2020 USAPA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Phil Mortenson
VICE CHAIRMAN
Laura Patterson
TREASURER
Joe Santoro
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
AMBASSADORS
Suzanne Guerin
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS &
MARKETING
Stacie Townsend
MARKETING
Bob Franceschelli
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
Robert Quicksilver
RECREATION & WELLNESS
Ernie Medina
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Philip Bullen
STAFF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Justin Maloof
MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF COMPETITION
Karen Parrish
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
George Bauernfeind
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
Linda Gartlan
DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL
PROGRAMS
Hope Tolley
DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING
Mark Peifer
DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES
Nikki Greene
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Dan Ellsworth
DIRECTOR OF AMBASSADORS
Claudia Fontana
DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT
STANDARDS
Carl Schmits
DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT
COMPLIANCE
Donn Paben
By Phil Mortenson
USAPA CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
CHAIRMAN OF THE
BOARD MESSAGE
New Opportunities Ahead
All of us have experienced degrees of upheaval in our pickleball
and personal lives as we try to cope with the coronavirus. We are
confronted with swiftly changing information and proclamations and
we are under considerably more stress than usual.
I have been inspired by how the pickleball community has positively
responded to this anxiety-creating global pandemic. Our USAPA board, staff and
ambassadors are keeping very busy despite some logistical challenges. We focus on
supporting our loyal members and meeting your needs while doing our best to give
sound, current advice on the status of pickleball tournaments that had previously
been scheduled and providing guidance on a possible safe return to pickleball play.
We are actively monitoring and managing our current financial situation as best we
can, given the uncertainty of timing and location throughout the country of a gradual
return to “normalcy.” In the meantime, most of our sources of revenue have been
significantly reduced or even temporarily halted, such as sanctioning fees, product
sales, and the operation of the Indoor Nationals that has been postponed to 2021.
We appreciate all of you who continue to support this sport with your membership
renewals.
During this forced hiatus, the staff has been hard at work creating a program that
targets three key pickleball community audiences with added benefits for members,
tournaments (including participants and directors), and the pickleball community. A
very big thank you goes out to all of the USAPA sponsors who have stepped up in a big
way to partner with us in providing significant, value-added benefits. Please visit our
website to see all the participating sponsors and further details.
We anticipate opening up pickleball play in phases, with different offerings and
programs ramping up at different times and places. It is certain that there will be new
government directives on how we manage based on social distancing and safety. We
expect to see capacity limits. What will not change is this organization’s determination
to be one of the best-managed sports organizations in the country—one that responds
to its members’ needs and provides exceptional service to its members.
My request of the pickleball community is that we pursue the highest measure
of collegiality and kindness as we navigate these unpredictable times. Help each
other. Collectively, let us be our best. The USAPA is here to help. We will work hard
to support you during this COVID-19 emergency. Please let us know if you have any
ideas we should consider. You can reach me at [email protected] and Executive
Director Justin Maloof at [email protected].
JUNE/JULY 2020 | MAGAZINE 9