2022 USA PICKLEBALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
By Robert Quicksilver
USA PICKLEBALL BOARD CHAIRMAN .
BOARD CHAIRMAN Robert Quicksilver
BOARD VICE CHAIR Ernie Medina
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Philip Bullen Mark Fabbro Bob Franceschelli Suzanne Guerin Stephanie Russell
USA PICKLEBALL STAFF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Stu Upson
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Justin Maloof
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Dan Ellsworth
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COMPETITION
Karen Parrish
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Hope Tolley
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP
Nikki Greene
DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING Mark Peifer
DIRECTOR OF AMBASSADORS Steve Stone
DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
Carl Schmits
DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE
Donn Paben
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
John Greene
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS Laura Gainor
DIGITAL MANAGER Kevin Brown
MANAGER OF PARTNERSHIP MARKETING
Karen Weiss
I am honored to have been appointed Chairman of the Board of USA Pickleball for 2022 , a year which promises to be another one of significant growth for the sport that we all love so much . As Chairman , I commit to you that my actions will always be guided by what is in the best interests of our members .
In my opinion , the 2022 Board is one of the strongest that this organization has ever assembled . Three At-Large Board members-Bob Franceschelli , Suzanne Guerin and Ernie Medina-were unanimously re-elected to new two-year terms last December . Bob is a former executive at Anheuser Busch . Suzanne has served as an executive at the Helen Keller National Center and other non-profits . Ernie , who was also elected Vice Chairman , is an Assistant Professor at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health . Philip Bullen , who is a former executive at Fidelity Investments , returns for the second year of his current two-year term . All are pickleball enthusiasts and dedicated to the sport .
We elected two new At-Large Board Members at our December meeting . They are Stephanie Russell , a senior counsel at Boeing , and Mark Fabbro , a former executive at Arnold Worldwide . We look forward to having them on the Board .
I also want to share with you a little about my background . I was born and raised in St . Louis , Missouri , and remain an avid St . Louis Cardinals fan . I practiced law for nearly two decades and then went on to serve as an executive at FOX Broadcasting and Charter Communications . I now reside in Miami Beach and play as much as pickleball as my schedule permits . I have a great partner , three amazing children , and three even more incredible granddaughters . I am truly blessed .
I would be remiss if I failed to mention two individuals whose contributions to the Board and to the sport of pickleball have been immeasurable . Phil Mortenson , our immediate past Chair , and Laura Patterson , our immediate past Vice Chair , served on the Board for 15 and 11 years , respectively . Although both Phil and Laura stepped down from the Board at the end of last year , they have promised to remain available to assist the Board going forward .
2021 was another banner year for pickleball . The number of players is now estimated to be close to 5 million ! The Economist called pickleball the fastest growing sport in the U . S . This rapid growth coincided with a substantial increase in the number of USAP members . At the end of 2021 , we had a record 53,110 members , which represents a 44 % increase from 2020 . 2021 also saw the launch of USA Pickleball ’ s National Championships Series , which culminated last month at The Nationals in Indian Wells .
I cannot wait to see what unfolds in 2022 . I am confident that the sport of pickleball , as well as USA Pickleball , will continue to reach new heights . It ’ s going to be very exciting ! •
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 | MAGAZINE 9