USTA Florida Daylong Tampa Celebration Introduces New Board, Awardees and More

TAMPA, FLA., NOVEMBER 17, 2024 – USTA Florida gathered tennis enthusiasts, advocates, and leaders for an exciting event focused on the future of tennis in Florida. The event included guest speakers, panel discussions, and a look at the impact of tennis throughout the state. 

Chuck Gill presents the 2025-2026 USTA Florida Board of Directors.

The morning opened with a formal introduction of the newly sworn-in USTA Florida Board of Directors, led by President Chuck Gill, who shared his vision for the organization’s future. Joining him were Marcelo Gouts (President-Elect), Phil Girardi (Delegate and Immediate Past-President), Jane Wahl (Secretary), Lezita Davis (Treasurer), and Directors at Large Trishna Patel, Meika Ashby, Tracy Singian, and Adam Ross. In a Q&A session, the new board addressed forward-thinking initiatives aimed at expanding tennis accessibility and fostering diversity across Florida. “A great board has great diversity of thought. If you have an eight-person board and they all think the same, eight of them don’t need to be there,” he said. “You either shrink or you focus on improving and I think this board is ready to take a good hard look at tennis and improve it.”

Adding to the event’s highlights, best-selling author Allistair McCaw shared his expertise, talking about leadership, innovation, and engaging with attendees. McCaw focused on what it takes to be successful in the ever-changing ecosystem. “The key to sustained success is the ability to adapt and change over time.” He added to this saying that the best companies in the world are constantly welcoming new ideas and bringing in people that are forward thinking. “When it comes to personnel, there highest performing organizations are prioritizing value over experience,” he said. “In other words, it’s not about how much experience you bring, it’s about how much value you add.”

Best-selling author Allistair McCaw presented about leadership and innovation.

The afternoon featured a panel led by Dana Andrews. Panelists included John Sanders, Director of Tennis Management, George Henry, Director of Tennis at USTA Florida managed facility, Play Tennis Gainesville (PTG), and Ken Collins, a teaching pro at PTG, discussed public park facilities, the state’s tennis ecosystem, and the potential for growth in community tennis programs statewide. 

Andrews was later joined by Christine Ducey, Director of Advocacy, for a workshop focusing on advocating for tennis. Ducey encouraged collaboration and idea sharing, where advocates from different counties could brainstorm together.

As the day transitioned into the evening, USTA Florida took a moment to celebrate its 75th Anniversary, recounting this year’s regional events, the historic tennis trial, and memorable initiatives celebrating tennis milestones. 

The late Jim Martz was awarded the Media Excellence Award which was accepted by his sister Sue and her grandson.

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the tennis community, USTA Florida awarded the following individuals and organizations: 

• Outstanding Section Volunteer: Mary Conaway 
• Outstanding Diversity Achievement: City of Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center 
• Jim Martz Media Excellence Award: Jim Martz 
• Albert Carrington Balink Award: Claire Shao & Jack Satterfield 

The event exemplified USTA Florida’s commitment to rallying Florida tennis leaders together to grow the game of tennis for the future.