•25 year high school coach (both boys and girls) RSPA
•Current RSPA National President
•Speaker at various local, regional and national events (RSPA, High School and USTA)
•RSPA Midwest Division President
•Has worked all phases of tennis industry (club/court maintiance, desk staff to director of tennis)
•Attend various education events yearly Team coach (local, section , national )
Seminar Title
Managers Panel & National Update
MELISSA MCCORKLE
Melissa McCorkle coached and taught in public schools for 15 years before becoming Director of Tennis at the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park. In 2003, she was asked to lead tennis outreach at LaFortune Park, where the program at the time consisted of 12 courts, a modest facility, and 24 USTA teams. Through strategic leadership and long-term planning, Melissa led the reimagining of the center, assembling a strong team of professionals, volunteers, and community partners focused on serving players of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
Under her leadership, four major fundraising campaigns generated more than $10 million in private donations, which, combined with public funding, resulted in a complete transformation of the facility. Today, the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park features 21 outdoor courts and 6 indoor courts and serves more than 100,000 players annually.
LaFortune is now home to over 250 USTA adult teams and has earned national recognition, including the USTA Outstanding Featured Facility Award and designation as a USTA Premier Facility. The center also hosts programs such as First Serve Tulsa, the League of Exceptional Players, wheelchair tennis, and Special Olympics tennis, reinforcing its commitment to access and inclusion.
Melissa has been an active RSPA Professional since 2005
Melissa was inducted into the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024.
Seminar Title
Managers Panel
MIKE WOODY
Mike Woody, RSPA & PTR certified and is the National Director of Tennis for Genesis Health Clubs. He was named Tennis Industry’s Person of the Year in 2015. This award recognized Mike’s commitment & dedication to the tennis industry. He oversees tennis operations for 13 clubs. In 2017 he was selected as Executive of the Year for Genesis Health Clubs (among 3000 employees). He is based out of Genesis Health Club Overland Park. Mike’s role is to inspire, lead, and train a team of 90+ tennis professionals who lead programming on a 138 courts. He started this new position in August of 2015. During the past 8 years Mike has lead tennis renovations at 9 of the clubs and has increased total revenues through effective programming, hiring, and acquisitions by 347%. Before Genesis Health Clubs Mike was the Executive Director of the Greater Midland Tennis Center for over 22 years and Vice President of Operations for Greater Midland INC. As the Executive Director, Mike led a cast of 40 team members who delivered creative tennis programs through innovative marketing and communication directing the longest standing USTA Pro Circuit Women’s event. He oversaw 20 National and Sectional, Collegiate, and local events. Mike is an expert in the development of tennis and grass roots programming, he had developed and administered 4 additional park and recreation programs congruent with the centers operations. His philosophy of moving fast and smart attributed to the Greater Midland Tennis Center’s success. Mike is a USTA Master Trainer. PTR Workshop Leader, and speaker at tennis conferences nationally. In 2017, Mike received PTR Tennis Professional of the Year. He also received the USPTA/USTA National Community Service Award for grassroots and tennis growth in 2004. In 2009 he received the TIA/PTR Industry Involvement Award for commitment and excellence in the tennis industry. The Greater Midland Tennis Center was named Municipal Facility of the Year by Tennis Industry in 2003 and 2009. In 2011 he was awarded the RSPA Midwest Pro of the Year and PTR State Pro of the Year. In 2012 Mike was inducted into the Midwest RSPA Hall of Fame. Mike is a member of the Wilson Speaker Bureau and a Wilson Team Member.
Seminar Title
• Leadership Tips, Tools, and Thought Starters in the Fast Lane
SUZANNE
LABELLE
Director of Racquet Sports & Fitness
RSPA Elite Professional | USPA Padel | Pickleball Ambassador
Suzanne LaBelle brings more than four decades of leadership, innovation, and passion to the racquet sports and fitness industry. Originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, Suzanne began her career in the recreational club industry at McGregor Links Country Club while also working at the historic Saratoga Springs Racecourse. After relocating to Oklahoma, she attended Oklahoma State University, earning a degree in Recreation and Business Management. Suzanne has been a dedicated professional in the sports and fitness industry since 1982, holding roles that include Aquatics Director and Swim Coach at Woodlake Racquet Club; Certified Nautilus Instructor; Manager of Waterford Athletic Club; and Assistant Manager and Tennis Professional at Summerfield Racquet Club. In 1988, Suzanne joined The Greens Country Club, where she has built an extraordinary legacy. Her roles have included Assistant Tennis Professional, Pro Shop Manager and Head Stringer, Tournament/League/Event Coordinator, Managing Head Professional, and High-Performance Junior Coach. In 2005, she was promoted to Director of Racquet Sports and Fitness, a position in which she continues to elevate both programming and member experience. Suzanne also served as Head Girls and Boys Tennis Coach at Deer Creek High School, leading both teams to regional championships and state rankings for the first time in school history. She was named Daily Oklahoman High School Coach of the Year in 2005 and USPTA Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 2006.
Her professional honors are extensive. Suzanne is a nine-time recipient of the USPTA Missouri Valley Lessons for Life Award and a seven-time Missouri Valley Facility Manager of the Year. She was named USPTA Missouri Valley Professional of the Year in 2012 and received the prestigious National USPTA Lessons for Life Award in 2015. Under her leadership, The Greens has earned more than 11 community service honors and over 15 tournament-hosting awards, including an unprecedented 12 consecutive years as Oklahoma Adult Tournament of the Year (2008–2020). With Suzanne at the helm, The Greens has been recognized as an Outstanding Member Organization by USTA Oklahoma ten times and by the Missouri Valley on five additional occasions. The facility has also been named Facility of the Year six times, including three Missouri Valley USPTA honors. In 2019, The Greens received the USTA National Member Organization of the Year Award—the highest honor bestowed by the USTA—becoming the only organization in Oklahoma to ever receive this distinction in the award’s 40-year history. Always ahead of industry trends, Suzanne and her award-winning team transformed The Greens into the first country club racquet facility to introduce designated pickleball courts, padel courts, and red clay courts, further redefining the racquet sports experience. Suzanne is deeply proud of The Greens Country Club family and the community it represents. She and her team prioritize exceptional customer service, meaningful relationships, and the promotion of an active, healthy lifestyle. Her unmatched energy—on and off the court—creates an environment where every member feels welcomed, valued, and at home. Outside of the club, Suzanne enjoys sailing, spending time outdoors, playing acoustic guitar, and sharing life with Shaun and their beloved Bernese Mountain Dogs and Archie, the white retriever.
CRAIG O’ SHANNESSY
Craig O’ Shannessy is the strategy analyst for the ATP World Tour, Wimbledon, The Italian Tennis Federation, The New York Times, and Tennisheads Magazine. O’ Shannessy spent three years on Team Djokovic from 2017-19, helping guide the Serbian back to the World No. 1ranking. With O’Shannessy as his coach, Djokovic captured four Grand Slam titles. O’ Shannessy runs a tennis strategy website at braingametennis.com and is widely recognized as the global leader in tennis strategy. He is a RSPA Elite Professional and has been a member for 25 years.
Seminar Titles
• Doubles Patterns and Percentages
• Implementing Doubles Patterns and Percentages
• Reducing Errors and Stronger Defense
THIAGO SANTOS
Thiago Santos is currently the Director of Adult Tennis for Genesis Health Clubs and has been in the tennis industry for 15 years. Thiago is a former professional ATP doubles player and a former D1 college tennis player at Wichita State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and international business. He was also a US Open National Playoffs qualifier in 2018 and is an 8-time Gold-Ball recipient. He is currently a board member at the RSPA Missouri Valley division and USTA section as well as a USTA National Cardio Tennis trainer.
Seminar Title
Cardio Tennis Competition
ROBERT COX
Current Title (Date started current position): Project Manager – Facilities – August 2013
Education:
University of Arkansas, 1978 BSBA in Management
University of Texas at Tyler, 1990 MBA
Top Razorback Moment: Coaching the Razorback Men’s Tennis Team to 321 wins; Inducted into Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor
Previous Positions/Jobs Held (titles and years):
University of Arkansas – Head Men’s Tennis Coach (1987-2013)
Tyler Junior College – Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach (1984-87)
Kansas Country Club – Head Tennis Pro (1982-84)
Willowbrook Country Club – Head Tennis Pro (1979-82)
Seminar Title
25 Golden Nuggets to All Levels of Tennis
LAURA PURYEAR
Laura Puryear, Senior Director, Coach Development & Training and Volunteer Engagement has worked at USTA Missouri Valley since 1996 as an invaluable resource in the coaching space. The Oklahoma native describes her journey in tennis beginning with a friend’s invitation to play a tournament, leading her to play high school and collegiate tennis, ultimately deciding to make tennis her career.
Laura has experience as a teaching professional at public and private facilities, served as a nocut high school coach for both boys & girls varsity teams, and as adjunct-faculty teaching beginning tennis at her local university. Laura served on the then USPTA Missouri Valley Division Board from 2006-2013.
Laura's work in coach education was honored when she was selected for the 2024 USTA/PTR Community Service Award and the 2024 PTRW Impact Award. She’s a certified member in good standing as a PTR, RSPA & USTA Coaching Professional and holds the designation as a USTA Senior Coach Developer.
Seminar Title
35 X 35
JENNA HESSERT
Jenna Hessert is a pickleball professional who resides in Oklahoma City, OK. Originally from Pennsylvania, she attended Yale University where she ran on their Division I track team while earning her B.S. in geology and geophysics. Jenna went pro in 2022 and won her first pro medal in 2023 in singles.
