy 4 courts, and the most recent partnership with the first ever collegiate Padel facility at the division 1, University of the Pacific. Taktika, initially a Padel only company has added Pickleball to its programming and has added 8 Pickleball courts in Carson and 8 designated pickleball courts at Pacific. Ryan has stamped his legacy as being the first to have have developed a designated tennis, padel, and pickleball center on a US collegiate campus. In conjunction with his partnership and CEO role of Taktika, Ryan is also a partner and CEO of the San Diego Stingrays, a franchise in the Pro Padel League, the first professional padel league in North America. Ryan graduated with honors from San Diego State University with a degree in Religious Studies and holds a certificate from Cornel University in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an Organizational Leadership certificate from Harvard Online Business School. Ryan has three children and resides in San Diego, California.

Will Richards

Founder & CEO

Dill Dinkers

Will is an Air Force veteran and has 40 years of experience in management. After leaving the Air Force he embarked on a road to get his undergraduate education but was side-tracked into a career at Domino’s Pizza. He rose through the ranks at the company and was part of Dominos Pizza rapid growth throughout the late 80s and early 90s. He later became an area Franchisee with the company. After transitioning away from Pizza in 2000 he became involved in IT and logistics serving in various management roles until finally getting into the world of non-profits - helping people with disabilities find meaningful employment for over 14 years. After developing an interest in Pickleball, Will and his wife Denise started Dill Dinkers in March of 2022. The first location opened in Nov 2022 and has since doubled in size. Using experience from his days at Dominos Pizza with rapid growth the company will have 5 locations open within a year. Due to the success of the Dill Dinkers business model, the team decided to partner with Franchise Well and developed the current franchise concept. Since the launch of their nationwide franchise program last September, Dill Dinkers has signed 25 developers in Texas, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Connecticut, South Carolina, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for over 400 committed locations. Dill Dinkers expects to sign 10 or more developers in 2025 and open 20-30 new clubs.

Dan Santorum

CEO

Racketpro

Dan Santorum is an experienced and innovative Chief Executive Officer with a proven track record in the racquets industry. Appointed as the first CEO of Racketpro in August 2024, Dan brings expertise in Association Management, Membership Management, Coaching, and Program Development. He leads the team dedicated to creating the world’s leading racquet sports coaching platform. An International Master Professional, Dan has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, earning a global reputation as a visionary, leader, and educator. He was the 2023 RSI Pickleball Executive of the Year. Before taking the helm at Racketpro, Dan spent nearly 40 years building PTR/PPR into industry leaders. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the University of Florida.

Carl Schmidt

Chief Technology Officer & Director of Manufacturing and Paddle Testing at USA Pickleball

USA Pickleball

Strategic executive with 20+ years experience in technology leadership, business development and marketing functions with international / global scope in ICT, including silicon, systems, software and services. Entrepreneurial background with start-up and multi-cultural experience. Racquets/health industry experience as pro competitor, business leader and technology innovator. Lived and led teams in France, Finland, England with global and EMEA remits, and USA with a global remit. Technology speakerships/keynotes with notable EMEA research centers/ polytechnics, including Helsinki Aalto University, IBM Zurich Research Lab, Russian Ministry of Science, Poland Academy of Sciences , UAE Higher Colleges of Technology, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. Former Open level racquetball competitor and certified instructor; currently USA Pickleball Association 5.0 rated and a Level II certified professional pickleball instructor.nnSpecialties: International sales and marketing leadership, sports management, key account acquisition/development/management; business development, entrepreneurship, press relations, keynote presenter, high performance computing (HPC), mobile technologies, communications, telecommunications, software, robotics, renewables, contract negotiations, coaching

Andrew Sokolsky

Sr. Vice President & Co-Head, Sports & Entertainment

Brand Innovators

Andrew built his career with a wide range of brand, agency, and talent relationships. His career started at Robert F. X. Sillerman startup venture where he engrained himself into the brand marketing and talent representation world. Throughout his career, Andrew has held senior level business development roles with various startups within the sports marketing industry. In 2016, Andrew joined Epic Sports helping drive key strategic partnerships with various notable athletes/brands within the ATP & WTA Tours while also leading as an executive producer of Desert Smash™, which brings together Hollywood and professional tennis for charity.

Ed Starr

Managing Partner

BMF

Ed Starr is the Managing Partner of BMF, an award-winning global integrated creative marketing agency with expertise in brand strategy, experiential, digital, influencer, talent, and lifestyle PR.nnWe conceptualize and execute multi-channel programs that earn attention from key opinion leaders, engage with our clients' target audiences, and create unforgettable brand experiences with lasting impact. We do this for brands who seek to have a meaningful role in the current cultural conversation.n nLast year, with teams working around the world, BMF produced 350 programs of which 50 were in 19 countries outside the US. Each of the programs we develop are unique — the red thread is our commitment to delivering ROI by humanizing brands in unexpected and impactful ways that are made to inspire.nnEd is a massive tennis fan and has dreams of becoming a 5.0 player

Fred Stringfellow

Executive Vice President

American Sports Builders Association

Rachel Stuhlmann

Tennis & Pickleball Content Creator and Correspondent

Freelance

Rachel is a dynamic force in the tennis industry, seamlessly transitioning from high-level player to multimedia mogul. With a passion for making tennis more mainstream and accessible, she has built an impressive career as a digital media host, tournament ambassador, commentator, published writer, and marketing strategist.nnHer expertise spans media, sponsorships, partnerships, and event coordination, making her a sought-after voice in the sport. As an ATP/WTA media member and USPTA-certified coach with nearly a decade of experience, Rachel combines deep industry knowledge with a fresh, engaging approach.nnThrough her global tournament coverage, brand collaborations, and social media presence, she continues to break barriers, redefining tennis as an exciting and inclusive sport for all.

Ryan Sweeney

Technical GTM Executive

The Inner Game of Tennis

Lindsey Vermillion

Pickleball Partnerships Coordinator

Chicken N Pickle

Florida native Lindsey Vermillion joined the Chicken N Pickle team in 2021 as the company’s first Pickleball Partnerships Coordinator. Lindsey was a Sport Business major and Division 1 collegiate tennis player at Stetson University, and upon graduation, moved to Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL where she served as a tennis and pickleball teaching pro and later as the Racquet Club’s Assistant General Manager. nnAt Chicken N Pickle, Lindsey coordinates high-profile relationships between the company and pickleball communities, leading Chicken N Pickle-hosted initiatives with the APP NextGen and Collegiate Series, National Pickleball League, and National Junior Pickleball. She also leads relationships with the PPA tour, Major League Pickleball among other Pickleball tours, camps and companies. She has been instrumental in Chicken N Pickle’s partnership with the Special Olympics and its adaptive pickleball programs, which are now offered at all eleven of the company’s locations. nnAdditionally, Lindsey oversees and fosters relationships with Chicken N Pickle’s Sponsored Pro team and Ambassador Program, comprising more than 175 athletes from across the country.

Rich Wade

Director of Squash & Padel

The Philadelphia Cricket Club

Rich Wade is an accomplished racquet sports professional with over a decade of experience in coaching, development, and leadership. He holds a BA in Sport & Recreational Management from Leeds Beckett University in England and has earned multiple certifications, including UKCC Level 3 Squash Coach and Level 1 Racquetball Coach, US Squash Level 3 Tutor, PadelMBA Level 2, and Coach Developer certification from the Racquet Sport Professional Association (Squash).nnCurrently serving as the Director of Squash & Padel at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rich oversees the growth and development of these sports within the prestigious club. Previously, he held the role of Senior Director of National Teams & Coach/Officiating Certification at US Squash, where he contributed to the advancement of national teams and professional coaching standards.nnWith a deep commitment to racquet sports, Rich continues to shape the future of squash and padel, combining his expertise as a coach and leader to foster talent and elevate the sports globally.

Ian Westermann

Founder

Essential Tennis

Ian Westermann is a passionate, lifelong tennis coach with over 25 years of experience helping everyday tennis players reach their goals. A pioneer in online tennis learning, Ian launched the first ever tennis instruction podcast in 2008 (the "Essential Tennis Podcast") and began his YouTube channel in 2009 which now has over 300,000 subscribers, 90 million views, and 2,000 videos. He has dedicated his career to creating the most helpful, game transforming digital tennis instruction in the world and now has over 20,000 students in his paid, online coaching programs who play in 137 countries around the world. He’s also the author of the third best selling tennis coaching book on Amazon titled: “Essential Tennis - Improve Faster, Play Smarter, and Win More Matches”.nnAs a player, Ian attended and graduated from the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University which works in partnership with the United States Professional Tennis Association to certify aspiring teaching professionals and other tennis industry leaders. While there, Ian walked on to the nationally ranked men’s tennis team as a sophomore and played three seasons of singles and doubles. He achieved a national doubles ranking of 14th in NCAA Division 2 competition his second year of play.nnIan lives with his wife of 20 years, Alison, outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with their 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son on a small hobby farm. The three cows, three horses, 50 chickens and 5 barn cats keep them busy, entertained and well fe

Marcos del Pilar

Co-Founder & Fmr. CEO & Commissioner

Pro Padel League

Marcos del Pilar is a very successful serial entrepreneur and businessman as well as a Padel pioneer. He is an award-winning Global Padel Consultant, renowned speaker, and Master Teaching Professional. His determination, commitment, hard work, and powerful network have made Marcos become one of the most influential and important figures in the development of Padel in the United States since 2017. His continuous successes and great advances for the sport in these 9 years have made him known as The Godfather of Padel in the United States. He has also been recognized as Top #3 of the “Top 50 Most Influential Persons in the New Padel World” by international media.nnAmong other great milestones, he is the Fmr. USPA President and key leader behind the first ever Padel World Championship in the USA (2022) and he is proud Co-founder and Fmr. CEO & Commissioner of the worldwide known PRO PADEL LEAGUE.nnHe is a key piece for some of the most important Venture Capitals and Investment Groups involved in Padel in the world and cornerstone of most of the Padel projects in the United States.nnHis extensive and renowned experience in Management, Marketing and Sales, make him one of the most valued Padel Consultants all over the globe.nn nnDel Pilar has a true vocation for coaching, and he runs one of the most important projects in Padel Education in America with more than 800 coaches certified.nnMarcos has a clear vision to build a better world through Padel and Racquet Sports. With that in mind, he left his successful business in Europe to fully dedicate himself to what is his mission in life: to grow Padel in North America while creating opportunities for others.nn nnHe definitely has a very special talent to get the world inspired around him with his beginner’s mentality, disruption, creativity, and evolved business vision.nnHe is a giver, and generosity runs through his veins. He is a true encourager, joy-spreader, speaker, team builder, and Padel business growth strategist that enjoys making people’s lives better with “the magic of Padel”.