From the Chairman
U
by ROBERT QUICKSILVER
USA PICKLEBALL BOARD CHAIRMAN
USA Pickleball has had a great start to 2025 , including our first Golden Ticket tournament of the year and learn-to-play clinic held in January in San Diego . As we look ahead to April , which is National Pickleball Month , we have many exciting events planned , including a celebration of the one-year anniversary of USA Pickleball Serves .
As you know , the mission of USA Pickleball is to promote the sport of pickleball . Consequently , we were thrilled when the Sports and Fitness Industry Association ( SFIA ) recently announced that pickleball was not only the fastest-growing sport in the U . S . for the fourth consecutive year , but also saw a growth rate of 45.8 % in 2024 . Wow ! According to SFIA , the total number of pickleball participants in the U . S . is now nearly 20 million . Thanks to those of you whose efforts , particularly at the local level , have contributed to this extraordinary growth .
USA Pickleball Serves , the charitable arm of USA Pickleball , was created in March 2024 to uplift and impact local communities through pickleball . USA Pickleball Serves ’ commitment is to make a positive impact through the sport by supporting community initiatives such as court enhancements , educational youth programming , and inclusive play .
We are thrilled with the expansive impact our foundation has already had across the country . In its first year of existence , USA Pickleball Serves announced 51 awardees in its inaugural “ Grow the Game ” grant program , which provides essential equipment and resources to community organizations and schools . These grants are expected to impact an estimated 192,000 individuals .
National Pickleball Month is a time to celebrate the supportive and inclusive community that pickleball is so proud to offer . During April , there will be several USA Pickleball Serves initiatives , including staff-led clinics , outreach events , and more ! Further , in celebration of National Pickleball Month , USA Pickleball is offering a unique opportunity to sanction a variety of events — clinics , tournaments and even pickleball parties — free of charge ! With more than 100 events having already registered , make sure to sign up for one in your community .
As you know , two of our five USA Pickleball Golden Ticket tournaments will soon be held right in our backyard in Arizona . First up is Tucson , which will run from March 26-30 at the Kino Sports Complex South . Then , a few weeks later , Mesa will host a USA Pickleball Golden Ticket tournament from April 9-13 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds , which hosted our National Championships last year . Golden Ticket tournaments provide the only path for amateur players to compete in the USA Pickleball National Championships in November .
With so many exciting things on the horizon , USA Pickleball remains committed to continuing to grow the game and fostering lasting connections among players , supporters , and communities across the nation .
We cannot wait to see what else this year has in store !
2025 USA PICKLEBALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD CHAIRMAN Robert Quicksilver
BOARD VICE CHAIR Suzanne Guerin
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Philip Bullen Mark Fabbro Andrew Feffer Bob Franceschelli
Ernie Medina Stephanie Russell Tori Stevens
USA PICKLEBALL STAFF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mike Nealy
CHIEF COMPETITION OFFICER Justin Maloof
CHIEF MARKETING & STRATEGY OFFICER Jose Moreno
CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER Carl Schmits
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMPETITION Steve Wong
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & SERVICE
Chris Zukas
VICE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL EVENTS Luke Underwood
VICE PRESIDENT & CONTROLLER Rose James
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS Christian Portaro
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS
Lance Cowart
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Gail Avisar
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Julie Atherton
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING Tom Tadler
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & PR Jennifer Rogers
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS & STRATEGIC PROJECTS
Ashley VanOchten
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS Brenda Puga
DIRECTOR OF TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS Craig Haas
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP ACTIVATION Nick Salute
DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL AND COLLEGIATE ENGAGEMENT
Hana Papaco
DIRECTOR OF TOURNAMENT AND MEMBER EXPERIENCE
Drew Thomas
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Jon Lampe
CREATIVE LEAD Lisa Curran
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