ERSA Pro Stringer Magazine Issue 8-2018 prostringer8-18 web | Page 14

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Parkkonen Promoted to Chief Operating Officer for PTR
Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) announced that Brian Parkkonen has been promoted to Chief Operat-
ing Officer. As COO, Parkkonen will oversee organizational development and staff collaboration. His main
priorities will be to ensure the highest quality standards are in place and upheld creating a unified and ef-
ficient approach to the overall member experience.
“Brian has done a stellar job during his tenure at PTR,” said CEO, Dan Santorum. “Moving forward, tech-
nology, education and our delivery system will be key components. Brian has the knowledge and experi-
ence in this area to help PTR continue to grow and improve.”
Parkkonen, who joined the PTR staff in May 2014, has had a series of promotions during his tenure. Prior
to his new post as COO, Parkkonen served as Director of Education, where he was responsible for the
direction and content of the organization’s four education pathways to certification, as well as Level 3 Spe-
cialist and Master of Tennis programs. In addition, he developed new courses and opportunities, including
PTR’s Education Dashboard that provides hundreds of hours of free online video presentations, and was a
key player in the evolution of the PTR Coach App. Working with Sarah Ansboury, Parkkonen was also in-
strumental in the organization’s new PPR pickleball certification curriculum, workshop preparation materials
and clinician training. Parkkonen started at PTR as Director of Development where he oversaw the delivery
of PTR education and managed scores of clinicians across the United States. Before leading the clinicians,
he was one himself.
Parkkonen’s evolution in the organization began long before he joined the staff. Coincidentally, he started
his career as Head Pro and Director of College Placement at the Van der Meer World Class Academy
(Dennis Van der Meer founded PTR), before going on to serve as director of some of the largest public and
private clubs in the country.
Tennis Channel to Launch New Series 'The Ten'
Tennis Channel will debut the original series The Tenon Sunday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. ET. The count-
down show highlights a different debate-spurring list each week, and begins with The Ten: Men, an
episode dedicated to ranking the 10 best men’s tennis players of all time. The first season of The
Ten will feature eight hour-long episodes with a new countdown for viewers to discuss and debate
each week.
Jason Biggs (American Pie, Orange Is the New Black), will reveal The Ten lists over the course
of the season as Tennis Channel ranks the sport’s greatest, most exciting, and most controversial
players and moments. The first season’s lists will include, The Ten: Women, The Ten: Seasons,
The Ten: Hotheads, The Ten: Upsets and The Ten: Rivalries. Where do John McEnroe and Jimmy
Connors rank on the list of all-time hotheads? Does any rivalry beat Chris Evert and Martina
Navratilova? Who had the greatest tennis year of all time? If Robin Soderling’s 2009 defeat of
four-time defending French Open champion Rafael Nadal is not the greatest upset in history, what
is? Viewers can find previews and join the debate online at Tennis Channel’s website, TENNIS.
com, and on social media by using #TennisChannelTen. Full episodes will also be available on the
network’s app, as well as its digital subscription service Tennis Channel Plus.
“The Ten brings the never-ending debates from sports bars, tennis courts and living rooms to Ten-
nis Channel,” said John MacDonald, senior vice president, programming. “We’re excited to give
fans the opportunity to rank their favorites against Tennis Channel in this new multiplatform series.”
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ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 8-2018