EXECUTIVE BOARD EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESIDENT
SCOTT BURTON
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
SIMON PAEK
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
EVAN PARRY
TREASURER
GABRIEL JACOB
SECRETARY
MATTHEW JONES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CARLOS CRUZ-AEDO
PAST PRESIDENT
MIKE GENNETTE
DISTRICT 1
Karl Akkerman
DISTRICT 2
Kevin Finkelberg
DISTRICT 3
Search In Progress
DISTRICT 4
Russell Alger
DISTRICT 5
Michael Chantos
DISTRICT 6
Stephen Loreto
By Simon Paek, Regional Vice President Southern California Division, Coach Developer – Tennis and Pickleball Director of Racquet Sports, Mission Viejo Country Club
In 2027, the RSPA will celebrate 100 years, an amazing milestone! Many have come and gone that have paved the road to make our great association what it is today Did you know that 17 Divisions make up the RSPA? RSPA is NonProfit, with a National Board, along with each Division having their own Board, with the President and Regional Vice President representing their divisions which make up the Executive Committee.
In a nutshell, the Executive Committee is made up of Presidents and Vice Presidents from each of the 17 Divisions, along with members of our National Board Each Division Board is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of their divisions, running an annual Division Conference along with other networking and educational events for their membership at large All Board positions are voted in as well as being volunteer positions and generally serve a 2-year term The entire process is very democratic and gives Divisions a true voice in the running of the RSPA.
As a Coach Developer for both Tennis and Pickleball, I always start with “Why the RSPA” when speaking to Applicants on the first day of workshops It’s always eye-opening for me to learn that even professionals who have been in our association for a number of years don’t know most of the benefits of belonging to the World’s Largest and Oldest Tennis Association in the WORLD With the re-branding, now we can truly go beyond and say, very proudly I might add, we are the FIRST Organization to bring all Racquet Sports under ONE umbrella!
We have had a busy first quarter of Certification Workshops. Below are photos of a Level II, Level I as well as a Pickleball Certification on March 1 The Southern California Division is doing well in keeping up with the demand of growing Racquet Sports Professionals, but more can be done Please help spread the word of spreading goodwill as well as the benefits of joining the RSPA vs other trade associations Our next Certification Workshop will be Pickleball and is on Sat March 17, just before the start of our Annual Division Conference at Burbank Tennis Center
Hello fellow professionals,
Here comes Spring. Hold on to your hats and put on the sun block and show your best stuff to your students But keep in mind that you can always learn something new or be able to look through a different lens on how to teach something Approximately 30 RSPA members attended the Cardio Certification at the Santa Barbara Polo Club on January 25th to get Certified We spent the whole day learning how to present a perfect 1 hour Cardio class with 2 different games after a thorough warm up and then a cool down. Michelle Krause led us to this amazing journey and all of us picked up on ways to make any semi-private lesson/clinic or USTA team workout more fun and engaging Then on March 29th, Kris Jordon (Director of Tennis North Ranch Country Club) and Martin Parkes (Applied psychologist and high performance coach) blew our minds on how to teach our clients "How to get to the finish line" in the matches we play. Both men gave us many ways to teach your students how to look and train for matches These two events continued our journeys to be the best tennis professional we can be 13 RSPA members including a few applicants in progress to get RSPA Certifications attended All of you should take advantage of any and as many courses as you can and you will get refreshed and updated on best ways to communicate to your students. We all racked up 7 5 educational points and had a blast doing it There are so many topics you can find on the RSPA net website under Calendar and Education Events banner including our upcoming May 17-18 Convention Make the time to be there In person training also brings in the element of collaboration as a major side benefit we all share together. You will be glad you did.
Karl Akkerman
RSPA District 1 President RSPA Pro of the Year 2023
Hello my fellow District 6 Pros,
On March 23, 2025, we had our 1st quarter Combined Districts 4 & 6 event at Lake Mission Viejo. The purpose of this event was to meet and greet our district members, foster familiarity, build relationships, and to create networking opportunities to support one another Unfortunately, out of the approximately 250 members across the two districts, only four professionals attended namely; District 4 president, Russel Alger, District 6 president, Stephen Loreto, District 6 members Gary Sparks (Trabuco Canyon, CA) and Ricardo Naranjo Sotomayor (Ladera Ranch, CA) This represents roughly 1 6% of the total memberships - an admittedly very small percentage
As your District 6 president, I found myself questioning this low turnout There must be underlying reasons for the lack of attendance, and I am committed to uncovering these answers moving forward. That said, for the four of us who did participate, the event was a success We had the opportunity to connect, discuss various topics, and share insights on personal lives, coaching journeys, and future career aspirations
I encourage everyone of you to join us at future district or division events. These gatherings are designed to support and benefit all of us as members of this association Please stay tuned for our next quarterly district events If you haven’t already done so, please add my contact numbers 714 757 8903 (cell) and 844 834 5383 (text) If you have any recommendations for a topics, please let me know
Our SoCal Division Annual Conference is scheduled for May 17 & 18 at the Burbank Tennis Center, and our RSPA World Conference will take place from September 21-25 in Kona, Hawaii Please mark your calendars now and make plans to attend these important events I look forward to seeing you there, and perhaps by then, you can help me address the question I’ve been reflecting on: what can I do to increase my engagement to RSPA events?
Thank you so much
By Mike Gennette, RSPA Elite Pro, SoCal Division Past President
Mark your calendars! On May 17–18, 2025, the Burbank Tennis Center will be the site for the RSPA Southern California Conference and this year, we’re serving up something truly special For the first time, our speaker lineup will feature an all female all-star cast of speakers bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the court
This event is all about celebrating the game we love and spotlighting opportunities for women to thrive in the tennis industry Whether you’re a coach, a player, a business owner, or just passionate about tennis, this conference promises to be a weekend full of insight, inspiration, and connection It’s a rare chance to hear from some of the best in the game while also discovering new ways to grow your own career or involvement in tennis We are still encouraging men to attend the event of course as the topics will be relevant to all But we wanted something special to really get more women interested in becoming more active and getting into the industry
Tennis has long been a sport that inspires greatness, and this event is no exception From expert coaching techniques and business strategies to personal stories from the pros, our speakers will offer practical advice and plenty of inspiration
For women who love tennis, this event is a fantastic way to explore the exciting possibilities within the sport whether it’s becoming a certified coach, finding your niche in the business side of tennis, or simply gaining valuable insights from professionals who’ve been there
And here’s the kicker: We’re still looking for more amazing women to share their stories at this year’s conference If you have something valuable to offer whether it’s coaching expertise, insights into the tennis business, or your journey in the sport we’d love to hear from you Your voice could inspire others to take their next big step in tennis
Let’s Make This Event Memorable
This conference isn’t just about presentations; it’s about connection It’s about sharing ideas, meeting others who love the game, and leaving with new tools and fresh energy for your own tennis journey It’s also a perfect opportunity to become a mentor or to find one! You never know who might inspire you, or who you might inspire, simply by showing up
If you’re interested in speaking or know someone who would be a great fit, don’t hesitate to reach out You can email me at gennette@callutheran edu We’re building something exciting here, and I’d love for you to be a part of it
So, grab your calendar, save the dates, and start looking forward to a weekend filled with tennis, learning, and camaraderie Whether you’re presenting, attending, or just curious, we can’t wait to see you in Burbank this May!
by Simon Paek, Regional VP and Coach Developer Tennis / Pickleball
I hope everyone is enjoying a great start to 2025! The following is the Certification I hope everyone is enjoying a great start to 2025! The following is the Certification Calendar for the year for Level I, Level II as well as for Pickleball: Calendar for the year for Level I, Level II as well as for Pickleball:
Look for emails as well as Social Media posts for more information. This same calendar
Look for emails as well as Social Media posts for more information. This same calendar can also be accessed through the following link to our website: RSPA.NET. can also be accessed through the following link to our website: RSPA.NET. If you know If you know anyone that needs information or is looking to get certified, please pass along this anyone that needs information or is looking to get certified, please pass along this information, thanks in advance. information, thanks in advance.
Another great source of information would be to contact our certification team at HQ via
Another great source of information would be to contact our certification team at HQ via email at certification@rspa.net. You can also email me at paektennis@gmail.com email at certification@rspa.net. You can also email me at paektennis@gmail.com
Times Sunday 9am-5pm Monday 8am-2pm Saturday 12pm-5pm Sunday 9am-5pm Monday 8am-2pm
Location
iTennis Cerritos
19700 Bloomfield Ave Cerritos, CA 90703
iTennis Cerritos 19700 Bloomfield Ave Cerritos, CA 90703
Saturdays 11:30am-3:30pm (May 17th) 7:30am-11:30am
Mission Viejo Country Club 26200 Country Club Dr Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Burbank Tennis Center (May 17th) 249 Amherst Dr, Burbank, CA 91504
We combine comprehensive education, background screening, and clear policies to implement standards for athlete safety Working alongside the U S Center for SafeSport and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, we develop safety policies and resources. Safe Play empowers the entire tennis community to recognize, prevent, and report misconduct, ensuring a brighter, safer future for our sport.
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