2026 RSPA Intermountain Summer '26 Edition

SUMMER ’26 EDITION

RACQUET SPORTS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION INTERMOUNTAIN NEWSLETTER

The full WRC26 schedule is officially live, and it's packed.

From specialty courses to on-court demonstrations to classroom sessions covering everything from leadership to sport psychology, this year's agenda is our most immersive yet. Head to our website now to map out your Reach for the Stars experience in Dallas.

See the Schedule Here's the one thing we don't want you to miss: professional development sessions and networking events run from Sunday morning all the way through Wednesday night. Your travel plans matter just as much as your session choices.

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What We Suggest: Arrive Saturday, Sept. 19, so you're rested and ready for education kicking off Sunday morning.

✈️ Depart Thursday, Sept. 24, since programming and events continue through Wednesday night.

Notes from our President The Magic of What We Do—June 2026 As I was teaching today, I had one of those moments that reminded me why I fell in love with this profession more than 30 years ago.

RSPA Intermountain Past President

Matt Helm

Over the last eight years, my role as a Director of Racquet Sports has naturally pulled me off the court more than I'd like. My schedule is full, and I intentionally limit the number of new clients I take on because I want to create opportunities for the talented professionals on my staff. Most of my teaching now involves long-term clients whom I've worked with for years. I enjoy the challenge of continuing to develop their games while keeping lessons fresh, engaging, and rewarding for both of us.

Today, however, I worked with a new player—a 4.0 men's league competitor with a lot of athletic ability but very little structure to his game. He hadn't spent much time working on technique or strategy, and as we started building some fundamentals, I found myself genuinely energized. It reminded me how rewarding it is to share the knowledge, experiences, and lessons we've accumulated throughout our careers with someone who can immediately benefit from them.

It had been a while since I'd experienced that feeling, and it reminded me just how fortunate we are to do what we do. Think about it for a moment. We have careers built around a yellow fuzzy ball traveling back and forth over a net and between the lines on the other side. At first glance, it's just a game. But we all know it's so much more than that.

The relationships we build, the friendships we develop, the people we learn from, and the lives we impact through sport are truly remarkable. When people say tennis is the sport of a lifetime, they're absolutely right—but not just because you can play it for decades. It's a lifetime sport because of the connections, opportunities, lessons, and experiences it creates along the way.

I've always loved coaching because I enjoy sharing something I am passionate about with other people. Whether it's introducing someone to the game for the first time or helping a longtime player rediscover their passion, there's nothing quite like seeing that smile after a breakthrough moment. Our job is not only to teach strokes and strategy but to help keep the experience meaningful, enjoyable, and rewarding throughout a player's journey.

Tennis has certainly shaped my own life. As a shy high school student, success on the court gave me confidence and introduced me to people and opportunities I never would have experienced otherwise. Today, I have the privilege of working alongside accomplished professionals and business leaders at my club, helping provide them with exercise, competition, strategy, camaraderie, and enjoyment. When I stop and think about it, that's pretty amazing.

More from our President I'm also grateful for the mentors who influenced my journey. My coach taught me far more than forehands and backhands. He connected lessons from tennis to lessons in life. Many of those conversations felt like "Karate Kid" moments—things that didn't fully make sense at the time but became incredibly meaningful later. The older I get, the more I appreciate those lessons.

Over the years, I've expanded into platform tennis and pickleball, and more recently I've developed a passion for padel. One of the things I've enjoyed most about padel is the diversity of people it has introduced me to. I've met former collegiate soccer players, squash players, tennis players, and athletes from all kinds of backgrounds. My network continues to grow, and so does my appreciation for learning new sports. It has also reinforced something many of us already know: tennis provides an incredible athletic foundation. When you learn another racquet sport, you quickly realize how challenging tennis is to master and how valuable those skills really are.

Like many of you, tennis has also been there for me during difficult times. During one particularly challenging chapter in my personal life, one of the places I found the most comfort was at work. Tennis gave me purpose, structure, and an opportunity to be productive. I was surrounded by co-workers, members, and friends who felt like family. The court became a place of stability when I needed it most.

Maybe that's part of the magic.

There is something special about hitting a tennis ball back and forth over a net. It's enjoyable. It's therapeutic. It sounds good, feels good, and somehow always feels right.

Tennis isn't just good—it’s amazing. And for so many of us, it has been life-changing.

As we continue through another busy summer season, I hope you'll take a moment to appreciate the impact you're making every day. Yes, our days can be long. Yes, the work can be demanding. But we are incredibly fortunate to spend our careers teaching and promoting a game that has enriched so many lives—including our own.

Thank you for everything you do for our industry, our players, our communities, and the RSPA!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE I hope you all have a great start to the summer!

We’d love to see you at the 2026 World Racquets Conference, September 20–23 in Dallas, Texas!

Join us for a few days of fresh ideas, valuable education, and meaningful connections with others who share your passion for racquet sports.

Don’t forget —Register soon to save your spot. We hope to see you there! Register Now! RSPA Intermountain Executive Director Leanne Palmisano

If you have any news you would like to share with the division, such as job postings, promotions, tips, or upcoming events, please send it to me at leanne.palmisano@rspa.net.

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest news and events.

WHAT ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES TEACH US

RSPA First Vice President Kevin Theos

“Are you going to the awards ceremony?” is a question many of us have either asked or answered. In the absence of a personal friend or acquaintance who will be receiving an award, attending these events rarely inspires enthusiastic anticipation, but if you consider the familiar pattern that acceptance speeches follow and their content, they have much to teach about relationships, values, and positive impact on others.

Perhaps the most consistent and important quality shared by acceptance speeches is their expression of gratitude. Award winners recognize family, friends, mentors, coworkers, and others who have inspired them to achieve and be better versions of themselves. This public recognition invites each of us to reflect on the people who have influenced and inspired us. More importantly, it is a call to action.

It is inevitable that, over time, we will lose contact with people who have mentored us or otherwise made a positive difference in our lives. Unfortunately, we often learn that these individuals have passed away, leaving us only the opportunity to attend a memorial service or to post a note highlighting the difference they have made in our lives. It is far better to reconnect with them while they are still here and let them know how much they have meant to us.

Over a year ago, I began an effort to reconnect with people who have made a difference in my life. Some people were harder to find than others, but in every case, our conversations were heartfelt and meaningful. I encourage you to take the time to contact those who have helped you along the way. You won’t regret it.

In addition to expressing gratitude, award speeches highlight the value of friendships and connections with others. In the world of RSPA, and really any association, members understandably ask “what they get” for membership. Speeches from award winners demonstrate that the most meaningful value they have received from membership has come from the deep friendships they formed through years of active involvement in a community of racquet sports professionals. The value of these relationships cannot be measured in dollars; they are priceless.

A third common quality of award acceptance speeches is their emphasis on active community involvement. In the RSPA, this means writing articles, delivering presentations, and serving on committees and boards. Active involvement in RSPA offers members a way to make friends, but it does much more. By volunteering, members build reputations, develop skills, and experience the gratification of sharing their ideas and expertise with other members and contributing to the association. Racquet sports professionals are teachers, and for teachers, there is no greater internal reward than the feeling of having helped develop others.

Whether or not we ever receive an award ourselves, acceptance speeches offer a glimpse of what we are likely to value most when we look back on our careers and our lives: expressing gratitude, forming lasting relationships, and contributing to our colleagues and our association.

Finally, my project to contact people who have made a difference in my life only began after learning about Walter Green and JustSayItNow.org.

www.rspa.net

In Memoriam : Dr. Jim Loehr

The Racquet Sports Professionals Association Intermountain Division extends our heartfelt sympathy to Jim's family and the many coaches, players, and colleagues whose lives he touched.

Having Jim as part of our Intermountain Division was truly a privilege. He brought so much to our community, and his presence will be deeply missed.

RSPA Intermountain District News

Colorado District President Damon Gillette

The Colorado District continues to build strong momentum through our Workshop Forum series. On July 12, we hosted our Colorado Summer Workshop Forum at the historic Denver Country Club, bringing together nearly 60 tennis professionals from across the state for an afternoon of education, networking, and collaboration.

A sincere thank you to Matt Helm, Tennis Director at Denver Country Club and President of RSPA Intermountain, and Leanne Palmisano, RSPA Executive Director, and the entire Denver Country Club staff for providing such a unique venue and outstanding hospitality. Having access to both the grass and clay courts created an experience unlike any other in Colorado and highlighted the value of bringing our professionals together in exceptional club environments.

The educational portion of the event featured two outstanding Drill Shares. Anastassiya Zherdeva presented a progression focused on developing consistency and confidence through green and yellow ball training for beginner players. Porter Emery followed with a session on organizing and managing larger groups on a single court, providing practical ideas that professionals can immediately implement within their own clubs and programs.

The afternoon concluded with our 2nd Annual Grass Court One-Point Championship, played with wooden rackets, creating another memorable and engaging opportunity for professionals to connect in a fun and competitive environment.

Beyond the programming itself, these Workshop Forums continue to fulfill their primary objective: strengthening relationships among Colorado tennis professionals while providing meaningful educational opportunities that can immediately impact coaching and club operations. Attendance and engagement continue to grow with each event, reinforcing the demand for in-person professional development and networking throughout our district.

Looking ahead, our next Colorado Workshop Forum is scheduled for October 25, 2026, at The Broadmoor, where we look forward to continuing this momentum and providing another unique educational experience for our professional community.

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Start exploring opportunities today! jobs.rspa.net

RSPA Intermountain District News Summer is in full swing, and there is plenty to celebrate across Idaho's racquet sports community!

We would like to congratulate Steve Campbell on his appointment as the new Tennis Director at Boise Racquet & Swim Club. Steve brings a wealth of experience, passion, and leadership to one of Idaho's premier tennis facilities. We wish him great success in his new role and look forward to seeing the continued growth of tennis at BRSC under his leadership.

Idaho District President John Armstrong

Congratulations to all of the players who recently completed another successful USTA Adult League season. It was exciting to see so many teams competing throughout the spring, demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and competitive spirit. As we transition into summer, we wish everyone the best of luck in the upcoming Mixed Doubles leagues. Summer league tennis continues to be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy competition while building lasting friendships on and off the court.

One of the highlights of June was the annual East vs. West Cup, featuring many of Idaho's top junior players representing their respective regions. The East team captured both the boys' and girls' championships, but the true success of the event was the incredible camaraderie, teamwork, and sportsmanship displayed throughout the weekend. Events like these continue to strengthen junior tennis across our state while creating memorable experiences for our young athletes.

We also extend our appreciation to everyone who participated in and supported the Barbara Chandler Junior Tournament. This longstanding event continues to provide outstanding competitive opportunities for junior players while honoring one of Idaho tennis's most respected traditions.

Pickleball continues its remarkable growth throughout Idaho, with tournaments filling calendars across the state all summer long. From local competitions to larger regional events, participation continues to reach new heights as players of all ages and skill levels enjoy the game. We encourage everyone to get involved, compete, and continue supporting the thriving racquet sports community that makes Idaho such a special place.

Thank you to all of our teaching professionals, volunteers, tournament directors, players, and supporters for everything you do to promote tennis and pickleball throughout Idaho. Your dedication continues to strengthen our racquet sports community, and we look forward to an exciting remainder of the summer season.

RSPA Intermountain District News Making a Difference Through Tennis: ACEing Autism Comes to Las Vegas Tennis has the power to change lives, and thanks to the vision and initiative of Gordan Hammond and Stacy Whitehead, that opportunity is now available to children with autism in Southern Nevada. RSPA Elite pro, Gordon Hammond ran the first ACEing event out of Summerlind Tennis club.

Nevada District President Pick Piliwale Wilson

ACEing Autism is a national nonprofit organization that uses tennis to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) develop social connections, improve physical fitness, and build confidence. The program features a structured, sensory-friendly curriculum with a 1:1 volunteer-to-athlete ratio, ensuring that each participant receives individualized support in a fun, welcoming environment.

Recognizing the tremendous impact the program could have on local families, they reached out to ACEing Autism to bring the organization to Las Vegas. Her efforts made it possible to launch our first six-week session in November 2025, giving children on the autism spectrum the opportunity to experience the joy of tennis while building important life skills.

The response from families, volunteers, and the tennis community has been overwhelmingly positive. Each session provides more than tennis instruction—it creates meaningful friendships, encourages communication, and helps participants gain confidence both on and off the court.

Stacy has also been instrumental in expanding awareness of adaptive tennis throughout the community. She presented the ACEing Autism program during a Continuing Education event for Clark County School District (CCSD) Adaptive Physical Education teachers, introducing educators to the program's mission and demonstrating how tennis can be an effective tool for engaging students with diverse abilities.

Building on that success, the ACEing Autism program will again be featured during the CCSD Adaptive Physical Education Teacher Continuing Education Conference this April, providing another opportunity to connect with educators and expand access to adaptive tennis throughout Southern Nevada.

The success of ACEing Autism in Las Vegas reflects what can happen when passionate volunteers, dedicated coaches, and community leaders work together. Through Stacy Whitehead's leadership and the support of our volunteers, athletes, and families, the program is helping children discover confidence, friendships, and a lifelong love of tennis.

We are proud to be part of this growing movement and look forward to welcoming even more athletes and volunteers in the seasons ahead.

RSPA Member Gordon Hammond

RSPA Member Stacy Whitehead

RSPA Intermountain District News Outdoor tennis season is in full swing across the state. With summer tournaments and District League events occupying most weekends from June through August, many Montana professionals are entering the busiest stretch of the year.

New Pro Shout-Out | Josh Munro Iron Horse Country Club in Whitefish, Montana, recently welcomed newly RSPA-certified professional Josh Munro (pictured below). Josh has been coaching tennis in Montana for 27 years, including 26 years as a head coach of both boys' and girls' high school programs. During that time, he has coached at Glacier High School, Flathead High School, and Missoula Big Sky High School.

Montana District President Josh runs a no-cut program that annually serves more than 80 student-athletes. He is a four-time AA Brad Knutson Coach of the Year and was named the 2021 NFHS National Coach of the Year. Josh also serves as the AA representative on the MHSA Rules Committee and is a member of the Montana Tennis Association Board of Directors.

Master Professionals Gary Trost and Bunny Bruning, along with Elite Professional Brad Knutson, will be presenting educational sessions at the Montana High School Coaches Association Annual Conference in Great Falls, Montana, on July 29–30. This conference provides an excellent opportunity for tennis professionals to connect with and share ideas with high school coaches from across the state.

Montana has added an additional Junior Level V team event to the tournament calendar this November. Because Montana does not currently have a single indoor facility capable of hosting an entire Level V event, professionals Scott Potter (Missoula) and Brad Knutson (Kalispell) are partnering to host the tournament between Peak Racquet Club and the Logan Health Tennis Center.

Northwest Dynamic Duo | Level V Team Event November 6–8, 2026 12s & 14s – Missoula | 16s & 18s – Kalispell The Logan Health Tennis Center in Kalispell held its first Love Serving Autism session this May. The program was extremely well received, leading to its continued expansion throughout the summer and into the remainder of 2026.

As we move through the peak of Montana's tennis season, it is inspiring to see professionals across the state working together to create opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.

Their commitment to growing the game through coaching, tournaments, leagues, and community outreach continues to strengthen tennis throughout Montana.

Love Serving Autism Kalispell Head Professional RSPA Pros Brad Knutson and Cheyne Sherwood

Josh Munro Head Professional- Iron Horse Country Club | Whitefish MT

RSPA Intermountain District News Racquet sports are booming in the state of Utah. Pickleball courts keep popping up everywhere and they’re always full, we have quite a few indoor pickleball facilities as well as outdoor ciry courts popping up like crazy!

Padel is finally having its moment here in Utah, last year SLC Padel Club opened in August and has done great, it was the first club in the state! Now there are 4-5 padel clubs open in Utah with more on the way. It’s been really fun to see this new racquet sport take off!

RSPA Utah District President Brady Lee

We are in the process of getting an RSPA event at SLC Padel Club so everyone keep their eyes open for that.

Tennis is still going strong with several academies thriving right now. Adult programs are booming and the junior programs are exploding! Utah just had a level 5 tournament and we got kids from surrounding states and had a very impressive turnout for all the divisions. We’ve got another level 5 coming up in a couple weeks that’s just for juniors from utah and that always has a great turnout.

We are excited to continue to see the growth of pickleball, Padel and tennis in our great state!

Level 1 Workshop held in Denver, Colorado Thanks to Pinehurst Country Club for hosting a Level 1 certified workshop on July 10. The Racquet Sports Professionals Association Intermountain Coach Developer, Marshall Carpenter, ran the workshops.

What Marshall said about the workshop ... This weekend’s RSPA Level 1 Workshop was a reminder of why coaching coaches is so rewarding. Seven outstanding professionals came ready to collaborate, work hard, and learn.

Their energy, curiosity, and commitment made for a fantastic weekend, and I’m excited to welcome this group into the RSPA. Congratulations to each of you. I look forward to seeing the positive impact you’ll have on our profession.

RSPA Intermountain Happenings Welcome New Members Caige Bjornstad, Billings, MT Sergiu Bucur, Utah Jake Cochran, Snowmass Village, CO Benjamin Cooper, Centerville, UT Zakston Daw, Colorado Springs, CO Leland Dexer, Aurora, CO Katie Dobmeier, Billings, MT Jon Dorman, Vineyard, UT Francisco, Gallardo, Sandy, UT Jacob Haas, Littleton, CO

Christine Jevicky, Littleton, CO David Klumann, Thornton, CO Jorge Mena Casa, Highlands Ranch, CO Cody Maynard, Columbia Falls, MT Miguel Perez, Denver, CO Christopher Pesce, West Jordon, UT Kristin Prosowski, Parker, CO Matt Salditt, Denver, CO Ethan Tanner, Boulder, CO Aaron Witkin, Boulder, CO

Level 1 Workshops

Level 2 Workshop

Pickleball Workshops

Level 1 July 10-11, 2026 Great Falls, MT Register here

Visit the RSPA for a list of Level 2 Virtual and InPerson Workshops

Pickleball Certification August , 25 Littleton, CO. Register here

Visit the RSPA for a list of Level 1 Virtual and InPerson Workshops

Visit the RSPA for a list of Pickleball Workshops

Padel Workshops July 25-July 26 Salt Lake, UT Register here

Visit the RSPA for a full list of the Workshops (including Platflorm and Squash Workshops

Visit the RSPA for a list of Padel Workshops

Contact Us Board of Directors

President

Matt Helm

mhelm@denvercc.net

Regional VP

Marshall Carpenter

mcarpenter@pinehurstcountryclub.com

Treasurer

Peg Connor

peg.connor@gmail.com

Secretary

Michelle Rawstorne

michelle.advantagetennisutah@gmail.com

Vice-President

Karen Schott

kschott@broadmoor.com

Vice-President

Mal Coyne

Malachy@thevalleyclub.org

Vice President

Brad Knutson

bradknutson28@gmail.com

Past President

Karl Jones

KJones@theclubatrollinghills.org

District Presidents Colorado

Damon Gillette

damon@denvertennisclub.com

Idaho

John Armstrong

johnarm21@hotmail.com

Montana

Brad Knutson

bradknutson28@gmail.com

Nevada

Rick Piliwale-Wilson

rickw10spro@gmail.com

Utah

Brady Lee

bradylee03@gmail.com

Wyoming

Tim Hough

timhough1@gmail.com

Executive Director

Leanne.Palmisano@rspa.net

Leanne Palmisano

rspaintermountain.com