ALTA Meet ALTA’s 2021 COORDINATORS Coordinators of the Year BY EMMY POWELL, NET NEWS EDITOR
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ne of the key highlights of the ALTA annual meeting is the recognition of the major workforce behind this successful nonprofit organization. Each season, league coordinators donate their time to make sure everything is scheduled and arranged for league play. ALTA honors these folks who go above and beyond by naming them our Coordinators of the Year. The 2021 winners are:
Place of birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Career: Industrial Engineer (ramblin’ wreck), Domestic Engineer (mom of 3), small business owner/partner (with my sister), in that order ALTA history: Started playing ALTA in 2006. I’ve served as captain or co-captain on many of these teams at one time or another, though I am currently enjoying being just a regular player. I’ve been an ALTA coordinator for the Thursday Women’s League since Fall 2018, the last two seasons at level C8. Carroll is regarded as a great asset to the Thursday team. “It is not easy being the coordinator for the C8 group. Many of the players are new and captains turn over quickly from season to season,” says Keri Beck, Thursday Women League VP. Patience and kindness are essential for any coordinator, but even more so for one tasked with helping these ladies. Beck says Carroll has done a fantastic job making herself available to these captains and communicating frequently with them. 40
NETNEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Kevin Houston Men’s League
Barbara Ingram Senior Day Leagues
Place of birth: Dalton, Georgia
Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia
Career: Sales Engineer
Career: Sales & marketing, retail and wholesale, trade show director
ALTA history: 20-year member, nine-year coordinator, two years on the Board of Directors. Houston is described as a steady, reliable Men’s League Coordinator, which Men’s League VP Mitch Falkin says is exactly what is needed. “He is well thought of by the captains and other coordinators alike; he has a very positive outlook,” says Falkin. He goes on to say that Houston is an excellent representative of the ALTA volunteer spirit. “We are very lucky to have him in our ranks!”
ALTA history: 22 years as coordinator and overall coordinator for Sunday Women’s, Mixed Doubles, Sr. Leagues, and Sr. Day Leagues, VP of Sr. Leagues and Media. For 2021, Ingram has served as overall for the Senior Day Leagues. Senior Day Leagues VP Cathy Gonzales says she makes such a difference with her positive attitude and her knowledge of ALTA, and her ability to solve challenges. “Barbara loves tennis, she loves ALTA, and she devotes her boundless energy to make ALTA tennis more organized and more fun,” says Gonzales. Ingram has volunteered in several ALTA leadership roles, including overall coordinator for the Sunday Women’s League, Mixed Doubles League, Senior Women’s League, and the Senior Mixed League. She also holds an important job as 2021-2022 Media Vice President.
SELFLESS Photos by Laura Barnard
Karen Carroll Thursday Women’s League
