From the CEO
I by MIKE NEALY
USA PICKLEBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
I hope your year is off to a great start and that you are enjoying pickleball . As spring gets underway with the first USA Pickleball Golden Ticket events of 2024 , I would like to celebrate our recent announcement of Mesa , Arizona , being named the home of the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships .
USA Pickleball ’ s offices are in Arizona , and we couldn ’ t be more excited to bring pickleball ’ s premier event to our backyard . In addition to a fantastic competitive atmosphere , we will ensure that all athletes and visitors have nothing but a great experience . This includes enjoying the many off-court activities the Valley of the Sun offers .
For visitors and families , Mesa features an abundance of activities and exploration , from hiking and mountain biking around the area ’ s popular natural attractions to taking in educational and cultural adventures like interactive museums , Broadway musicals and Old West towns . Mesa and the surrounding area are recognized as one of the most familyfriendly communities in the nation . Thank you to our partners at the newly revitalized Arizona Athletic Grounds as we work hard to deliver an exceptional experience for athletes , fans and the local community .
Speaking of delivering exceptional experiences , we rely on the greater USA Pickleball community to make events like Nationals possible for you , our members . I am so grateful for our Ambassadors and other volunteers because they are a big reason for pickleball ’ s growth and our success over the years . I would also like to highlight another key group in our community — the referees . Our pickleball referees are an incredibly active and hardworking group of individuals who truly pour all of their passion and dedication into what they do . We are grateful for their time and energy . They ensure that we run great tournaments and fairly play the game we all love . I look forward to meeting and speaking with more referees at events across the country this year . If you are interested in getting involved as a referee , you can find more information at usapickleball . org / get-involved / pickleball-officiating .
Related to our referees , I am excited to share a recent appointment . We ’ ve hired Tom Tadler to lead this group — as our new managing director of officiating . Tom , who is currently the chairman of the Referee Advisory Council for USA Pickleball , has a fantastic résumé in pickleball and with officiating . He joined the USA Pickleball referee program in 2018 and became a certified referee in September 2019 . Tom has been the lead official on many televised and livestream broadcasts , is a registered referee trainer , and has amassed more than 1,500 refereed matches . Please join me in welcoming Tom aboard as we continue to support and expand our referee efforts .
From all of us at USA Pickleball , we look forward to seeing you on the courts this spring !
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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 Andrew Feffer Bob Franceschelli
Ernie Medina Stephanie Russell Tori Stevens
USA PICKLEBALL STAFF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mike Nealy
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Justin Maloof
CHIEF MARKETING & STRATEGY OFFICER Jose Moreno
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMPETITION Steve Wong
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
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING Tom Tadler
DIRECTOR OF SANCTIONING Karen Parrish
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTENT
Melissa Zhang
DIRECTOR OF EVENT LOGISTICS 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
DIRECTOR OF TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS
Craig Haas
CONTROLLER Rose James