Pickleball Magazine 7-2 | Page 11

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 & SANCTIONING
Karen Parrish
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Hope Tolley
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP
Nikki Greene
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING
Mark Peifer
DIRECTOR OF AMBASSADORS Steve Stone
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT STANDARDS & FACILITY DEVELOPMENT
Carl Schmits
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRO PLAYER RELATIONS & EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE
Donn Paben
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
John Greene
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS Laura Gainor
DIGITAL MANAGER Kevin Brown
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP SERVICES
Karen Weiss

In my first column , which appeared in the January / February issue , I wrote about how excited I was to see what new heights pickleball would achieve in 2022 . Well , it didn ’ t take me long to find out . Let ’ s begin with USA Pickleball , which is obviously very near and dear to me . In January , USAP recorded its largest member transaction month in the organization ’ s history , with 5,419 new and renewed members . I thought last year ’ s 44 percent membership increase would be difficult to top , but it looks like USAP is well on its way to doing just that . I want to thank all our current members for their continued support and welcome our new members to the USAP family .

There are many reasons for USAP ’ s growth . But one of the most important is our staff . It ’ s a privilege to interact with CEO Stu Upson , COO Justin Maloof and other members of the team on a regular basis . I can tell you that they are a very talented , dedicated , and extremely hardworking group of professionals .
There are other exciting developments that have taken place this year . In mid-February , the Sports & Fitness Industry Association ( SFIA ) issued a report announcing that pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in America for the second year in a row ! This is quite an achievement for pickleball and underscores the continued momentum that pickleball is demonstrating throughout the U . S . And in Washington state , the birthplace of pickleball , both legislative bodies approved a measure to make pickleball its official sport . If Governor Inslee signs the bill , pickleball would join sports like lacrosse , basketball , surfing and skiing as official state sports . Amazing !
Whenever I travel to a city for business or pleasure , I make it a point to play at a pickleball facility there . Not only does it enable me to make new pickleball friends and learn about ways in which USAP can better serve the local pickleball community , but it also reinforces just how quickly the pickleball landscape is changing . Literally ! Pickleball centers have become a must-have amenity at many resorts , such as the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge ( 17 courts ), where the USAP offices are located ; residential communities like Kolter Homes ’ PGA Village Verano ( 27 courts ); and new multi-sports facilities like Bell Bank Park in Mesa , Arizona ( 41 courts ), which is hosting both an APP and PPA tournament this year . More and more indoor facilities are also opening in parts of the country where outdoor play is not feasible year-round . They include the Missouri Pickleball Club in St . Louis ( 18 indoor courts ) and Pickleball Charlotte- South ( 14 indoor courts ).
Of course , municipalities across the country continue to build new pickleball courts or expand existing facilities due , in large part , to the untiring efforts of players in those local communities like many of you . With pickleball growing at a rapid pace and the demand for courts still far exceeding supply , your work is both critically important and greatly appreciated . •
MARCH / APRIL 2022 | MAGAZINE 9