Women in Tennis Speakers Bureau

Bio:   Wisconsin-born and Central Florida-raised, Amy was introduced to tennis in middle school not anticipating that the sport would help define her career.  After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL and working for the University’s Marketing and Communications department for 3 years, Amy moved to Boca Raton to begin her career with USTA Player Development.  Over the 15 years in the Marketing and Communications field, Amy has worked in coordination with fellow team members to present a unified message and image across digital and traditional platforms.  Her education and experience with various organizations allows her to pursue her passions while igniting others’. 

Bio:  Wendy Tatum was a collegiate golfer at Florida State University. After College she went to work at resorts where she opened the Orlando Hyatt Grand Cypress and was the Director of Recreation running the large grotto pool, fitness center, tennis, Par 3 golf course and childcare center. As Director Wendy traveled to the Hyatt Grand Caymans to help with the recreation and water sports. After 5 years at the Grand Cypress and receiving manager of the year Wendy was sent to open the Hyatt Waikoloa on the Big Island in Hawaii. A year later Wendy was sent to Maui to run the Water Sports and recreation for all of Hyatt properties. After moving back to Tampa and the Director of Recreation for Saddlebrook for a year before staying home and raising her 2 daughters. After 25 years Wendy found herself tossed back into the work force. In 2013 Wendy was hired by the City of Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center as Operation Manager. Wendy received USPTA Manager of the year in Florida and USPTA National Manager of the Year in 2019. She was named Director of the Tennis and Pickleball Center in 2020. The Center received the 2018 USTA Member Organization of the year for Florida and received the National Member Organization of the Year 2020-2021. 

Bio:   Michele is an experienced sports product manager with a demonstrated history of working in the tennis/fitness industry.  She is the world’s foremost expert on Cardio Tennis; the architect and co-founder of the Cardio Tennis® Program, innovative and successful in taking the Cardio Tennis brand from concept to global brand recognition in over 30 countries.  Cardio Tennis participation in the US has shown consistent growth since first tracked over 10 years ago with a participation increase of +156% from 2008-2016 and it is ranked #2 in the top ten fastest growing sports over a 3-year participation rate. Today 2.2 million people in the US participate in Cardio Tennis.

Bio:  Trish Faulkner is currently Tennis Professional Emeritus at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She has served as tournament chairperson for the 2014 ITF Senior World Championships in Palm Beach County. Previously, she worked as head tour director and marketing director for the WTA and formed a sports marketing and special event corporation operating four of the Virginia Slims Women’s Professional Tour events. An author, she wrote The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tennis and produced a teaching manual for the ITF for the Middle East with an accompanying slide show. As a player, she won multiple titles on the Women’s Tour, including the British Indoor Doubles and Mixed Doubles. She has scored many victories as a high-level senior player and was ranked No. 1 in three senior age divisions – 50’s, 55’s and 60’s – and has won 36 U.S.A. national senior titles. Faulkner is an ITF World Singles Champion and a member of the U.S. team winning four ITF World Team Championships.

Bio:   Dana G. Andrews currently serves as the President of USTA Florida.  She has the distinction of being the first daughter of a former USTA Florida President (B.A. Grubbs) to serve in the position.  Dana is an advocate for women in business and in sports, and has a passion for volunteering — in tennis and in her local community.

An attorney by day, Dana is a partner at Sponsler, Hammer & Johnson, P.A., with offices located in Tampa, Atlanta, and Palm Beach.  Dana is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she majored in political science. Dana was a scholarship athlete at the University of Georgia for the Women’s Tennis Team. She is also a graduate of the Cumberland School of Law.

Bio:   Laura Bowen has served as executive director of USTA Florida since 2018.  In her role, Bowen works alongside a board of elected volunteers and a staff of more than 50, to promote and develop the growth of tennis across the State of Florida.  Since 2019, the organization has experienced unprecedented growth in new tennis players, and currently has one of the highest annual growth rates in the nation.  USTA Florida currently manage three public tennis centers and delivers a broad range of programs and play opportunities through an expansive provider network.

Bowen first joined USTA Florida in August of 2011 as director of marketing, membership & sponsorship.  During her tenure, she has earned a reputation for building high-performing teams and leveraging technology and new ideas to improve operations and results.  She is a vocal advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in sport, working with all partners in the tennis community to make tennis more fun, accessible and inclusive for everyone.   She holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

Bio:  Tracy is the USTA National Managing Director of Recreational Competition, with a focus on developing, implementing, and growing junior, collegiate, and adult competition at the local level throughout the United States. Prior to coming to the National Office, Tracy served as the Executive Director for USTA Tennessee for 5 years. Tracy’s experience in tennis spans the globe, with previous roles in coaching, including National Coach for USTA Player Development, Player Development Coach for the South Africa Tennis Association, and Traveling Coach for the International Tennis Federation, based out of Roehampton, England. As a former collegiate player at the University of Tennessee/Knoxville and a certified teaching professional herself, Tracy’s knowledge and experience in all aspects of the game of tennis help provide the USTA with valuable insight and information that will ultimately help grow the sport from the ground up. 

Bio:   A native of England, Joanne Wallen became a top junior player in England, after taking up tennis at the age of four.  She came to the U.S. in 1988 on a six-year scholarship to the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla.  That year she also signed with sports marketing giant IMG, the youngest player ever to do so at the time.  She played for 14 years on the International Tennis Federation and Women’s Tennis Association tours, winning 15 events and achieving a world #252 ranking in singles and #179 ranking in
doubles.

In 2005 she joined the Lexington Tennis Club in Kentucky as Director of Junior Development and was promoted to General Manager in 2009.  In 2016 Joanne joined USTA as Director of Adult Individual Play at the National Campus in Orlando. With this position, she oversaw all Adult tournaments, Wheelchair Tennis. On Feb 1st, 2021 Joanne was named Sr. Director of USTA National Campus where she oversees the racquet sports programming (Tennis, Pickleball and Padel), over 165 events, courts and grounds, facility operations, customer care, sales, community relations and marketing

Throughout her career, Wallen has devoted countless hours to growing the sport of tennis by developing her own skills and teaching those around her.  Wallen’s involvement in tennis has been multifaceted, and includes serving on the Board of Directors of USTA
Kentucky, and chairing its Junior Competition Committee.  Wallen is a USTA Certified High-Performance Specialist, working with top juniors to prepare them for competition, and a tester for the U.S. Tennis Professional Association (USPTA), certifying tennis instructors in Kentucky and surrounding states. In 2012, she was named “Newcomer of the Year” by the Professional Tennis Registry.

Bio:   Tracey joined Back 2 Normal in May 2021 as a physical therapist. Tracey earned her master’s in physical therapy degree from the University of Central Florida in 2002. Because she was interested in educating future physical therapists, she went on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2010 from Nova Southeastern University, allowing her to teach at that level for the University of Central Florida. Tracey’s passion has been orthopedics, sports medicine, vestibular rehabilitation, and women’s health.  Tracey initially became interested in the field of physical therapy after having to undergo treatment as a college swimmer at the University of Texas. Since initial attempts by the athletic trainer failed to get her back to her sport, a physical therapist intervened and was able to get her to her pre-injury status. She went on to win 13 NCAA titles over her 4 years at Texas and earned a spot on the 1988 US Olympic Team, taking home a Silver Medal.

Bio:   Back 2 Normal Physical Therapy was founded by Lisa Chase in 1998.  Lisa is an internationally recognized physical therapist, educator, lecturer and published author, with a specialty in rehabilitation, performance and wellness. She is a compassionate healer with a wealth of knowledge obtained through 25+ years of orthopedic manual physical therapy, sports injury management and total body wellness. She uses a holistic, whole body approach by applying cutting edge technology, osteopathic manual therapy and functional integration to restore joint biomechanics, soft tissue mobility and movement patterns to speed healing results.

Lisa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1991. She additionally holds a number of certifications & trainings.

Bio:   Kirsten is a Licensed Physical Therapist with over 19 years of experience, earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2008. Prior to earning her Doctorate, she completed her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. She also holds her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Eckerd College, and is a licensed Massage Therapist through the Humanity School of Massage since 1996.

Kirsten finds great satisfaction in working with patients that suffer with life-altering conditions, to help them get back to enjoying life and all it has to offer.  She is a contributing author for the textbook, “Sports Injury and Rehabilitation,” and looks forward to wearing her “author” hat again in the future. 

Bio:   Jillian is passionate about helping you rejuvenate your health with a holistic approach to optimal nutrition, smart supplementation, and an elevated lifestyle. She helps you sort through all the confusing, contradictory information to best develop a plan based on your uniqueness while addressing the foundations of optimal wellness from a holistic perspective. Jillian is committed to offering you the highest level of care in holistic healing with unparalleled support, integrity, and compassion.

Bio:   Ilene is a nationally Certified Personal Trainer, Corporate Wellness Consultant, Fitness Author and Professional Speaker. Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for more than 20 years, she has specialized in post-rehab fitness, weight loss, functional/ & core training, TRX suspension training, Pilates, and fitness in the workplace.

Ilene struggled with her own weight until almost 50 years of age when she lost over 46 inches, embraced fitness and transformed her own life. She became dedicated to well being and helping those who struggle to be fit. Ilene has competed in 5 marathons and ranked as a finalist in a fitness competition. She served as a health and fitness contributor at NBC News in Tampa, Daytime Morning Shows and radio talk shows. Her personal experiences and professional training has empowered her clients to invest in their own health and well-being.