2017 USAPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT David Jordan
VICE PRESIDENT Jack Thomas
SECRETARY Laura Patterson
TREASURER Darryl Noble
BOARD MEMBERS ( COMMITTEES )
AMBASSADORS Carrie Jermstad
COMMUNICATIONS Bob Nibarger
GRANTS Ray Pereyra
RATINGS Chris Thomas
TRAINING Pat Murphy
LEGAL COUNSEL , GRIEVANCE Phil Mortenson
NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Mark Friedenberg
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Justin Maloof
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COMPETITION Christine Barksdale
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS Drew Wathey
BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Gartlan
FROM THE PRESIDENT
For the past four months , my wife , Nancy , and I have been on the road in our motorhome visiting the eastern part of the United States . Our 6,000-mile-plus trip took us to Texas to visit family ; Atlanta , Georgia , where we put on the first St . Jude National Indoor Classic ; and then over to Birmingham , Alabama , to help Tom Burkhart with the pickleball tournament for the National Senior Games and its ’ 900 + players . On the way , we teamed up with Roger and Jen Workman traveling together while helping with these
USAPA PRESIDENT DAVE JORDAN two tournaments . Birmingham was a tremendous success because of all the wonderful help from a lot of great people . It is this kind of support that prevails everywhere we go and it is what makes pickleball so special .
Our next stop was Memphis , Tennessee , and a visit to St . Jude ’ s Children ’ s Research Hospital , to see what magnificent work they do there . They were our host for the USAPA Board ’ s annual retreat — three days of intense meetings for goal setting , strategic planning and development of a new focus for the organization . In the coming months , we will be sharing how we are moving from a working board to an advisory board with a staff-driven organization format . With all of these changes just over the horizon , it ’ s an especially exciting time for pickleball and the USAPA .
We also attended the Great Lakes Regional Tournament in Kalamazoo , Michigan , a demonstration at the AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit , and the National State Games in Grand Rapids .
This summer the USAPA also teamed up with IPTPA in the development of the Pickleball Hall of Fame Foundation , an independent foundation whose goal will be to honor those individuals who have made pickleball such a phenomenal experience for all who participate . We ’ ll have more to announce on that development and this year ’ s honorees at the official presentation at the National Championships .
During our travels , I ’ m often asked what makes pickleball such a popular sport , and , as I have said many times , it ’ s the people and the passion they have for the sport — something we see everywhere we go . But let ’ s not take this popularity for granted . It will continue to take a lot of challenging work and dedication by all to keep pickleball ’ s positive momentum going into the future . Your USAPA board , staff and network of ambassadors will continue to promote the growth of this fantastic sport . Join us on this great journey .
From our court to yours , keeping the fun going !
FROM THE USAPA
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER2017 | MAGAZINE 7