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<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

My experience at the 2012 <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

World Conference in Monterey, Calif.<br />

I<br />

had a member tell me to be prepared for microclimates<br />

because, even though we were headed to California, the<br />

weather could be cold one second and warm the next.<br />

Luckily I was given this insight before I left and was well<br />

prepared for the foggy and cool breeze filled mornings that,<br />

like clockwork, turned into warm, sun-drenched afternoons.<br />

In Monterey, Calif., I was not aware of the beautiful scenery<br />

until after the fog had lifted my first morning there. When it<br />

did, however, it was a sight to behold. We made sure to make a<br />

walk on the beach a first priority the first day because living in<br />

Iowa, that opportunity does not come often, and we are diving<br />

head first into winter.<br />

One of the things that I truly enjoy the most are the courses<br />

that are provided at any <strong>USPTA</strong> convention. I have learned<br />

that it is important to look thoroughly through the schedule<br />

in order to find the courses to attend that might most interest<br />

me, or give me information that I can use in my own teaching.<br />

Sometimes it can be hard to choose looking through the<br />

course outlines. A <strong>USPTA</strong> convention has course offerings that<br />

can peak my interest in so many different ways. Each specific<br />

title of a course can give you something completely fresh and<br />

new. Whether it is “The Nondominant Hand,” or “Better Young<br />

Athletes Make Better <strong>Tennis</strong> Players,” each course gives great<br />

What's Inside...<br />

2<br />

President's<br />

message 3<br />

Gary Trost named<br />

Master <strong>Professional</strong><br />

6<br />

10 Commandments of<br />

great programming<br />

8 Member<br />

spotlight<br />

Fall 2012<br />

by Tom Jennings<br />

information and even a new outlook on teaching this sport.<br />

(Who knew you could spend an hour just talking about the nondominant<br />

hand!) With each unique course, and each unique and<br />

seasoned individual talking about the sport of tennis, teaching<br />

tennis brings me only to one conclusion. There is so much to<br />

learn, there is a heck of a lot to teach, and there are an unlimited<br />

amount of ways to guide and teach tennis to others. This<br />

circular reasoning continues to remind me of the importance of<br />

all of the <strong>USPTA</strong> conventions.<br />

See Conference, Page 4<br />

9 New<br />

members


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

2012 Board<br />

of Directors<br />

President<br />

Angie Koumaris<br />

OKC Golf and Country Club<br />

7000 N.W. Grand Blvd.<br />

Nichols Hills, OK 73116<br />

405-848-2994<br />

abtwonder@yahoo.com<br />

Regional vice president<br />

Rich Slivocka<br />

3620 E. 30th Ave.<br />

Hitchinson, KS 67502<br />

620-662-1140<br />

richs@prairiedunes.com<br />

1st vice president<br />

Kent Womack<br />

431 Gobbler Court<br />

Beaufort, MO 63013<br />

573-484-3144<br />

kent0992@hotmail.com<br />

2nd vice president<br />

Kevin Braun<br />

5209 Cedar St.<br />

Roeland Park, KS 66205<br />

913-262-0445<br />

kevinmichaelbraun@gmail.com<br />

Treasurer<br />

Rod Zerni<br />

8901 W. 125th Terrace<br />

Overland Park, KS 66213<br />

913-831-0322<br />

woodsidetennis@hotmail.com<br />

Secretary<br />

Tom Jennings<br />

308 3rd Ave.<br />

Hiawatha, IA 52233<br />

319-396-7060<br />

tomtennis101@gmail.com<br />

Member-at-large<br />

René Vidal<br />

5620 Grand Dr.<br />

St. Louis, MO 63112<br />

314-452-1870<br />

renev@foresthillscc.net<br />

Past president<br />

Kendell Hale<br />

2205 N.W. 81st St.<br />

Kansas City, MO 64151-3738<br />

816-436-1608<br />

halekl@umkc.edu<br />

2<br />

Valley<br />

Viewpoint<br />

Angie Koumaris<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> Missouri<br />

Valley President<br />

Hello Missouri Valley,<br />

I am so excited and looking forward to<br />

being your president for the next two<br />

years!<br />

If you did not attend the September<br />

World Conference in Monterey, I highly<br />

recommend you try to attend next year<br />

in Orlando at the Grand Cypress. There<br />

were so many great speakers and seminars,<br />

lots of opportunity for networking,<br />

beautiful scenery, and the food was<br />

great.<br />

A couple of the speakers from the World Conference will be<br />

speaking at our Missouri Valley Convention, which is fast<br />

approaching, so you’ll get to see them if you missed out in<br />

Monterey. The date has been set and we have a great lineup of<br />

speakers. A save-the-date card will be in the mail soon. Also,<br />

you can like us on Facebook. It is the official Missouri Valley<br />

Facebook page.<br />

Congratulations to the new Missouri Valley board: Rich Slivocka,<br />

Kent Womack, Rod Zerni, Kevin Braun, and new board<br />

members Tom Jennings and René Vidal. Thank you, Kendell<br />

Hale, for your leadership over the last two years. If you have<br />

any questions or concerns, please contact me or any member of<br />

the board. We are always looking for feedback and new ideas<br />

from our membership. We are here to serve you.<br />

Look forward to an exciting year!<br />

Angie Koumaris<br />

Missouri Valley President<br />

Missouri Valley Division Convention<br />

February 21-23, 2013<br />

Wichita Country Club, Wichita, Kan.<br />

Head tester<br />

Bunny Bruning<br />

27836 Meadowview Lane<br />

Adel, IA 50003<br />

bunnybfs@aol.com<br />

Executive administrator<br />

Jill Phipps<br />

3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One<br />

Houston, TX 77042<br />

888-877-8232<br />

divisionea@uspta.org<br />

Associate State Board<br />

Members<br />

Joel Reckewey – Nebraska<br />

139 N. 11th #1103<br />

Lincoln, NE 68508<br />

(402) 730-6070<br />

joelrex25@gmail.com<br />

Melissa McCorkle – Oklahoma<br />

8114 S 71st E Ave.<br />

Tulsa, OK 74133<br />

mmtennis@cox.net<br />

918-830-0526<br />

Steve Henry – Oklahoma<br />

OKC <strong>Tennis</strong> Center<br />

3400 N. Portland Ave.<br />

Oklahoma City, OK 73112<br />

okctenniscenter@att.net<br />

Michele Conlon – Iowa<br />

Hawkeye <strong>Tennis</strong> and Recreation<br />

Complex<br />

2820 Prairie Meadow Drive<br />

Iowa City, IA 52242<br />

319-335-9307<br />

michele-conlon@uiowa.edu<br />

Tylor Schlader – Iowa<br />

2781 NW 155th St.<br />

Clive, IA 50325<br />

tschlader@7flags.com<br />

tylor.schlader@gmail.com<br />

641-330-6277<br />

Dave Gary – Kansas<br />

6700 W. 110th St.<br />

Overland Park, KS 66211<br />

Dave.gary@midtown.com<br />

913-491-4116<br />

Ben Loeb – Missouri<br />

1104 Elsdon Dr.<br />

Columbia, MO 65203<br />

573-268-8750<br />

bloeb@columbia.k12.mo.us<br />

Fall 2012


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

Gary Trost named <strong>USPTA</strong> Master <strong>Professional</strong><br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> Missouri Valley Pro Gary Trost was recognized<br />

for achieving Master <strong>Professional</strong> status, the highest<br />

professional rating within the tennis profession.<br />

He was recognized during the <strong>USPTA</strong>’s annual awards breakfast<br />

on Sept. 19 at the <strong>USPTA</strong> World Conference on <strong>Tennis</strong> at<br />

the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif.<br />

He joins an elite group as only about 1 percent of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s<br />

more than 15,000 members worldwide have achieved the Master<br />

<strong>Professional</strong> designation.<br />

Members must hold <strong>USPTA</strong>’s highest certification rating (<strong>Professional</strong><br />

1) for more than 10 years before becoming eligible<br />

for the Master <strong>Professional</strong> designation. Then, each must fulfill<br />

a broad spectrum of requirements, including making significant<br />

achievements in areas such as tennis teaching and coaching,<br />

business, education and volunteer work.<br />

Trost is the director of tennis at Oklahoma City Golf and<br />

Country Club, in Nichols Hills, Okla. He has been a certified<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> professional for 25 years. He has served as a <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

Missouri Valley Board member since 1997, including <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

Missouri Valley President from 2006-2010. He has been the<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> National Vice President since 2011. In 2006 he was<br />

honored as the George Bacso National Tester of the Year and is<br />

a five-time Missouri Valley Pro of the Year.<br />

Congratulations, Gary!<br />

Fall 2012<br />

3


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

Conference, from Page 1<br />

Having the opportunity to talk tennis, and to even hit a few balls with fellow<br />

teaching professionals is something that I value greatly. It is invigorating to see the<br />

bigger world that is the profession of teaching tennis, and it truly makes my world<br />

when I get back a more exciting one, and a fresher one for my clients. I get excited<br />

to bring them new drills and methods of teaching, and it can make a huge difference<br />

when they get to see something new that I throw at them. It is for all of these reasons<br />

that I will plan on heading to the <strong>USPTA</strong> World Conference next year, and hopefully<br />

for many years to come. I will be looking forward to 2013 in Orlando.<br />

4<br />

► Bunny Bruning, Kendell Hale and<br />

Tylor Schlader<br />

◄ Angie Koumaris and Bunny Bruning<br />

▼ (from left) Darren Heck, Rich<br />

Slivocka, Carrie Trost and Gary Trost<br />

Kaci Rumelhart and Tom Jennings (from left) Bunny, Kendell, Angie, Kaci, Tom and Tylor<br />

Fall 2012


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

World Conference attendees from Missouri Valley<br />

Fall 2012<br />

Bunny Bruning<br />

Matthew Free<br />

Kendell Hale<br />

Darren Heck<br />

Tom Jennings<br />

Angela Koumaris<br />

Lynda Marcos<br />

Steve Proulx<br />

Kaci Rumelhart<br />

Carlos Salazar<br />

Tylor Schlader<br />

James Shaughnessy<br />

Richard Slivocka<br />

Carrie Trost<br />

Gary Trost<br />

Rene Vidal<br />

Russ Warner<br />

Helen Wilson<br />

John Winterringer<br />

5


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

The 10 Commandments<br />

of great programming<br />

Leading your clients from here to there<br />

The best-selling book<br />

of all-time includes<br />

a tale of transporting<br />

people from “here to there”<br />

(e.g., Egypt to the Promised<br />

Land; societal chaos to<br />

societal peace, etc.). In a real<br />

sense, our mission as directors<br />

and leaders in the tennis<br />

community is no different.<br />

All things considered, every<br />

private client wants to get<br />

better, and every club membership<br />

desires to have an<br />

excellent tennis program. It’s<br />

our responsibility to not only<br />

deliver beyond expectations,<br />

but to create standards and<br />

programs that wow clients<br />

day-in and day-out. Is this a<br />

high calling of intense proportions?<br />

Absolutely, and so were<br />

the hand-delivered instructions<br />

on the peak of Mount<br />

Sinai.<br />

To help your clients and<br />

your overall tennis operation<br />

move from “here to there,”<br />

certain commandments<br />

should be followed:<br />

1. Thou Shalt Prepare or<br />

Perish<br />

In the business world, it’s<br />

called due diligence; in the<br />

athletic arena, it’s called<br />

good old-fashioned preparation.<br />

Success begins<br />

6<br />

with vision, yes; however,<br />

conversing with clients,<br />

periodically soliciting<br />

feedback from committees<br />

(and the like) clarifies<br />

the vision, increasing the<br />

likelihood of running a<br />

first-class program.<br />

2. Thou Shalt Prioritize<br />

Diversity<br />

Successful programs specifically<br />

address the needs<br />

and desires of the client/<br />

membership. At Forest<br />

Hills, there are opportunities<br />

for every age, level,<br />

and gender to participate<br />

in the sport. We also strive<br />

to be responsive and openminded<br />

to ideas for new<br />

programs.<br />

3. Thou Shalt Partner<br />

Effectively<br />

To accelerate the<br />

performance of your<br />

tennis program, partner<br />

with the best people who<br />

will serve as your tennis<br />

ambassadors. The best<br />

client representatives<br />

are those who are wellconnected,<br />

well-liked, and<br />

extremely proactive in<br />

bringing friends into the<br />

participation mix.<br />

4. Thou Shalt Communicate<br />

Consistently<br />

Clients both expect and<br />

appreciate candid communication<br />

and transparency.<br />

Use various mediums<br />

(e.g., e-mail, newsletters,<br />

etc.) to help shape expectations,<br />

make it easier for<br />

clients to play, and reiterate<br />

your value proposition.<br />

For example, we use our<br />

club’s monthly newsletter<br />

to provide concrete<br />

examples of how we are<br />

fulfilling our mission of<br />

developing leaders on and<br />

off the court.<br />

5. Thou Shalt Educate First<br />

The beauty of our sport<br />

rests in the ultimate life<br />

lessons that are gained<br />

through continuous participation.<br />

It’s vital that<br />

each tennis program have<br />

a theme and remain true to<br />

form for the duration. One<br />

of our most successful<br />

programs, “<strong>Tennis</strong> University<br />

for Beginners,” is selfexplanatory.<br />

As players<br />

improve, they are invited<br />

to move on to our “Play<br />

Great Series for Intermediates.”<br />

The life lesson: earn<br />

the promotion.<br />

by René Vidal, M.Sc., <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

6. Thou Shalt Have Fun<br />

There are a million ways<br />

to do this, but the most effective<br />

tennis leaders pick<br />

a few and stay consistent.<br />

In 2012, playing music<br />

during our summer junior<br />

programs helped energize<br />

our students and kept them<br />

from standing still in line.<br />

This may not work at every<br />

facility, but it has for<br />

ours, so we rocked on.<br />

7. Thou Shalt Please<br />

Selectively<br />

As customer-centric as<br />

we are at Forest Hills,<br />

members understand that<br />

group lessons are not<br />

the venue to seek private<br />

advice. Many coaches<br />

allow themselves to get<br />

distracted during lessons<br />

because they try to<br />

respond to every comment<br />

and whim. In a group<br />

environment, the group<br />

comes first; in a private<br />

atmosphere, the client<br />

comes first. This is the<br />

most professional way to<br />

conduct business.<br />

8. Thou Shalt Invite Non-<br />

Members<br />

Nationwide, the battle for<br />

increasing club member-<br />

Fall 2012


ships is not uncommon.<br />

By holding events (e.g.,<br />

member-guest) that are<br />

open to non-members, you<br />

display your club’s wares<br />

to prospective new members,<br />

thus adding value<br />

beyond your immediate<br />

tennis objectives.<br />

9. Thou Shalt Speak<br />

<strong>Professional</strong>ly<br />

Both on and off the court,<br />

positive self-talk is a<br />

huge advantage and a<br />

key factor to success. If<br />

you’d like your clients to<br />

perform like winners, one<br />

of the first steps involves<br />

teaching them to talk like<br />

winners. The process<br />

begins with you. In a<br />

world that often thrives on<br />

small talk, it’s imperative<br />

Fall 2012<br />

that you know what topics<br />

are open for discussion vs.<br />

those topics (and words)<br />

that are off limits: set the<br />

example.<br />

10. Thou Shalt Weed Out<br />

Aggressively<br />

Not every program and/or<br />

service will be a smashing<br />

hit. For example, we’re<br />

currently reviewing our<br />

tennis blog and online<br />

media presence to decide<br />

whether or not there’s<br />

enough value to keep them<br />

going. There’s nothing<br />

wrong with clearing out<br />

the clutter. Look to improve<br />

it or cut it.<br />

And always look for<br />

ways to help your clients get<br />

from here to there.<br />

<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

By holding member-guest events, you display your club’s wares<br />

to prospective new members, thus adding value beyond your<br />

immediate tennis objectives.<br />

René Vidal, a member of the<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> Missouri Valley Board<br />

of Directors, is director of<br />

tennis at Forest Hills Country<br />

Club, and founder of Vidal<br />

Sports Group, LLC, a high-<br />

performance consulting firm<br />

for executives and achievers.<br />

His newsletter, The Vidal<br />

Edge, can be accessed at<br />

www.renevidal.com.<br />

7


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

Spotlight<br />

Trey Baring is the new staff professional at Oklahoma City<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Center.<br />

Trey was born and raised near San Antonio where he played<br />

high school tennis, winning district and regional titles. In college<br />

Trey played at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond,<br />

competing at nationals in 2009. Trey will be graduating this<br />

December with a degree in Business Management. Trey has a<br />

busy schedule finishing his degree and working full time at the<br />

tennis center, directing the advanced juniors, private and group<br />

lessons, racquet stringing and as assistant tournament direc-<br />

8<br />

Trey Baring<br />

THE ULTIMATE<br />

KIDS CHALLENGE<br />

is the<br />

“Little Mo”<br />

INTERNATIONAL<br />

OPEN<br />

Ages 7-12<br />

Open to ANY PLAYER Worldwide<br />

December 7-12, 2012<br />

PGA National Resort & Spa<br />

and<br />

BallenIsles Country Club<br />

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida USA<br />

* Players 8, 9, 10: Yellow ball<br />

or green dot ball option<br />

For More Info<br />

Email: cartennis@aol.com<br />

To register:<br />

www.MCBTENNIS.ORG<br />

Andy Roddick, former<br />

“Little Mo” Champion 1992<br />

*Please bring this photo to the tournament desk for a FREE PRIZE.<br />

“Mini Mo” Internationals: December 14-17 at Club Med Sandpiper, Port St. Lucie, FL<br />

(Boys and Girls ages 5-10 using 36'/60'/78' court and red/orange/green dot balls)<br />

Open to any player worldwide Enter online: www.mcbtennis.org<br />

tor in 11 summer tournaments. Trey also helps in coaching the<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Center’s USTA Junior Team <strong>Tennis</strong> teams.<br />

Trey has made a commitment to becoming a highly qualified<br />

tennis professional. He completed his <strong>USPTA</strong> certification this<br />

spring, scoring a P1 on his first try on the written portion of<br />

the test. Trey is always browsing on the Internet or the <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

website looking for tips and ideas to further enhance his skills<br />

as a teaching professional, and is looking forward to attending<br />

his first <strong>USPTA</strong> divisional convention.<br />

Fall 2012


Welcome to the Valley!<br />

Welcome to new members:<br />

Christopher Copenhaver of Wichita, Kan.<br />

George James of Columbia, Mo.<br />

Curtis Newman of Ankeny, Iowa<br />

Khiem Nguyen of Enid, Okla.<br />

Kyle Petersen of West Des Moines, Iowa<br />

Clark Taylor of St. Louis<br />

Lanny Wake of Cameron, Mo.<br />

John Winterringer of Shawnee, Okla.<br />

Fall 2012<br />

Dates to Remember<br />

Testing Dates<br />

Nov. 10 Kansas City, Mo.<br />

The Plaza<br />

Jan. 12 Kansas City, Mo.<br />

The Plaza<br />

Feb. 21 Wichita, Kan.<br />

Wichita Country Club<br />

March 15 Oklahoma City, Okla.<br />

Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club<br />

April 20 Des Moines, Iowa<br />

Wakonda Club<br />

May 12 St. Louis, Mo.<br />

Frontenac Racquet Club<br />

May 18 Des Moines, Iowa<br />

Wakonda Club<br />

May 18 Kansas City, Mo.<br />

The Plaza<br />

July 14 Des Moines, Iowa<br />

Wakonda Club<br />

<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

Find-a-Pro. Visit <strong>USPTA</strong>’s free job<br />

listing service, Find-a-Pro,<br />

at www.find-a-pro.com, to find a job,<br />

list a job or find<br />

other <strong>USPTA</strong> Pros near you.<br />

If you would like to place a job listing<br />

in the newsletter, please contact Jill<br />

at divisionea@uspta.org or<br />

888-877-8232.<br />

Meet your Missouri Valley<br />

HEAD/Penn Rep!<br />

Jason Thoerner<br />

District Sales Manager (Iowa, Kansas,<br />

Missouri, Nebraska, Southern Illinois)<br />

328 E. Glendale Street<br />

Manito, IL 61546<br />

Office: 309-265-0488<br />

Cell: 309-840-5485<br />

Email: JThoerner@us.head.com<br />

9


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> announces plans to move forward<br />

Tim Heckler to retire in December 2012 and John Embree named as new CEO/Executive Director<br />

The <strong>USPTA</strong> has announced plans<br />

to move forward following Tim<br />

Heckler’s retirement as chief<br />

executive officer effective Dec. 31, 2012,<br />

after 30 years in the position.<br />

Heckler announced his intent to<br />

retire earlier this year and the Board of<br />

Directors also offered Heckler a one-year<br />

severance package through the end of<br />

2013, which was ratified by a vote of the<br />

entire Executive Committee in April.<br />

The Board of Directors and Search<br />

Committee recently hired industry<br />

veteran John Embree as the new CEO/<br />

Executive Director. Embree began transitioning<br />

into his role as of Oct. 1 and<br />

will be relocating to the national office in<br />

Houston on Nov. 1.<br />

The association conducted a search<br />

for the new CEO/Executive Director, and<br />

after interviewing several candidates in<br />

conjunction with the executive search<br />

firm, GSI Executive Search Inc., the<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> Search Committee offered the<br />

position to Embree. The contract was<br />

ratified by the <strong>USPTA</strong> Executive Committee<br />

in late August.<br />

“The <strong>USPTA</strong> is indebted to Tim<br />

Heckler for taking <strong>USPTA</strong> to the next<br />

level, and his 30 years of service as<br />

CEO is a demonstration of his passion,<br />

his commitment to the association, and<br />

his endless hard work for helping and<br />

improving the well-being of the tennisteaching<br />

professional,” President Daglis<br />

said.<br />

When Heckler, who is a <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

Master <strong>Professional</strong>, was tapped as<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong> CEO in 1982, the organization<br />

had approximately 2,400 members and<br />

an annual budget of $700,000. Today,<br />

the association is the world’s oldest and<br />

largest organization of its kind, serving<br />

10<br />

Tim Heckler John Embree<br />

more than 15,000 members in 66 countries,<br />

and operating on an annual budget<br />

of $6.5 million. Also, the association’s<br />

equity has grown from $60,000 in 1982<br />

to more than $4.2 million today.<br />

Heckler, who began playing tennis<br />

at age 3, started his tennis-teaching<br />

career in 1970, the same year he joined<br />

<strong>USPTA</strong>. He was elected president of<br />

the <strong>USPTA</strong> Texas Division in 1974 and<br />

served as national president of the organization<br />

from 1980 to 1982.<br />

With Heckler’s guidance, <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

became one of the first tennis organizations<br />

to embrace technology, first through<br />

the computerization of the business itself<br />

as early as 1982, and then later through<br />

its use of the Internet and email-based<br />

communications and education. <strong>USPTA</strong><br />

introduced its first website in 1995.<br />

The <strong>USPTA</strong> honored Heckler in<br />

2000 by naming him a grand inductee in<br />

the Association’s Hall of Fame. He also<br />

received the International <strong>Tennis</strong> Hall of<br />

Fame’s <strong>Tennis</strong> Educational Merit Award<br />

in 2002 and was inducted into the Texas<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008<br />

he received the highest honor awarded<br />

by the <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> <strong>Professional</strong> <strong>Tennis</strong><br />

Association, the George Bacso Lifetime<br />

Achievement Award.<br />

“We are pleased to welcome John<br />

Embree into the <strong>USPTA</strong> family. His vast<br />

tennis industry expertise, contacts, and<br />

company management skills will serve<br />

the <strong>USPTA</strong> well,” said President Tom<br />

Daglis.<br />

Embree has held a wide variety of<br />

influential tennis industry roles for more<br />

than 30 years. They include serving as<br />

President of Prince Sports, The Americas;<br />

President of Balle de Match LLC;<br />

and Vice President/General Manager,<br />

Racquet Sports Division for Wilson<br />

Sporting Goods Co. Most recently, he<br />

launched a tennis consulting practice<br />

to assist endemic brands, associations<br />

and new corporate entities in maximizing<br />

their impact in the tennis marketplace.<br />

His client list included the USTA,<br />

Intercollegiate <strong>Tennis</strong> Association, Peter<br />

Burwash International, Off the Grid<br />

Technologies, and Donnay USA.<br />

Embree has served on many national<br />

USTA Committees, including the USTA<br />

Nominating Committee in 2005-2006<br />

and currently as the Vice Chair of USTA<br />

<strong>Professional</strong> Circuits Committee. In addition,<br />

he recently served as Presidential<br />

appointee of the Board of Directors of<br />

USTA Middle <strong>States</strong> section, is a past<br />

member of TIA Board of Directors and<br />

Executive Committee, member of the<br />

Board of Directors of American College<br />

of Sports Medicine Foundation, and past<br />

President of the Chicago <strong>Tennis</strong> Patrons<br />

Foundation. One of his proudest achievements<br />

in tennis was the creation of the<br />

USTA Adult League <strong>Tennis</strong> program in<br />

1980, when he served as the first USTA<br />

Adult League <strong>Tennis</strong> Administrator for<br />

two years. He earned a bachelor’s degree<br />

from Washington & Lee University in<br />

Lexington, VA, and was inducted into the<br />

W&L Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.<br />

Fall 2012


Fall 2012<br />

<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

11


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

The <strong>USPTA</strong> Competitive Player<br />

Development Conference will<br />

take place at the Academia<br />

Sánchez-Casal in Naples, Fla., Dec. 7-9.<br />

The conference will allow attendees to<br />

learn the Spanish method for developing<br />

players.<br />

The Academia Sánchez-Casal,<br />

considered the best tennis academy in<br />

Europe, will officially open its branch in<br />

Naples, Fla., on November 1 (although<br />

doors opened for members on October<br />

1). It will be the largest clay court<br />

facility in the country, which is a key<br />

factor for the Academy to implement its<br />

training system based in Spanish tennis.<br />

This system has developed top players<br />

including Murray, Kuznetsova, Monaco<br />

and Hantuchova, among many others.<br />

The Academy just opened its<br />

programs for juniors, ATP-WTA players,<br />

coaches and after-school tennis for<br />

kids. It will follow the same successful<br />

structure that it has in Barcelona: the<br />

12<br />

Academia Sánchez-Casal <strong>Tennis</strong> Club, a<br />

traditional club for families with numerous<br />

social activities and great tennis programs<br />

for local kids, combined with the<br />

high performance Academy programs.<br />

Featured speakers for the conference<br />

include Emilio Sanchez Vicario, Luis<br />

Mediero and Derek Touchette. Sanchez<br />

Vicario, who is a <strong>USPTA</strong> Master <strong>Professional</strong>,<br />

is the former captain of the 2008<br />

championship Davis Cup team for Spain<br />

and a former tour player ranked No. 7<br />

in singles and No. 1 in doubles. He was<br />

also captain of Spain’s Olympic gold<br />

medal team in 2008. The Sanchez family<br />

is also well known for Emilio’s sister,<br />

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who won four<br />

Grand Slam singles titles, six Grand<br />

Slam women’s doubles titles, and four<br />

Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.<br />

Luis Mediero is a <strong>USPTA</strong> Master<br />

<strong>Professional</strong> and the founder of Registro<br />

Profesional de Tenis (RPT) in Madrid,<br />

Spain. Mediero, who is also the president<br />

of the International Coaches Institute, has<br />

a lifetime of coaching experience that he<br />

has shared through courses, clinics and<br />

conferences in 80 countries, and he will<br />

provide invaluable insights to attendees.<br />

Derek Touchette is the fitness director<br />

at Academia Sanchez-Casal. He is the<br />

founder of Total Athletic Performance<br />

and has trained athletes for the NFL,<br />

NBA, MLS and USA Soccer. He has<br />

trained tennis players, such as Sharapova,<br />

Jankovic, and Mirny.<br />

Early registration for the conference<br />

is $300 for <strong>USPTA</strong> members and<br />

includes all materials. The deadline for<br />

early registration is Nov. 1. The conference<br />

will be presented in English. For<br />

more information about the conference,<br />

including a detailed agenda, click here.<br />

For more details and to register, visit<br />

www.sanchez-casal.com, call 239-641-<br />

0010 or email florida@sanchez-casal.<br />

com.<br />

Fall 2012


Fall 2012<br />

<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

USTA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING WORKSHOP<br />

FACT SHEET<br />

Date and Time: November 30, 2012<br />

8:30 a.m.‐4:00 p.m.<br />

Sites: Sheraton Overland Park<br />

6100 College Blvd<br />

Overland Park, KS 66211<br />

913.234.2100<br />

Midtown Athletic Club<br />

6700 W 110 th St<br />

Overland Park, KS 66211<br />

913.491.4116<br />

Contacts: Marissa Brown<br />

913.322.4822<br />

brown@movalley.usta.com<br />

Registration:<br />

Workshop Leaders: TBD<br />

Please note there is $15 registration fee.<br />

To register for the workshop, please visit:<br />

http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2023660<br />

If you have any additional questions, please contact Marissa Brown at<br />

brown@movalley.usta.com.<br />

Workshop check in: Check‐in is at 8:15 a.m. at the Sheraton Overland Park (address listed below)<br />

Meals: Lunch will be provided on site.<br />

Local Hotel<br />

Accommodations:<br />

For those needing local accommodations, below are local area hotels.<br />

Sheraton Overland Park<br />

6100 College Blvd<br />

Overland Park, KS 66211<br />

913.234.2100<br />

13


<strong>Newsletter</strong> of <strong>USPTA</strong>’s Missouri Valley Division<br />

3535 Briarpark Drive • Suite One • Houston, TX 77042<br />

888-<strong>USPTA</strong>-EA • Fax: 713-978-7780<br />

e-mail: divisionea@uspta.org<br />

Editor Julie Myers<br />

Contributors Angie Koumaris, Tom Jennings, René Vidal<br />

MOmentum is published quarterly by the Missouri Valley Division of<br />

the <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> <strong>Professional</strong> <strong>Tennis</strong> Association.<br />

The opinions expressed in MOmentum are those of the authors and<br />

not necessarily those of MOmentum or the <strong>USPTA</strong> Missouri Valley<br />

Division.<br />

Copyright© Missouri Valley Division/<strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> <strong>Professional</strong><br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Association, Inc. 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction<br />

of any portion of the newsletter is not permitted without written<br />

permission from the <strong>USPTA</strong> Missouri Valley Division.<br />

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