This issue marks the 15th year that we’ve named our Champions of Tennis winners, honoring the often-unsung heroes of this sport who go above and beyond in helping to make a difference in tennis, and in the business of tennis. We hope they inspire you, too, to continue to move this industry forward. CONGRATULATIONS TO: MIKE WOODY • DAVID LASOTA • BONITA BAY TENNIS CENTER • JULIAN LI • LOWER BOS. CO. INC. CARRIE CIMINO • INDIANAPOLIS RACQUET CLUB • REX MAYNARD • CORPUS CHRISTI TENNIS ASSOCIATION TIM BLENKIRON • PORTLAND AFTER SCHOOL TENNIS & EDUCATION • DAVID COLBY • SETS IN THE CITY SOUTHWEST GATES TENNIS CENTER • PHIL PARRISH • PETER IGO PARK • DANNY ESPINOSA • RANDY ORTWEIN ZAINO TENNIS COURTS INC. • MARK KOVACS • JORGE CAPESTANY • USTA FLORIDA www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2016 TennisIndustry 33 PERSON OF THE YEAR Mike Woody 34 TennisIndustry January 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com f you were to pick a pied-piper for tennis, it’s a good bet Mike Woody would be at the top of the list. For decades, Woody brought the sport in all its forms to Midland, Mich., where he directed tennis PERSON OF THE YEAR at the renowned Greater Midland Tennis Center (GMTC). But his influence—and his infectious enthusiasm—has helped grow the sport well beyond the Mid- I land community. This past July, after 22 years in Midland, Woody left for Wichita, Kan., where he is now the national tennis direc- tor for Genesis Health Clubs. But one thing he clearly didn’t leave behind is his passion for the sport, and for getting more people playing it. “Tennis changes peoples lives in a lot of diferent ways,” he says. “You hear people talk about the sport from many angles—its health and fitness, how social it is, how competi- tive it can be, how much fun it is. Whatever the angle they find appealing, that’s what gets me pumped and going.” Woody, who is certified by both the USPTA and PTR, has been on the front lines of growing this sport for a long time. He’s been a USTA National Trainer for 10 and Under Tennis, a Cardio Tennis National Trainer, a High School Development sionals and growing the program,” says Michele Krause, the Trainer for the PTR, attended over 1,000 hours of industry Cardio Tennis Global Education Director. “Not only that, but workshops and trainings, led tennis workshops around the he was a personal testament to the benefits of Cardio Tennis U.S. and internationally, been named the USPTA National in reaching health and fitness goals.” Facility Manager of the Year and USPTA Midwest Pro of the “I think being involved in the tennis industry has helped Year, and much more. me be successful,” Woody says. “I use all the tools that were It’s fair to say that over the last two decades, Woody has presented to me through the industry—of the shelf, modified, been an important force in many of the key initiatives that or tweaked, I never stopped using them.” have helped to move this sport forward from the grassroots Now, Woody will have a chance to use the industry’s tools to the highest levels. For his dedication, passion and efec- at Genesis, which has 22 health and fitness clubs, seven of tiveness in growing this sport at many levels, Tennis Industry which currently have tennis, with approximately 30 pros and magazine is thrilled to name Mike Woody our 2015 Person of 50 tennis courts. “I want to make tennis at Genesis a model in the Year. the industry,” he says. “When I look at the landscape of tennis, Woody’s passion in helping this game grow seems to come and the amount of opportunity we have in this industry, that naturally to him. One of the high points in his career was gets me excited. All it takes is a good vision and a bunch of when, in 2008, Midland was named the inaugural winner hard-working people.” —Peter Francesconi ! of the USTA’s “Best Tennis Town in the U.S.” contest. “We achieved excellence on so many diferent levels,” Woody says, Tips For Success “from 10-and-Under Tennis right through to the pros.” The Keep the “laser focus” in check. “Our tipping point will be Greater Midland Tennis Center is the longtime home to the because we hit it from four or five different positions, not Dow Corning Tennis Classic USTA Pro Circuit event. just one,” says Woody. “Mike’s infectious passion for tennis was the catalyst,” says People are looking to go on a health-fitness-wellness Chris Tointon, president and CEO of GMTC. “Even if you adventure, and tennis can do that. They need to see the never played tennis before, Mike makes you believe that it is game for its healthy benefits. the best thing in the world. You want to be a part of it.” To grow the sport, we need to increase support for Cardio “What makes Mike so special is that he has a pure joy Tennis, Youth Tennis and the senior market. for the sport itself,” notes TIA Executive Director Jolyn de People don’t care if they play with Red, Orange or Green Boer. “He has always been a true supporter of this industry— balls. What they care about is getting a good workout. strongly involved in the TIA and all industry initiatives, and is Tennis is a great way to keep people connected, and it’s amazingly service-minded and collaborative.” a great way to keep people engaged in a healthy life choice. “Mike was an early member of the Cardio Tennis Speak- ers Team and played a big role in educating teaching profes- www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2016 TennisIndustry 35 PRIVATE FACILITY OF THE YEAR Bonita Bay Tennis Center TENNIS INDUSTRY SERVICE AWARD David LaSota hen it comes to courts, that request will land tennis in the U.S., with LaSota. “I’ve worked on it’s hard to find more than 6,000 facilities for W an area of this country that which we’ve provided tech- has not in some way been nical assistance, concepts, touched by the work of David facility assessments, or some ever resting on its laurels, the Bonita Bay Tennis LaSota. other sort of help,” says Center in Bonita Springs, Fla., constantly strives to A licensed professional LaSota, who himself is an make everything “old” engineer and founder of DW avid recreational and league Nnew again, which leads to com- Tips For Success LaSota Engineering Inc. of tennis player. mendation as Tennis Industry’s Patton, Pa., LaSota has over In addition to his hands- 2015 Private Facility of the Make sure members 25 years of civil engineering on work, he is the chair of Year. know it is their club and expertise, and for the past the USTA/American Sports This past year, in service to staff is here to serve decade he’s been working Builders Association group 750 tennis-playing members them. with the USTA in all areas of that updates and revises the of the luxury Bonita Bay Club, Be on the lookout to facility consultation, design massive “Tennis Courts: the Tennis Center debuted a upgrade facilities ahead and construction. He’s con- Construction & Mainte- new stadium court and cafe, of membership requests. tributed to projects ranging nance Manual” every few adding amenities to the 18 Har- Build member-to- from a single court at a park, years. Tru courts resurfaced in 2010, member bonds in to private clubs, to large mu- “We’re so thankful David smart-court technology and support of staff-member nicipal facilities, to the USTA lent his expertise and experi- LED lighting, all of which sup- interactions. Billie Jean King National ence to us and the tennis port the more than 20 league Tennis Center in New York community,” says Virgil teams and the area’s most and the USTA National Cam- Christian, the USTA’s senior active and competitive tennis program. New for the club as a pus in Orlando. director of market/facility whole is an 18,000-square-foot health and fitness facility. This year, Tennis Industry development and collegiate Director of Tennis Paula Scheb explains that delivery on magazine has created the tennis. “There is hardly a the intangibles and not just the tangibles is primary: “What Tennis Industry Service community that has not we try and do every day is touch our members with as many Award, and we’re thrilled to benefited in some way from positive interactions as we can [and] try hard to have each honor David LaSota as our his design and technical member be our only focus at that moment, and to try and find inaugural winner. knowledge. He has had an a way to say ‘yes’ as many times a day as we can.” If a group comes to the incredible impact on tennis.” Two USPTA master pros head a teaching staf that plays in a USTA looking for help with —Peter Francesconi member event at least once a week. Attention to membership needs includes a full-service pro shop, TV monitors display- Tips For Success ing the day’s court assignments and patio service of drinks Keep up with trends and don’t be afraid to be a trailblazer. on the way to or from the court. Club veterans are enlisted as Be meticulous. Pay attention to all the details. ambassadors to help new members integrate into the tennis Invest in quality design and materials. It will reduce main- community as quickly as possible.