Tosha Smith 8003 Greenslope Dr. Austin, TX 78759 512-848-0598 tosha.smith@rspa.net
A Message from President, Kelly Marshall
Dear RSPA Texas Members,
I hope your summer is filled with successful programs, strong participation, and meaningful opportunities to impact your players, clubs, and communities. During one of the busiest seasons of our year, it is also important to make time to invest in ourselves, our relationships, and our professional growth.
Our upcoming RSPA Texas Summer Retreat, August 7–8, is the perfect opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and return home with fresh ideas and renewed energy. We have a fantastic lineup of speakers who will provide engaging, relevant education designed to strengthen your leadership, elevate your programming, and inspire your next steps.
The retreat will also include fun social events that give us the opportunity to relax, enjoy time together, and build stronger connections beyond the courts and the classrooms. Some of the most valuable conversations happen between sessions, over a meal, or while sharing a laugh with fellow professionals. These social experiences are an important part of what makes the Summer Retreat so special.
The strength of our organization comes from our members showing up, sharing ideas, supporting one another, and growing together. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from outstanding speakers, reconnect with longtime colleagues, meet new professionals, and enjoy a memorable weekend with the RSPA Texas community.
Looking ahead, the RSPA World Conference will take place September 20–23 in Dallas. We are incredibly fortunate to have a conference of this caliber right in our own backyard. This is a rare opportunity to experience worldclass education, connect with leaders throughout the racquets industry, and learn alongside professionals from across the country without having to travel far from home.
These events are more than dates on a calendar. They are opportunities to strengthen your leadership, expand your network, discover new ideas, and become even more valuable to your players, teams, and organizations. I challenge every Texas member to take advantage of the opportunities available to us this year. Make the commitment. Bring a colleague. Meet someone new. Ask questions. Share your experiences. Join us for the education, stay for the social events, and leave feeling inspired, connected, and ready to make an even greater impact.
Register today for the RSPA Texas Summer Retreat and make your plans now to attend the World Conference in Dallas.
Our profession moves forward when we continue learning, connecting, celebrating, and leading together. I look forward to seeing you there!
RSPA Texas Junior Gran Prix (New Braunfels, Texas)
SEPTEMBER 18 - 19
RSPA Level 1 In Person Workshop (Plano, Texas)
SEPTEMBER 20 - 23
RSPA World Racquets Conference (Dallas, Texas)
2026 SUMMER RETREAT
When: August 7th & 8th, 2026
Where: Ridgewood Country Club
7301 Fish Pond Rd., Waco, TX
RSPA members - $115 Non-members - $130
NEW RSPA member (Since March 2026) FREE
Click link to register for the Summer Retreat: https://members.rspa.net/uspta/uspta/Events/Event_Display aspx?EventKey=DCONFTX26B
Contact Tosha Smith with any questions 512-848-0598
tosha.smith@rspa.net
SUMMER RETREAT SCHEDULE
Thursday FEBRUARY 8TH
Friday AUGUST 7
8:30 am - 12:00 pm Registration
9:00 am - 10:00 am Building Better Ball Strikers - Spin over Speed - Matt Watson
10:00 am - 11:00 am Drills to Enhance Doubles Success - Michael Woodson
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Fun Games for 12 & Under Players - Sarah Flood
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch on your own
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Key Changes in the Industry Over the Years - Ron Woods
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Social Event
Saturday AUGUST 8
8:30 am - 12:00 pm Registration
9:00 am - 10:00 am Read & React - Julien Curatella
10:00 am - 11:00 am Tennis Drill Share - Opportunity to Share your Favorite Drills
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Build It & They Will Come?? - Ernie Abraham
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch on your own
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Panel: Turning Workplace Challenges into Leadership Lessons - Mel McRee, Jenny Gray, Kelly Marshall
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Social at Main Event
RSPA Texas Summer Retreat
2026 Featured Speakers
MICHAEL WOODSON
Michael Woodson enters his 11th season with the Bears, his seventh as the official head coach of Baylor men’s tennis for the 2026-27 season. Woodson was the named the 10th head coach in program history on May 6, 2021, after previously being named the interim head coach for the 202021 season. He was the assistant coach for three seasons for Baylor before being promoted in Dec. 2019.
Woodson also served a stint as the program’s interim head coach from May 13 to May 24, 2018, prior to Brian Boland’s hire as the Director of Tennis.
Underneath Woodson’s helm, Baylor men’s tennis has reached new heights with six NCAA tournament and five ITA Team Indoor tournament berths, a trip to the NCAA National Championship and ITA National Team Indoor Championship, the first No. 1 overall ranking since 2005, six ITA All-Americans, 33 Big 12 postseason credits and 27 First Team Academic All-Big 12 honorees.
The Bears found national attention in 2025-26, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinal Championships for the first time since 2022 held in Athens, Ga. In the spring, Baylor took down seven top twentyfive nationally ranked foes, including reining national champions Wake Forest in the ITA Indoor Championships to advance to the semifinals. The Bears upset the No. 1 team in the country of Ohio State at home, its first take down over a No. 1 ranked team at home since 2011. Woodson coached Devin Badenhorst to Big 12 Player of the Year honors, the second Bear underneath Woodson and the seventh Bear in program history. Overall, the Bears defended the Hurd with an 18-2 home record, including its thrilling NCAA Super Regional match against Pepperdine, where the Bears defeated the Waves 4-3 in front of over 1,300 fans at the Hurd Tennis Center.
ERNIE ABRAHAM
Ernie Abraham is an RSPA Elite Professional. He has served on the RSPA Texas Board of Directors since 2020 and currently serves as Regional Vice President. Ernie is also President of the Fort Worth Professional Tennis Association (FWPTA) and previously served as President of the Fort Worth Tennis Coalition from 2008–2015.
With more than three decades of club leadership experience, Ernie was Tennis Director at Walnut Creek Country Club for 28 years (1989–2016) before becoming Tennis Director at Southern Oaks Golf & Tennis Club in 2017. He has also made significant contributions to tournament management, serving as Tournament Director for the USTA Pro Circuit Futures of Mansfield from 2009–2015 and currently directing the RSPA Texas Ladies Champion of Champions event, held in conjunction with the Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston.
Throughout his career, Ernie has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2023 RSPA Texas Tennis Professional of the Year Award, the USTA Tennis Excellence Award (2018), the Outstanding Tennis Facility Award for Southern Oaks (2018), and the Charlie McCleary Award (2011). In addition to his work in tennis, Ernie is a partner and Operating Manager of The STACK Indoor Pickleball, where he continues to help grow the game and expand opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels.
Summer Retreat 2026 Featured Speakers
RON WOODS
Ron Woods has dedicated more than 62 years to the tennis industry, building a career defined by leadership, service, and player development. A top-ranked junior in Texas, he earned a full scholarship to the University of Houston, then a 4-year assistant pro job at the historic HEB Tennis Center under Bob Mapes before beginning a 31-year tenure as director of tennis at Corpus Christi Country Club, where he developed one of the state’s most successful Tennis Programs and Pro Shop Operations. He continues to serve the club as Pro Emeritus.
A Racquet Sports Professionals Association Master Professional (formerly known as the United States Professional Tennis Association – USPTA), Woods is a charter member of the Texas Division serving as president and served as its executive director from 2002 to 2009, leading the division to 6 National Division of the Year awards. He also served 13 years on the national board, including as president from 2005 to 2007.
Woods was named Texas Division Pro of the Year in 1988 and received the Alex Gordon National RSPA Pro of the Year award in 2010. He has also received 3 USPTA “Tennis Across America” national awards and he was responsible for starting the USPTA Texas Adult League Championships that are still held in Houston to this day. Ron also inaugurated the successful USPTA Texas “Champion of Champions” ladies inter-club play held during the River Oaks USTA Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston as well. He has always promoted more play opportunities for the players that the RSPA members work with in Texas. All these events are still popular to this day in the RSPA Texas Division. Ron was also a 25-year member of the Prince Advisory Staff and a 10-year member of the HEAD/ Penn Advisory Staff.
Ron is most proud of three tennis courts that were built at the HEB Tennis Center as a result of a bond issue election in 2014. Because of his involvement in promoting that bond issue and dedication to the local tennis community, those three courts were named in his honor.
As a member of the Tennis Success Board of Directors, he was instrumental as well in acquiring a 25-year lease for the tennis facilities at the Old Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi. He has been a former president and board member for 13 years of that organization. Tennis Success provides a free program for underserved kids in the community that includes education, tennis instruction, tournament play & travel, equipment and scholarships for trade schools and college educations.
He has also been a dedicated USTA volunteer for more than 30 years, contributing at the local, sectional, and national levels. Ron also as a Scholarship through the USTA Texas Section named in his honor and an endowment fund as well named in his honor for student athletes at the University of A&M - Corpus Christi.
JENNY GRAY
Jenny Gray is an RSPA Master Professional who currently serves as Vice President on the RSPA National Board and is an active member of the RSPA Texas Division Board.
She is the Director of Tennis at The Club at Sonterra in San Antonio, Texas. A respected leader in the industry, Jenny has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including serving as President of RSPA Texas, being named RSPA Texas Professional of the Year in both 2012 and 2020, and earning the prestigious RSPA National Alex Gordon Tennis Professional of the Year award in 2020.
Jenny also volunteers her time each year to run the popular RSPA Texas Indoor Team Championships.
Summer Retreat 2026 Featured Speakers
MEL MCREE
Mel McRee is the Director of Racquet Sports at Lubbock Country Club and an Elite Tennis Professional, as well as a Professional in pickleball and padel, with 25 years of coaching and leadership experience.
Mel is the Past President of the RSPA Texas Division and current Vice President on the RSPA National Board. Mel is passionate about professional education, mentorship, and developing the next generation of racquet sports professionals. Known for his energetic, light-hearted, and engaging presentation style, Mel’s goal is to offer new perspectives that help coaches—from brand-new pros to seasoned veterans—improve their on-court sessions, sharpen their leadership, and create better experiences for their players, just as others have done for him throughout his career.
JULIEN CURATELLA
Julien Curatella has over 25 years of tennis experience on the court. For the last 12 years, Julien has served as Director of Racquet Sports at Ridgewood Country Club, overseeing broad programming across tennis and pickleball. Earlier in his career, he directed the Waco Regional Tennis and Fitness Center, one of the most active facilities of its kind in the country. Julien is one of the most decorated statewide, national, and international tournament directors, having served in national and international roles, including as a national director in Texas.
Julien is an RSPA Certified Director of Racquet Sports, CRSE (Certified Racquet Sports Executive Program), and he holds RSPA certification in Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel. On the playing side, Julien competed at the Division I level at Auburn University before transferring to Abilene Christian University, where he earned All-American honors. He remains one of the top-ranked players in Texas today.
KELLY MARSHALL
Kelly is the Director of Tennis and Fitness at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin. She has over three decades of playing and coaching experience on multiple levels, Kelly brings a high level of skill and expertise. Her extensive knowledge provides an atmosphere that is positive and enables athletes to work through their struggles and on to success.
Kelly played for a division 1 University and held a national ranking of #3 in doubles and # 10 in singles. She was named a Sun Belt All- Conference Player and led her team as captain for all four years.
Kelly is a RSPA Master Professional and serves as President on the RSPA Texas Division Board. Kelly is the RSPA Texas Division Coach Developer and is a RSPA Certified Pickleball Professional.
Summer Retreat 2026 Featured Speakers
MATT WATSON
Matt is the Director of Racquet Sports at the Cascades Country Club in Tyler, TX. He is an RSPA Elite Professional and RSPA Certified Pickleball Professional. He previously held roles as Director of Racquet Sports at Hollytree Country Club, Head Tennis Professional at Richland Tennis Center, Director of Tennis at Colonial Country Club, and Membership and Special Events Director at TBarM Racquet Club where he also served on the Executive Management team.
Additionally, Matt was a High-Performance coach for the academy program at TBarM. He has an extensive background in club operations management, teaching, programming, and pro shop management and staff leadership.
Matt was the 2017 RSPA Texas Professional of the Year and 2023 RSPA Texas Proud Award recipient. He has served on the RSPA Texas Board since 2015. He served as President from 2020-2024 and served on the RSPA National Membership Committee as well. He has previously served on the USTA Grievance committee, been a USTA National Zonals coach and USTA Area Training Center coach and was a USTA Schools Clinician for 3 years. He is USTA Sport Science Certified, and is a certified Mental Toughness Coach through Mental Toughness Inc. He has spoken at previous RSPA Texas conferences on Career Development, High-Performance Drills and Coaching Club Players.
SARAH FLOOD
Sarah Flood is the Director of Racquet Sports at the Houstonian Club. She is an Elite RSPA teaching professional with over 30 years of experience playing and teaching both tennis and pickleball.
As a junior player, she achieved a top five ranking in Great Britain and competed at Junior Wimbledon before earning a scholarship to play NCAA Division 1 college tennis at the University of Houston. Sarah launched her professional coaching career in 2006, gaining experience at various clubs in the Houston area, most recently serving as the Director of Junior Tennis at Houston Racquet Club. Competitively since college, she has represented Texas in tennis and was a pickleball national champion in 2021.
Driven by her passion for racquet sports, Sarah has taken on leadership roles in numerous local, state, and national boards focused on initiatives for youth, adults, and the LGBTQ+ community. Sarah is dedicated to educating fellow teaching professionals, frequently speaking at state and national conferences, and serving as a RSPA Coach Developer, certifying tennis professionals in Texas.
She has received numerous national accolades, including the USPTA National Innovation Competition Award, the Texas USPTA Diversity Coach Award, and the title of USTA’s Best of Texas Tennis Coach of the Year in 2023.
THE GOLD STANDARD
ONE MEMBERSHIP.
SPORTS.
RSPA-certified racquet sports professionals ensure the highest standards of instruction at your facility. The RSPA’s rigorous certification and ongoing professional development programs guarantee that your professionals bring exceptional teaching expertise and program management skills to your courts.
As the industry's only comprehensive certification body, the RSPA provides expertise in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, and platform tennis –ensuring gold-standard instruction at every level.
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