see the full schedule! Stay
updated with our app!
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome everyone to our very special 2024 World Racquets Conference:
As you can see, we have a new name for our World Conference this year. We want to acknowledge all the exciting changes in our industry so as you walk around and attend our wide variety of presentations, take it all in!
Many of you are not just tennis professionals in your day-to-day work activities. You have embraced pickleball which has exploded in popularity in the United States, and Padel which is growing very quickly throughout the world. These two additional racquet sports are being recognized as avenues for our members to expand their areas of expertise and earning potential. USPTA CEO Brian Dillman and all the members of your national board are continually exploring other racquet sports to add to our family.
Our staff has put together an amazing schedule of first-rate education as well as a wide variety of incredible social and networking events. You will notice all board members, master professionals, staff and new attendees will be sporting different colored pins. Please warmly welcome the new members and first-time attendees. As for the master professionals and board members, I hope you all will find the time to talk with us about your ideas and future plans for your own careers.
I urge you to attend the awards ceremony and celebrate the achievements of the very best in our racquets industry. We will be inducting two very special USPTA members into our hall of fame.
Make the most of these amazingly educational and network-filled five days. Make new friends and meet as many other members as you can. You never know when you might need to seek some help both on and off the courts.
Thank you for being here and for being a part of our great organization!
Trish Faulkner USPTA National President
SmartCode Education System
Register your education credits with the quick and easy-to-use USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses your smartphone to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and specialty courses earning education credits.
Using the Kiosk
Use the Kiosk to earn your education credits by scanning the QR code on your badge on the tablet kiosk in the back of the room. The scanner will be availbe for one hour, beginning 30 minutes into the session until 30 minutes after the session has ended.
Using the App
To use the app to earn education credits, you will need a Smartphone with data access, web-browsing capabilities and camera. Apple iPhone and Google Android Phones are fully supported. The QR code scanner is in the USPTA app.
First, open the QR code scanner in the app and scan the session’s QR code in the World Conference program. Then, scan the QR code on your badge to receive credit. This will work beginning 30 minutes into the session and until 30 minutes after the session has ended.
Once the QR code scanning application is installed, test your Phone using the QR Code seen here. You will select “yes” or “open browser” or “follow link” to open/launch web page.
If your test was successful, you should see the Smart Code Education System test web page with the green “thumbs up” icon.
FROM THE
CEO CEO
Welcome to the 2024 World Racquets Conference! We are so glad you chose to join this year’s conference and even more excited to share our vision for the future of our association. First, I would like to personally thank Trish Faulkner and the entire national board for their support, guidance and leadership throughout the first nine months of my service. I would also like to thank our divisional leadership and each executive director for their energy and enthusiasm for our association and the work they do every day in the field. Finally, thank you to our national staff who have made my transition back in the racquets industry very smooth and an incredible joy.
Our association is changing, and it is time to think big and even bigger. We are tennis and much more. We are racquet sports. We are certification. We are continuing education. We are career development. We are connectors. We are the grassroots leaders. We are innovators. We are leaders. We care about your success on and off the court.
As you enjoy the amazing educational line-up we have this year, please challenge yourself and be curious. Ask questions. Dig in deeper. Challenge each other nicely and come with a mindset of continuous learning. The curation of the speakers this year is world class, and each session will provide you an opportunity to learn and grow. We have changed things up a bit this year with a balance of on-court and off-court sessions that include a great mix of tennis, pickleball, Padel and even hints of squash and platform.
We will also be spending time talking about careers, recruitment of new professionals into our industry, the changing industry and building our community. We continue to add more member benefits, as we have an exciting group of new sponsors that we are excited to introduce to you!
Ultimately, our “why” is to serve others through the sports that have given so much to us. We are in the business of nurturing professionals (you) in the sports we love by helping them reach their full potential.
Enjoy this week in beautiful Rancho Mirage, CA and thank you for joining us
Brian Dillman CEO Brian
SAN DIEGO DIVISION SAN DIEGO DIVISION
Greetings World Racquet Conference Colleagues!
Welcome to Rancho Mirage! The USPTA San Diego Division board of directors, staff and members are thrilled to host you in our region, and we look forward to advancing our racquet sport knowledge and relationships with all of you!
This conference, with its expanded scope on all racquet sports, truly offers something for everyone. With more than 50 top presenters from across the racquet sports industry, eight networking events, an expanded trade show and more, this conference promises to be one of the most diverse and productive professional development opportunities that the USPTA has ever offered.
Beyond the on-court workshops, the conference will challenge us to expand our thinking on what it means to be a racquet sport professional, the opportunities presented by the increasing popularity of all racquet sports, the pathways to long-term career success in the industry and the importance of inspiring and mentoring new generations of professionals to meet the demand. It is definitely an exciting time to be a racquet sports professional!
In addition to all the conference activities, there’s plenty to enjoy in the Coachella Valley, including world-class golf, miles of hiking trails through stunning desert landscapes, stargazing, arts and culture events, museums, shopping and all manner of cuisine. We encourage you to make time for those activities as well!
We and our close partners in the Southern California Division are standing by to make your time with us as good as it can be. Please reach out to us if there is anything we can do to help. We look forward to celebrating our good fortune to be racquet sports professionals with you and supporting each other in our efforts to bring more players and pros into our world and help them succeed!
Sincerely,
Conan Lorenzo President San Diego Division
Steve Kappes Executive Director San Diego Division
VENUE MAP VENUE MAP VENUE MAP
THE WESTIN RANCHO MIRAGE GOLF RESORT & SPA
Tennis Courts
Pickleball Courts
Padel Court Trade Show
Conference Rooms
The
Westin
Westin
Fireside
Pinz & Pints
Chef’s
Monte
T PA PI Tennis Pickleball Padel *
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
COURSE
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M. PI
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M. PA
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. PI
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. PA
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. PI
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. PA
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. PI
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. PA
12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.
1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. T
COURSE
6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
Women in Coaching Ideas for Career Advancement
Kim Bastable, Tracy Almeda-Singian, Sarah Stone, Dr. Ashley Kuchar, Danae Frentz Classroom
Pickleball Strategy to Improve Your Coaching
Jason Grigg Pickleball Courts
Understanding the Game of Padel
An Educational Journey All Over the Court to Make Better Decisions
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
Island Pickleball Live Ball Drills
Cathy Nicoloff Pickleball Courts
Seamless Synergy: How Padel & Tennis Coexist & Complement Each Other
Simon Gale Padel Court
From Good to Great
Taking Your Players' DUPR from 4.0 to 5.5
Dominique Lemperle Pickleball Courts
Marcos' Keys of the Game
Six Principles That Will Change Your Padel Game Forever
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
Pickleball Games
How to Incorporate Real Games for Real Fun to See Real Results!
Geoff LoConte Pickleball Courts
Mastering Customer Experience on the Court
Iryna Ryzhuk Padel Court
LUNCH BREAK
Creative Drills & Games for Private & Group Lessons
Jorge Capestany Classroom & Tennis Courts
OPENING PARTY
**Subject to change, see our app to stay up to date
Visit the largest show in the racquet sports industry!
MERCHANDISE MERCHANDISE TRADE SHOW TRADE SHOW
16 MONDAY MONDAY 16 6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
7:00 A.M. - 7:45 A.M.
7:00 A.M. - 7:45 A.M.
8:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.
BIG NEWS!
9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. T
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. T
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. T
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Cardio Tennis/Padel/Pickleball Play All Courts
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
OPENING SESSION: The Future of the USPTADriving Excellence & Change as a Coach & a Leader
USPTA Board, Brian Dillman, Keynote: Allistair McCaw Classroom
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
Serve + 1
Tennis Movement Training
Dr. Mark Kovacs Tennis Courts
Crafting Dynamic Tennis Programs & Mastering Leadership Skills
Mike Woody Classroom
Teaching World Class Volleys & the AXIS OF POWER
Walker Sahag Tennis Courts
Panel - The Evolution of the Director of Racquet Sports Role
Milos Vasovic, Brian Thomas, Jenny Gray, Scott McCulloch. Moderated by Brian Dillman Classroom
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS THIS!
12:30 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. 1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. T
2:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. T
4:30 P.M. - 5:30 P.M.
6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
LUNCH BREAK / Demo Court
Drills With Sam Querrey
Sam Querrey Tennis Courts
Q&A With Sam Querrey
Sam Querrey Tennis Courts
Add Staff Meetings
Technifibre, Babolat, Prince, Yonex, Head, Wilson, Master Athletics, Dunlop Classroom
TRADE SHOW
**Subject to change, see our app to stay up to date
T PA
PI Tennis Pickleball Padel
Tennis Pickleball Padel
7:00 A.M. - 8:00 A.M.
7:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. T
8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. T 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. T
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Networking/Communities Breakfast
Presented by CourtReserve Classroom
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
Breaking & Holding Serve in Doubles
Gigi Fernandez Tennis Courts
Panel - How is Pickleball Shaping the Future of the Racquet Sports Industry Panel Classroom
On Court Seminar With Kamau Murray
Kamau Murray Tennis Courts
Foundation Skills for Young Players
The Musts of Getting Kids to Play & Stay in the Game
Mike Barrell Tennis Courts
The Evolution of Racquet Sports ManagementProgramming & Events
Jarrett Chirico Classroom
12:30 P.M. - 1:30 P.M.
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M.
LUNCH BREAK / Demo Court
How My Mess Became My Message
Murphy Jensen Classroom
A Blueprint for Career Advancement
Buffy Filippell Classroom
General Membership Meeting
USPTA Board, Brian Dillman Classroom
Women’s Meeting & Party Division Parties
**Subject to change, see our app to stay up to date
7:00 A.M. - 7:45 A.M.
7:30 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.
8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. T
8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.
Dinner Party 28THURSDAY 18 WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY 18
9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. T
9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.
11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. T
11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
12:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.
2:45 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. T
3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. T
5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. T
5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Cardio Tennis/Padel/Pickleball Play All Courts
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
Dominating the Net With ConfidenceDrills & Games for Team Practices Ikaika Jobe Tennis Courts
Being UnstoppableFueling Opportunity & Growth by Embracing Change Kevin Warren Classroom
Integrating Mental Toughness Training With On-Court Practice
Dr. Greg Prudhomme Tennis Courts
Fireside Chat With Katrina Adams Katrina Adams Classroom
Doubles StrategyIncorporating Court Positioning, Shot Selection, & Psychology for Success Vania King Tennis Courts
Panel – Career Advancement Ideas for Success
Mark McMahon, Chris Gale, Kim Bastable. Moderated by Brian Dillman Classroom
AWARDS LUNCHEON
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
6:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Elevating Coaching Proficiency for Inclusive Tennis Teaching Lisa Pugliese LaCroix Tennis Courts
How to Help Your Students With the College Tennis ProcessViews from the Junior & College Coach Perspective Jack Newman, Ricardo Rubio Classroom
Dead Ball To Live Ball Drills Phil Graham Tennis Courts
Panel – Diversity of Thought
Why DE&I is Essential in Our Industry
Vania King, Marc Stingley, Allan Jensen, Greg (Moose) DeMoustes. Moderated by Jason Gilbert Classroom
**Subject to change, see our app to stay up to date
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
7:00 A.M. - 7:45 A.M.
7:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M. T
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M.
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. T
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. T
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. T
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M.
12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.
1:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. PI
2:00 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. PI
2:00 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. PA
3:00 P.M. - 3:45 P.M. PI
3:00 P.M. - 4:45 P.M. PA
4:00 P.M. - 4:45 P.M. PI
Cardio Tennis/Padel/Pickleball Play All Courts
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
PA PI Tennis Pickleball Padel
The Four Tennis ConceptsUnderstanding How the Brain & Mind Work to Improve Effectiveness in Your Coaching Methodologies
Fernando Segal Tennis Courts
Panel - The Future of Padel in the Racquet Sports Ecosystem
Marcos Del Pilar, Scott Colebourne, Iain Pound, Tim Bainton. Moderated by Brian Dillman Classroom
Junior Development -
The Open/Closed Model
Maureen Diaz Tennis Courts
Wheelchair Tennis
Kevin Finkelberg Tennis Courts
Your Contracts Playbook
Susan Kohlhausen Classroom
Panel –Grow Your Programming With Platform Tennis & Squash
Mike Cochrane, Rich Wade Classroom
Transitioning From a Defensive to an Offensive Player
Sabastiani Leon Chao Tennis Courts
Increasing Revenue & Member Satisfaction Through a Complete Pickleball Program
Ryan Johnson Classroom
LUNCH BREAK / Demo Court
Pickleball Drills & Teaching Differences
Kelly Marshall Pickleball Courts
6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. PA
**Subject to change, see our app to stay up to date PI
Biggest Padel Breakthroughs From a Tennis Mentality
Kyle LaCroix Padel Court
The Five Lesson Package - How to Diagnose & Prescribe
Tim Irwin Pickleball Courts
Your Padel Emotional Square
Mental Management for Competition Players
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
Teaching Pickleball for Tennis Pros
Mel McRee Pickleball Courts
Professional Coaching - Evolve Drills for Offensive/Defensive Situations
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
Controlling Your Controllables
Focus on Your EAGLES™ Developing a Tenacious Mindset, On & Off the Court
Angelo Rossetti Pickleball Courts
Dinner Party
SUNDAY
SESSIONS SESSIONS SESSIONS
SPECIALTY COURSE
Women in Coaching Ideas for Career Advancement
Kim Bastable, Tracy Almeda-Singian, Sarah Stone, Dr. Ashley Kuchar, Danae Frentz Classroom
See Bios in App
Pickleball Strategy to Improve Your Coaching
Jason Grigg
Pickleball Courts
8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M.
About Jason Jason Grigg has over 25 years of coaching experience, most recently as the director of racquet sports at The Greencroft Club. He played college tennis at Ferris State University and is certified as an Elite Professional and pickleball certified by the USPTA. He previously served as the immediate Mid-Atlantic USPTA president and received the Mid-Atlantic Pro of the Year award in 2021. Currently, he serves as the pickleball head coach developer of the Mid-Atlantic USPTA.
Understanding the Game of Padel
An Educational Journey All Over the Court to Make Better Decisions
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
About Marcos
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M.
Marcos Del Pilar is known as The Godfather of Padel in the U.S. and has been recognized as #3 of the “Top 50 Most Influential Persons in the New Padel World” by international media. Among other great milestones, he is the key leader behind the first-ever Padel World Championship in the USA (2022), and he is a proud co-founder and commissioner of Pro Padel League. Del Pilar, a USPTA Master Pro, has a true vocation for coaching as he runs one of the most important projects in Padel education in America with more than 600 coaches certified. His mission in life is to create a better world through racquet sports and to grow Padel in North America while creating opportunities for others.
Island Pickleball Live Ball Drills
Cathy Nicoloff
Pickleball Courts
About Cathy
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M.
Cathy is a USPTA Elite tennis professional and IFP certified pickleball pro & coach developer with a demonstrated history of working in the designing of tennis teaching techniques within the industry. She has been teaching tennis and overseeing programs at various resorts on Maui and serves as head tennis instructor for Kapalua Tennis Garden, all while running tennis live ball clinics and teaching privates in tennis and pickleball. She also runs an events organization with Tom Gullikson and Cynthia Neiman, and brings in pro events and camps with current coaches, pros and legends.
Seamless Synergy
How Padel & Tennis Coexist & Complement Each Other
Simon Gale Padel Court
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M.
About Simon Simon Gale, originally from Perth, Australia, serves as the senior director of racquet sports development at the USTA national campus in Orlando, Fla. Simon oversees five head professionals, a team of 35+ teaching professionals and 100 courts across the campus. He has been named USPTA Eastern Facility Manager of the Year, Tennis Industry's National Youth Provider of the Year and was selected as a USTA tennis market initiative provider. His certifications include: USPTA Padel, USTA High Performance, IPTPA (Pickleball) and the UF director of racquet sports certificate.
From Good to Great Taking Your Players' DUPR from 4.0 to 5.5.
Dominique Lemperle
Pickleball Courts
About Dominique
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M.
Dominique Lemperle is the USPTA head coach developer for pickleball in Florida. In her current role as director of programming and instruction at the Pickleball Club, she recruits and develops teaching professionals for the company's 15 clubs and creates all the programming, including adult, youth and collegiate. In addition to coach development, Lemperle also hosts national USPTA webinars and serves on the USPTA Pickleball Task Force. In 2023, she helped shoot the USPTA pre-certification workshop educational video. Dominique won the 2024 USPTA Regional Pro of the Year (Sarasota) and the 2023 George Basco Award, a national coach developer award. Lemperle is an avid fan of all racquet sports. She competes on a USTA mixed doubles tennis team and was also recently drafted as the No. 2 overall pick in the All-Florida Pro Pickleball League. She is certified to teach Padel and follows all trends of the racquet sports industry. Lemperle has more than 10 years of experience in racquet sports. Prior to her role at The Pickleball Club, she served as the director of racquet sports for Esplanade Golf and Country Club in Naples, Florida.
Marcos' Keys of the Game
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M.
Six Principles That Will Change Your Padel Game Forever
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court See Bio Page 21
Pickleball Games
How to Incorporate Real Games for Real Fun to See Real Results!
Geoff LoConte
Pickleball Courts
About Geoff
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M.
Geoff LoConte is the director of pickleball and platform tennis at Beach Point Club and the assistant director of racquet sports at Bonnie Briar Country Club in New York. He is a USPTA Elite Certified Professional, a PPR professional and a certified racquet sport executive. Geoff has a master of arts in elementary education and teaching from New York University, and creates high-quality and innovative programs for members of all ages and skill levels.
Mastering Customer Experience on the Court
Iryna Ryzhuk
Padel Court
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M.
About Iryna Iryna Ryzhuk is the CEO of XCEL PADEL and a Padel community builder. She has an international background in business operations, marketing, strategic planning and global expansion. Her expertise in management and development of sport clubs is combined with her focus on revenue generation, business growth and operational excellence. She is also an advisor for U.S.A. Padel investment groups.
SPECIALTY COURSE
Creative Drills & Games for Private & Group Lessons
Jorge Capestany
Classroom & Tennis Courts
1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
About Jorge Jorge is one of only 13 people worldwide who has the distinction of being a USPTA Master Professional and an international master professional with the PTR. Jorge has been named the National Pro of the Year by both the USPTA and the PTR. He is an internationally recognized speaker that has presented over 200 times at major tennis conventions across the world. Jorge is also a six-time Michigan Pro of the Year, a two-time Midwest Pro of the Year and a member of the USPTA Midwest Division Hall of Fame.
PERFECT FOR ANY TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, OR PADEL COURTS
Our proprietary windscreens are tear-proof, feature superior UV resistance, and are an ideal choice for anywhere you need a visual barrier. Our fully customized screens range from simple backgrounds to more elaborate designs that make a visual “pop”, all delivered via our CHROMA-BOND® world-class printing.
SESSIONS SESSIONS SESSIONS
OPENING SESSION
The Future of the USPTA -
Driving Excellence & Change as a Coach & a Leader
USPTA Board, Brian Dillman, Keynote: Allistair McCaw
Classroom
See Bios in App
BIG NEWS
Serve + 1 - Tennis Movement Training
Dr. Mark Kovacs
Tennis Courts
About Dr. Kovacs
8:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Dr. Kovacs directed the sport science, strength & conditioning, and coaching education departments for the USTA and was the director of the Gatorade Sport Science Institute as well as an executive of long-term research and development with Pepsico. Dr. Kovacs is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and has published over 50 research articles and abstracts in some of the top scientific journals, and has published six books on human performance. He is also the executive director of the International Tennis Performance Association. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis and played professionally. He was the youngest ever recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award and the U.S. Olympic Committee “Doc Counsilman” Science Award. For nearly two decades he has worked with some of the most iconic companies, athletes, executives and institutions on maximizing human potential.
Crafting Dynamic Tennis Programs & Mastering Leadership Skills
Mike Woody Classroom
About Mike
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Mike Woody is the vice president and national tennis director for Genesis Health Clubs. Mike has earned numerous accolades, including Genesis Health Clubs’ Executive of the Year in 2017 and 2022. His role as a high-level influencer from 1999 to 2023 in the #GrowTennis initiatives underscores his commitment to the sport's growth. The Tennis Industry Association named him Tennis Person of the Year in 2016, and his efforts contributed to being awarded the Best Tennis Town in the U.S. in 2009. Mike's distinguished career includes being the USPTA Midwest Professional of the Year in 2009, induction into the USPTA Midwest Hall of Fame, the National USPTA Facility Manager of the Year Award in 2005 and the USPTA/USTA National Community Service Award in 2004.
Teaching World Class Volleys & the AXIS OF POWER
Walker Sahag Tennis Courts
About Walker
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Walker Sahag is the director at Reunion Golf and Country Club in Madison, Mississippi. As a speaker and presenter at every major conference in the U.S., Walker has spoken on a wide variety of topics. Her articles have appeared in numerous major tennis publications. Walker has traveled with and been the personal coach for players on both the ATP and WTA tours including Hall of Fame member Monica Seles. USTA national champions, NCAA champions, All-Americans and ITF champions have all come from her programs. Walker has also worked for a number of years with Dr. Jim Loehr, the world's leading Sports Psychologist.
The Evolution of the Director of Racquet Sports Role
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Milos Vasovic, Brian Thomas, Jenny Gray, Scott McCulloch. Moderated by Brian Dillman, USPTA CEO Classroom
See Bios in App
Drills with Sam Querrey
Sam Querrey Tennis Courts 1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.
About Sam
Winner of 10 ATP Tour titles, Sam Querrey began playing tennis at the age of four. At 2016 Wimbledon, Sam beat Djokovic’s Open Era-record 30-match Grand Slam win streak and then set an Open Era record by reaching his first forty-second Grand Slam SF appearance at 2017 Wimbledon. He was a member of the ATP Player Council from 2018-20 and achieved career-high No. 11 in 2018.
Q&A with Sam Querrey
Sam Querrey Tennis Courts See Bio Above 2:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
SESSIONS SESSIONS SESSIONS TUESDAY
Breaking & Holding Serve in Doubles
Gigi Fernandez Tennis Courts
About Gigi
8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.
Gigi Fernandez is considered to be one of the best doubles players of all time. She is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, winner of 17 Grand Slam doubles titles with various partners and two Olympic Gold Medals with Mary Joe Fernandez. In 2000, Gigi was named Puerto Rican Athlete of the Century. In 2010, she started coaching recreational players. Gigi is the founder and creator of The Gigi Method and Gigi Fernandez Tennis. Gigi spends her time coaching adult players on how to excel at doubles. She travels the country doing clinics and camps, and hosts The Gigi Method Tennis Camps for enthusiasts that want more in-depth instruction. She also partners with other legends of the game to do legends camps and bring groups to the Grand Slams and the Laver Cup.
PANEL
8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.
How is Pickleball Shaping the Future of the Racquet Sports Industry Panel
Classroom
See Speakers and Bios in App
On Court Seminar With Kamau Murray
Kamau Murray Tennis Courts
About Kamau
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Kamau Murray is the founder of the XS Tennis program in Chicago. During his college years at Florida A&M University, Kamau played tennis and served as the team captain, where he won the MEAC conference title. He served as a Graduate Assistant Coach for Florida A&M where he also earned his MBA. Kamau coached Sloane Stephens to the US Open title in 2017. He is a WTA Gold Coach and Runner up for 2018 WTA Coach of the year.
Foundation Skills for Young Players
The Musts of Getting Kids to Play & Stay in the Game
Mike Barrell Tennis Courts
About Mike
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Mike is the executive director of tennis for Sportime NY, home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. He is responsible for the training of over 180 coaches and enhancing all programs across the company. As a coach and tennis consultant around the world, he has worked and delivered training in over 80 countries, supporting the development of tennis on five continents. He has been a keynote speaker at three ITF Worldwide Conferences and presented at multiple USPTA World Conferences and additional conferences worldwide. He is a regular contributor to the ATP/WTA Pro Course.
The Evolution of Racquet Sports ManagementProgramming & Events
Jarrett Chirico
Classroom
About Jarrett
11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Jarrett Chirico is the director of racquets at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas and the president and founder of The Directors Club of America, which is home to the largest network of industry leaders in the hospitality industry. He has an extensive background as a director and former player, as well as a leader, author and keynote speaker across the world. As a junior, he was ranked top 20 in the world and No. 1 in the U.S. in every age group. He played NCAA tennis at the University of Virginia and World TeamTennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms. Jarrett was awarded Professional Tennis Registry’s Professional/Member of the year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine. In addition, he holds certifications from the USPTA, CRSE, PPR, PPTR and the PPTA as well as being a national pickleball (PPR) clinician and former vice chairman. In 2022, Jarrett founded The Directors Club which is the largest platform/community of leaders with the sole purpose to help people go further and do better together.
How My Mess Became My Message
Murphy Jensen Classroom
About Murphy
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Murphy Jensen is the co-founder and EVP of WEconnect Health. He survived sudden cardiac arrest and has since been a spokesman for the American Heart Association and partner in the Gootter-Jensen Foundation. After years of playing professional tennis (winning the French Open Doubles), Murphy hosted the TV shows "Open Access" and "Murphy's Guide" on the Tennis Channel. He coached tennis for 10 years, including head coach for the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis, where he coached tennis superstars. Winning six championships in seven years, he led the Kastles to a 34-match winning streak, the longest in professional sports history. He was also named Coach of the Year in 2013.
A Blueprint for Career Advancement
Buffy Filippell
Classroom 3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
About Buffy
Buffy Filippell created TeamWork Online, a first-of-its-kind, web-based talent recruiting system focused on connecting candidates and employers in sports and live events. Filippell began her career with Wilson Sporting Goods before joining IMG, representing tennis stars such as Andrea Jaeger and Ken Rosewall. Over the years, Filippell has been honored by several organizations, including the Progressive Woman Award from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Cleveland chapter of WISE and her alma mater, Indiana University where she was a member of the women’s varsity tennis team and participated in the 1974 USTA Women’s National Collegiate Tennis Championships. Buffy was named one of the 2017 WISE Women of the Year and a 2019 SBJ Champion: Pioneers and Innovators in Sports Business.
General Membership Meeting
USPTA Board, Brian Dillman Classroom
About Brian
5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Brian Dillman is the CEO of the USPTA. With experience in sporting goods, fitness and the fashion industry, Brian has done a bit of everything, from senior leadership, sales development, global marketing, sourcing, logistics and supply chain. Brian has been involved in tennis since the age of 12. He began as a nationally ranked junior from Texas, played for the University of Illinois and has been a USPTA certified
professional since 1991. Brian spent his first 1.5 years as a teaching professional, USTA umpire, tournament director and volunteer with USTA Dallas. He was also heavily involved with USPTA Dallas (and was a member of their softball team). Teaching and learning about the industry led Brian to an opportunity to work for Wilson Racquet Sports: first in sales, then junior marketing, international marketing (living in Germany) and eventually GM of the racquet sports division. At the time he was named USPTA CEO, Brian served as a volunteer on the USTA Chicago Board of Directors and as the Chicago District president. He says he has seen it all, from the grassroots to Grand Slams.
SESSIONS SESSIONS SESSIONS WEDNESDAY
Dominating the Net With Confidence -
Drills & Games for Team Practices
Ikaika Jobe
Tennis Courts
About Ikaika
8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.
Ikaika Jobe is a USPTA Certified Elite Professional, the Punahou School director of tennis and head boys varsity tennis coach. Punahou holds the national record for most high school team state championships in all sports combined. Jobe was ranked as high as No. 11 in the USTA national junior rankings and earned an athletic scholarship to play Division I college tennis at Saint Louis University, but transferred to Boise State University in his senior year under the leadership of head coach Greg Patton. The team won the WAC Championship that year and hosted the NCAA regional playoffs.
Being Unstoppable:
Fueling Opportunity & Growth by Embracing Change
Kevin Warren Classroom
About Kevin
8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.
Kevin Warren has a bachelor of science in finance from Georgetown University and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, having completed the advanced management program. He is a member of Fiserv’s Board of Directors, where he serves as audit committee chair and a member of the talent and compensation committee. He is also on the Georgetown University Board of Directors, where he serves as an executive committee member and chair of the committee on athletics. Kevin is also a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame board of governors, a founding member of the Black Executive CMO Alliance and a member of the Executive Leadership Council. From 2018 to 2023, Kevin served as executive vice president and chief marketing and customer experience officer at UPS. In recognition of his leadership in the marketing industry, Kevin was named on Forbes’ 2022 World’s Most Influential CMOs list and recognized by Adweek as a 2023 Brand Genius.
Integrating Mental Toughness Training With On-Court Practice
Dr. Greg Prudhomme
Tennis Courts
About Dr. Prudhomme
9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.
Dr. Gregory Prudhomme is the director of tennis at the Camelback Village Health and Racquet Club and a mental performance coach for athletes and career professionals, as well as a university sport psychology doctoral instructor. Prudhomme earned his PhD in psychology with an emphasis in performance psychology. He is a USPTA Elite Certified Professional and a USPTA coach developer. He was named National College Coach of the Year by USPTA and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. He has spoken nationally and regionally at organizations including the USPTA, USTA, Xendurance, the International Sport Sciences Association, Tignum, various podcasts and more. As a player, he earned a Division I scholarship, held an ATP world ranking for three years, ranked No. 11 in the U.S. and was ranked No. 1 in the Southwest Section in singles, doubles and mixed.
Fireside Chat With Katrina Adams
Katrina Adams
Classroom
About Katrina
9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.
Katrina Adams is the first African American to lead the USTA, the first two-term chairman and president of the USTA, and the first former player to hold that honor. As a professional player, Adams competed for 12 years on the WTA Tour, winning 20 career doubles titles. She was listed in Adweek magazine twice under the Most Powerful Women in Sports list, Forbes' Most Powerful Women in Sports list and Ebony magazine’s Power 100 list. She is also the vice president of the prestigious International Tennis Federation, chairman of the Billie Jean King Cup Committee, chair of the Gender Equality in Tennis Committee and the executive director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program
Doubles Strategy -
11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Incorporating Court Positioning, Shot Selection & Psychology for Success
Vania King Tennis Courts
About Vania
Vania King is a former professional tennis player from Long Beach, California. She has reached career high rankings of No. 50 in singles and No. 3 in doubles. In 2010, she won the Wimbledon and US Open Women's Doubles Championships with her partner Yaroslava Shvedova, becoming the only Asian-American female to win a women's doubles Grand Slam. She also reached the finals of the 2010 Roland Garros Mixed Doubles Championships and the 2011 US Open Women’s Doubles Championships. She won a WTA singles title and 15 WTA doubles titles. Vania is a consultant for the WTA, a member of the USTA National Board, president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Tennis Association, and founder and executive director of Serving Up Hope.
11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Career Advancement Ideas for Success
Mark McMahon, Chris Gale, Kim Bastable. Moderated by Brian Dillman Classroom
See Bios in App
Elevating Coaching Proficiency for Inclusive Tennis Teaching
Lisa Pugliese LaCroix Tennis Courts
About Lisa
3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Lisa is a USPTA Elite Certified Tennis Professional and an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certified speech-language pathologist in the field of autism. She is a former collegiate tennis player from Duke University and a University of Florida NCAA Tennis Team champion followed by WTA tournaments. Lisa enjoys combining her tennis experience and speech therapy background to teach the sport to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Lisa was inspired to develop a non-profit, Love Serving Autism, a 501(c)(3) organization in 2017. Lisa was elected by USTA National to chair the Adaptive Training and Education Subcommittee to develop its first adaptive tennis curriculum. Lisa received USTA National’s 2022 Eve Kraft Award for community service and the 2024 Professional Tennis Registry’s Humanitarian of the Year Award.
How to Help Your Students With the College Tennis Process -
Views From the Junior & College Coach Perspective
Jack Newman, Ricardo Rubio Classroom
About Jack
Coach
3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Jack Newman is known as one of the finest and longest-tenured junior development coaches in the nation. He founded programs at Fretz Tennis Center in Dallas, the St. Stephen’s School in Austin and the Austin Tennis Academy. Coach Newman serves as ATA’s CEO as well as one of the lead coaches. Coach Newman is a USPTA Master Professional and was one of the first U.S. coaches to be certified as a high-performance coach by the USTA. Coach Newman is a primary coach to academy players, but also takes on the larger role of leading practice, developing curriculum, planning the optimum tournament schedules and organizing the academy logistics.
About Ricardo Born in Spain, Ricardo Rubio attended John Newcombe's Tennis and played collegiate tennis at TCU. He played on the ATP tour for five years and ranked No. 42 in Spain. After his playing career, he started as an assistant coach at TCU and then became the assistant coach for the University of Texas at Austin. At the University of Texas at Austin, he was four times Big 12 Champion, one time National Assistant Coach of the year, three times NCAA Team Final Four, 2008 NCAA Team Finalist and coached NCAA Doubles Champions Lloyd Glasspool and Soren Hess Olesen. Coach Rubio was the men's head tennis coach at the University of Denver from 2015-2021. Currently, he serves as the head pro at Dominion Country Club in San Antonio Texas and is a USA High Performance Coach.
5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
About Phil
Coach Phil is a USPTA Elite Tennis Professional who specializes in training and mentoring juniors and adults at various skill levels. He has a comprehensive training regime from game mechanics to mental strategy and fitness. Some of his most recent achievements involve receiving the USPTA 2019 NorCal Pro of the Year Award and becoming the girls U18 Nationals coach in 2019. He also won USPTA NorCal Men’s Open Player Of Year and is president of USPTA NorCal.
Diversity of Thought - Why DE&I is Essential in Our Industry
Vania King, Marc Stingley, Allan Jensen, Greg (Moose) DeMoustes. Moderated by Jason Gilbert Classroom 5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
See Bios in App
Dead Ball to Live Ball Drills
Phil Graham Tennis Courts
SESSIONS SESSIONS SESSIONS
The Four Tennis Concepts -
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M.
Understanding How the Brain & Mind Work to Improve Effectiveness in Your Coaching Methodologies
Fernando Segal Tennis Courts
About Fernando
Fernando Segal is an international tennis leader focused on designing, creating and putting in action tennis development programs and projects for tennis players, coaches and different organizations. With more than 40 years as a professional, Fernando wrote 12 tennis books, was national tennis director in Argentina and Mexico, and a tennis development consultant. Fernando founded Segal Institute which is the first LAB for the Tennis Development Designing Project. He is the creator and director of the World Tennis Conference by GPTCA and Segal Institute supported by ATP. More than 5,000 coaches in the tennis planet follow Fernando concepts and books.
8:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M. PANEL
The Future of Padel in the Racquet Sports Ecosystem
Marcos Del Pilar, Scott Colebourne, Iain Pound, Tim Bainton. Moderated by Brian Dillman, USPTA CEO Classroom
See Bios in App
Junior Development -
The Open/Closed Model
Maureen Diaz Tennis Courts
About Maureen
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M.
Maureen is the national coach for women’s junior tennis at the USTA focused on players 14 and under. She is cardio tennis certified, TPT certified and is a USTA high-performance coach. Previously, she served as a board member for the USTA Junior Tennis Competition in SoCal and as the women’s tennis head coach at St. John’s University.
Your Contracts Playbook
Susan Kohlhausen Classroom
About Susan
9:00 A.M. - 9:45 A.M.
Susan spent nearly a decade directing the legal affairs for a regional financial institution before becoming a contracts, marketing and business development consultant for various clients around the world. Most recently, Susan served as the executive director of business and legal affairs at Sportime Clubs. Susan came late to the lifelong game of tennis, but embraced it wholeheartedly, earning a 4.0 with her first NTRP computer rating and serving as vice president of the Raleigh Tennis Association, as well as a committee member for both USTA North Carolina and USTA Southern.
Wheelchair Tennis
Kevin Finkelberg Tennis Courts
About Kevin
PANEL
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M.
Kevin Finkelberg is the manager of community, schools, wheelchair and adaptive tennis at USTA Southern California. He is USPTA wheelchair tennis certified and a USPTA professional coach. In 2017, he received the USPTA Pro of the Year. Kevin has a bachelor of arts in history and a master of public administration.
10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M.
Grow Your Programming With Platform Tennis & Squash
Mike Cochrane, Rich Wade Classroom
See Bios in App
Transitioning From a Defensive to an Offensive Player
Sabastiani Leon Chao Tennis Courts 11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M.
About Sabastiani Sabastiani is on her second term serving on the ITF Women's Player Panel as the representative for North America, Central America and the Caribbean. She educates players about ITF regulations by managing and creating content for the official Instagram page for ITF players. On a local level, she is director on the board of the San Diego District Tennis Association. This year, she joined the executive committee as the regional vice president of the USPTA San Diego Division.
Increasing Revenue & Member Satisfaction
Through a Complete Pickleball Program
Ryan Johnson Classroom
11:00 A.M. - 11:45 A.M.
About Ryan Ryan is currently serving as the director of racquet sports at Paradise Valley Country Club. A scholarship tennis player and team captain at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Ryan is listed in the all-time top 10 for single-season doubles wins. Ryan is a USPTA Elite Certified Professional and holds certifications with the USPTA in pickleball and Padel. He serves as the vice president for the USPTA Southwest Board and for the Pickleball Task Force Committee.
Pickleball Drills & Teaching Differences
Kelly Marshall Pickleball Courts 1:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.
About Kelly
Kelly Marshall is a USPTA Texas Division vice president with over 30 years of coaching experience. She is currently director of tennis and athletics at the Onion Creek Club in Austin, Texas. Kelly is the USPTA pickleball coach developer for Texas and a USPTA Master Professional.
Biggest Padel Breakthroughs From a Tennis Mentality
Kyle LaCroix Padel Court
About Kyle
1:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.
USPTA Master Professional Kyle LaCroix is the chief education officer at Specialized Educational Tennis Solutions. He is a two-time USPTA Florida Division Tester of the Year (2010 and 2012) and was also named the 2011 USPTA Florida Division District Professional of the Year. He is a graduate of the Ferris State University’s Professional Tennis Management Program (PTM) and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, as well as a master's in educational leadership from Stanford University.
The Five Lesson PackageHow to Diagnose and Prescribe
Tim Irwin Pickleball Courts
About Tim
2:00 P.M. - 2:45 P.M.
Tim is the program manager for The Pickleball Club in Sarasota, Fla. and the president of Tim Irwin’s Pickleball School, LLC. He is the past USPTA Middle States head coach developer for pickleball and is a gold medalist at the 2021 Keystone State Pickleball Championships. Tim is USPTA certified, IPTPA level II certified professional and IPTPA rating specialist. Tim was inducted into the USPTA Middle States Division Hall of Fame in 2016, selected as USPTA MS Presidential Award Winner in 2015 and awarded Pro of the Year by the USTA Middle States Philadelphia District in 2014.
Your Padel Emotional Square
Mental Management for Competition Players
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
See Bio Page 21
2:00 P.M. - 2:45 P.M.
Teaching Pickleball for Tennis Pros
Mel McRee
Pickleball Courts
3:00 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.
About Mel Mel McRee is the director of racquet sports at The Lubbock Country Club in Lubbock, Texas. Mel has been a member of the USPTA since 2002, is an Elite Certified Professional and is certified in pickleball. He has served on the USPTA Texas Board of Directors for 10 years and is just beginning his tenure as president. In 2023, Mel began to participate in pickleball tournaments and placed second in singles at the Kansas City Open, fourth at Nationals in Dallas at the 4.0 level, and won doubles and mixed at the Hertz Gold Cup in Daytona at the 4.0 and 4.5 levels respectively.
Professional CoachingEvolve Drills for Offensive/Defensive Situations
Marcos Del Pilar Padel Court
See Bio Page 21
Controlling Your ControllablesFocus on Your EAGLES™
Developing a Tenacious Mindset, On & Off the Court
Angelo Rossetti
Pickleball Courts
3:00 P.M. - 4:45 P.M.
4:00 P.M. - 4:45 P.M.
About Angelo Angelo is USPTA pickleball certified, as well as IPTPA, PPR and the IFP Academy certified. For USPTA he helped develop the teaching curriculum to certify coaches nationally. Angelo was awarded the Pickleball Professional of the Year in 2021 by the USPTA New England Division. In 2022 he was awarded the George Basco Pickleball Coach Developer of the Year. He was elected in 2017 as one of the youngest presidents of USTA Connecticut (2018- 2020). Rossetti was appointed to the USTA National Sportsmanship Task Force in 2019. Angelo is also a published author of “TENNACITY: The Tenacious Mindset, On & Off the Court,” based on his mental skills blog for tennis players and athletes and his online mental skills course.
THE NO.1 BALL ON TOUR *
DUNLOP MEMBER BENEFITS
THROUGH DUNLOP, YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
• 15% ONLINE DISCOUNT off all Dunlop tennis balls at US.DUNLOPSPORTS.COM. Just use promo code DUNLOP2024 at checkout. You can use this code as many times as you like.
• Ability to open an account directly with Dunlop to access our very best prices no minimum volume requirements! Scan QR code below for contact details:
• Access to Dunlop’s logo ball program at no extra cost. We waive the additional logo fee!
• Access to Dunlop’s Cart Ball Program. These balls are specifically designed for coaching and are not available online.
NOTES NOTES
TITLE:
TITLE:
NOTES NOTES
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
NOTES NOTES
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
NOTES NOTES
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
NOTES NOTES
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
NOTES NOTES
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
TITLE:
We are thrilled you could join us in Rancho Mirage. Thank you for your continued loyalty, support and hard work, on and off the court. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hawaii in 2025!
