2026 RSPA NE Conference Program

2026 RSPA New England Annual Summit Speakers

Michele Krause

Lex Carrington

Darius Greenbacher

Tim Buwick

Greg Moran

Tracy Almeda-Singian

Bharat Karunakaran

location: Hatfield Rally House, 255 West Street, North Hatfield, MA

Thank You to our Sponsors

May 1st: Pickleball Come check out the Hatfield Rally House!!

Play pickleball st Friday night, May 1 ! from 6:00pm-7:30/8:00pm

May 2nd: Day 1 Schedule 7:30-

Registration Opens

2:30-3:30

“Privates, Parents, and

8:30-9:15

Women’s Roundtable (open

Programs” with Lex Carrington

to all)

3:45-4:45

9:30-10:30 “Lessons From My Coaches -

with Greg Moran

Drills that Still Deliver” with Tracy

5:00-6:00

Almeda-Singian

Technology” with Bharat Karunakaran

10:45-11:15

“Beyond Hours and Dollars”

“The Impact of Paddle

Membership Meeting with

Tim Buwick (National Board

6:30- CARDIO TENNIS FEEDING

Representative) and Milan Kubala (RSPA

COMPETITION!!

NE President) 11:30-12:30 “Cardio Tennis - Signature Games” with Michele Krause

12:45-2:15 AWARDS LUNCH

Happy Hour, Networking, & RAFFLE

May 3rd: Day 2 Schedule 7:00-8:00 WAKE UP WITH CARDIO TENNIS with Michele Krause Cardio Tennis Triples Experience!

2:00-6:00

Pickleball

Certification Workshop!

Join us for an hour of fun, fitness and friends!

Separate registration is

7:30-

required.

Registration Opens

8:30-9:30 “Cardio Tennis - The Triples Experience” with Michele Krause 9:45-10:45 “Pickleball Trends in Strategy & Shot Selection” with Bharat Karunakaran 11:00-12:00 “Creating Bonds That Last: The Power of Partnerships” with Tim Buwick 12:15-1:15 “Career Longevity In Our Physically Demanding Role” with Darius Greenbacher, MD 1:30 Closing Remarks with Milan Kubala

Click here to register

Speakers Michele Krause is a tennis fitness integration specialist.

Michele has been managing the Cardio Tennis program since its launch in 2005 and under her leadership it became a global product and is now part of tennis culture throughout the world. Currently she works as the USTA Cardio Tennis Consultant continuing to grow and evolve the product. Today there are over 3 million Cardio Tennis participants in the United States.

Michele is an experienced international speaker and trainer who has presented at industry events all over the world. She has delivered hundreds of presentations, educational courses, webinars, consumer activations, mega events and podcasts to industry professionals and consumers.

Michele Krause

Michele has been featured on the Tennis Channel’s “One Minute Clinics”, “On court with USPTA”, “Bulging Brides” as well as NBC’s “the Biggest Loser”. She organized and implemented the “Get Fit Wichita”, “Million Calorie Burn” and “National Hit to be Fit” tennis fitness events.

Michele is a RSPA and PTR tennis professional who managed tennis facilities throughout the US prior to her Cardio Tennis role. She is certified/qualified in TRX Suspension Training, Combine 360, Pat Etcheberry, RacquetFit, CoreFirst, Padel, and an ITPA-Tennis Performance Trainer. Michele received the TIA/PTR Industry Excellence award in 2012, the Tennis Industry Service award in 2018, and the USPTA Florida Pro of the Year award in 2018.

Speakers As a player, Lex was coached by his father, Art. At age 15, Lex moved to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where he was coached by Nick. Lex was a member of the USTA National Junior Team coached by legendary, Nick Saviano. As a member of the National team, Lex played the Junior Grand Slams, and Professional tournaments.

Lex Carrington

When asked, Lex always states that “my true passion, though, is junior development!” Lex understands the mix of joy, zeal, and determination the game instills and requires. Lex has coached dozens of players who’ve gone on to successful NCAA Division I, II, and III careers; many of them winning national and international accolades along the way. Carrington coached Vera Zvonareva for four years where she achieved a career-high No. 2 world ranking by the WTA. Lex enjoys the technical side of the game and over years of interaction with top players and coaches has gathered many helpful, simple, and fun exercises and drills (along with great insights into the game) that can help any player or coach achieve a better understanding of the game he loves.

Speakers Tim Buwick is a business leader, speaker, author, emcee, moderator, content creator, professional coach and event announcer at The Tim Buwick Company. He is the author of the book, Blasé 2 Ablaze – How to Turn your Blahs into Ahhs to Ignite Passion & Purpose. A painful series of personal and professional setbacks motivated him to create the “M5 Method of Self-Discovery”, a systematic process to help people rise above any obstacle.

Tim has spoken to countless audiences around the world during his 40-year professional career in television, radio, sales, marketing, and promotions. He has interviewed and emceed events featuring some of sports brightest stars such as Roger Federer, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, cultural icon Billie Jean King and tennis stars such as John McEnroe and Pete Sampras. With skills honed as a former television anchorman and radio host, his authentic and entertaining style connects with his audience, whether as a keynote speaker, emcee, interviewer, content producer, announcer or facilitator.

He spent nearly 30 years working for Wilson Sporting Goods, where he rose to become the U.S. Promotions Director for Racquet Sports. In this capacity, Tim led Wilson’s Advisory Staff, World Demo Tour and Junior Sponsorship programs. He was responsible for negotiating and activating sponsorship contracts with such organizations as the United States Tennis Association and the NCAA.

Tim Buwick

In addition to his work at The Tim Buwick Company, he is also the Director of Business Development for the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA), where he is responsible for creating sponsorships, endorsements, and partnerships for the organization. Tim is a certified racquet sports professional himself, teaching countless people the joys of playing tennis, pickleball, and platform tennis. He has produced a series of YouTube teaching videos that has garnered well over half a million views.

To find out Tim’s speaking and professional coaching availability, please contact him through his website at www.timbuwick.com. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Tik Tok @timbuwick.

Click the images to learn more!

Speakers Bharat "BK" Karunakaran, originally from Chennai, India, is a Professional Pickleball Player and Content Creator currently residing in Orlando, FL. BK has been playing tennis and badminton since he was 5 years old and his passion for sport brought him to NC State University where he received a BS in Sport Management. Having his tennis career cut short due to tearing his labrum and needing surgery, BK found his passion for pickleball in 2021.

With over a decade of experience coaching racquet sports and working with the USTA as the National Coordinator of Junior Programs and Club Tennis for 3 years, BK brings his vast knowledge of coaching and event management to the pickleball scene. In 2024, he made the jump to being a full-time Pickleball Professional, Coach and Content Creator, where he has amassed a huge following for his Instructionals and Paddle Reviews while also partnering with major brands in creative marketing projects through his channel BK Pickleball (@bk_pickleball).

Bharat Accomplishments: 2-Time Champion of the All Florida Pro League Karunakaran

Won over 20 Pro Moneyball Tournaments Wins against Anna Bright & Parris Todd Wins against multiple Top 100 PPA Pros & Top 20 APP Pros (Tanner Tomassi, Cason Campbell, Jericho Grollman, John Cangelosi & More) Round Of 16 at 2025 US Open Pro Men’s Doubles Level 1 PPR Certified Pro & DUPR Certified Coach

Current DUPR: 5.7

Speakers Dr. Darius Greenbacher is not your average orthopedic surgeon. With a passion for innovative techniques and a commitment to patient-centered care, he’s making waves in the field of orthopedics in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Dr. Greenbacher’s journey to becoming a top-tier orthopedic surgeon began with a stellar academic background. After completing his medical degree with honors, he honed his skills through a rigorous residency program at a prestigious institution known for its cutting-edge orthopedic research. His dedication to excellence led him to pursue additional fellowship training, focusing on advanced joint replacement techniques and minimally invasive procedures.

With over a decade of experience under his belt, Dr. Greenbacher has established himself as a leader in orthopedic care. His career has been marked by continuous growth and innovation.

Darius Dr. Greenbacher’s expertise spans a wide range of orthopedic subspecialties, but Greenbacher he’s particularly renowned for his work in: Joint replacement surgery Sports medicine Minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures Complex revision surgeries

Patients consistently praise his ability to explain complex medical concepts in understandable terms, as well as his skill in performing surgeries that result in faster recovery times and improved outcomes.

Speakers A former professional tennis player, Tracy has built a career across sports, nonprofits, and finance, by embracing challenge, finding joy in growth, and staying rooted in the belief that everyone has something positive to give the world.

She has helped launch award-winning marketing campaigns for Wilson Sporting Goods, Red Bull, the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Citi, and Leo Burnett— blending bold creativity with meaningful impact.

Today, Tracy shares her story to inspire others to stretch beyond limits, discover their own strengths, and create work — and lives — that leave a lasting mark.

Tracy Almeda-Singian Click here to read more about Tracy’s story!

Greg Moran is one of America’s most experienced and respected tennis teaching professionals. With more than 45 years in the industry, Greg has coached thousands of players, led national training programs, and traveled to Africa to conduct development workshops for players and coaches. A prolific tennis writer, he is the award-winning author of the Tennis Beyond Big Shots series and The Truth About Tennis.

Greg Moran

Greg spent over 40 years at the Four Seasons Racquet Club in Wilton, Connecticut, serving as its Director of Tennis and later as owner before selling the club to focus on writing and mentoring the next generation of teaching professionals. He is currently working on the first in a series of fiction novels set in the world of club tennis.

Cardio Tennis Feeding Contest: Elevating the Art of Ball Feeding What is the RSPA National Cardio Feeding Competition?

The RSPA National Feeding Competition is a unique contest designed specifically for tennis teaching professionals, testing their ability to feed tennis balls with speed, rhythm, and accuracy. This is not just a demonstration of technical skills but also a celebration of the critical role ball feeding plays in effective tennis coaching.

The 2026 Format and National Finals.

The competition will be a variation of three balls across feeding. Each competitor will have one minute to feed. You are trying to hit as many targets as possible with your feeds. Winners from each division will then advance to compete at the RSPA World Racquets Conference in Dallas, TX. Division Competitions: Prizes for winners may include prize money, a free registration to the RSPA 2026 World Conference, a case of Dunlop balls, a Cardio tennis shirt, and possibly more. Division winners will travel to Texas at their own expense, though the division may offer additional support via prize money.

The winner must be able to attend the 2026 RSPA WRC, which is September 20-23.

Member Benefits

Look at all the businesses available to you as an RSPA Professional.

Go to the RSPA Benefits page to learn more !!