From the Chairman
I by ROBERT QUICKSILVER
USA PICKLEBALL BOARD CHAIRMAN
I want to begin by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and a great start to 2024 . The USA Pickleball team is already hard at work on the upcoming programs and events for the year , which I am confident will be another exciting and record-breaking one for the sport of pickleball and our organization .
Recently , USA Pickleball unveiled the 2024 Golden Ticket tournament schedule , which will consist of 11 Golden Ticket events this year . As you know , these tournaments are the only guaranteed path for amateur players to play in the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships . Golden Ticket events offer participants an unrivaled player experience and the opportunity to compete against some of the best players , as well as at some of the best facilities , around the country . And , this year ’ s events will have a pool-play format , with a round-robin bracket if there are not enough teams for pool play , which should greatly improve the player experience . We are grateful to our partners at the Association of Pickleball Players ( APP ) and UTR Sports for their collaboration in our efforts to elevate this year ’ s Golden Ticket events .
Equally important , USA Pickleball is getting ready to announce details for the 2024 edition of the USA Pickleball National Championships . As was the case last year , Biofreeze — another of our valued partners — will be the title sponsor of the 2024 Nationals . As part of our overwhelming focus this year on providing all players and spectators with the best tournament experience possible , participants can expect a week of elite competition , engaging events on and off the court , exciting partner activations , a multitude of exciting food and beverage offerings , a player hospitality lounge for all competitors , and much , much more . We look forward to sharing additional information about Nationals very soon .
2024 marks the beginning of my sixth year on the Board of Directors of USA Pickleball and the third year in which I have been honored to serve as Board Chairman . It would be a gross understatement to say that I have witnessed explosive growth , not only for the sport of pickleball but also for our organization during that time . With respect to the latter , while much of USA Pickleball ’ s growth is due to the tireless efforts and dedication of our amazing staff , a great deal of credit also goes to our Board of Directors , who contribute countless hours of their time on a volunteer basis during the year to ensure that USA Pickleball fulfills its mission of growing the sport of pickleball in the U . S . for players of all ages and backgrounds .
So , I want to congratulate Bob Franceschelli , Suzanne Guerin , and Ernie Medina on their recent reelections to new three-year board terms , and recognize our other returning board members : Philip Bullen , Stephanie Russell and Mark Fabbro .
This is sure to be a great year for our sport and for USA Pickleball . Under the leadership of our CEO , Mike Nealy , I am confident that the USA Pickleball team will continue taking pickleball to new heights in 2024 .
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2024 USA PICKLEBALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD CHAIRMAN Robert Quicksilver
BOARD VICE CHAIR Suzanne Guerin
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Philip Bullen Mark Fabbro Bob Franceschelli Ernie Medina Stephanie Russell
USA PICKLEBALL STAFF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mike Nealy
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Justin Maloof
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Dan Ellsworth
CHIEF MARKETING & STRATEGY OFFICER
Jose Moreno
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Hope Tolley
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP Nikki Greene
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT STANDARDS & FACILITY DEVELOPMENT
Carl Schmits
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS & PRO PLAYER RELATIONS
Donn Paben
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS
Lance Cowart
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
Brady Kellogg
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Gail Avisar
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Julie Atherton
DIRECTOR OF SANCTIONING Karen Parrish
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTENT
Melissa Zhang
DIRECTOR OF TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS
Baylee Opperman
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS Ben Hudson
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS & STRATEGIC PROJECTS
Ashley VanOchten
DIRECTOR OF EVENT OPERATIONS Izzy Jade
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS Brenda Puga
CONTROLLER Rose James