United States Tennis Association

The Southern California section of the United States Tennis Association, the national governing body of tennis. 

Professional Tennis Registry

Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) is one of the leading organizations to educate, certify and serve tennis professionals. PTRW was built around giving female coaches opportunity, the tools for them to believe they can, the workshops to build their skills, and the networking for them to connect and be a part of something bigger.

Wilson Sporting Goods

Wilson is the #1 brand in tennis and the official hard goods sponsor of USTA Southern California.

Waterdrop

Founded in 2015, Waterdrop strives to provide global users with high quality water purification solutions that meet various water needs. The name Waterdrop comes from the desire to deliver clean, safe, and healthy drinking water from the first sip to the last drop.

Southern California Tennis Association Foundation

The Southern California Tennis Association Foundation is the charitable arm of USTA Southern California. For three decades, the Foundation has raised money and made grants to tennis programs that serve disadvantaged youth, promising junior players, and select tennis tournaments and events.

Women’s Sports Foundation

The Women’s Sports Foundation was established in 1974 to advance the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activity. Its mission is to enable all girls and women to reach their potential in sports and life.

Saturday, August 3, 2024 – 1pm-4pm – $25
Bahia Resort Hotel Tennis Courts

Join USTA national trainers for a comprehensive introduction to fun and innovative new programs. This session is open to coaches and aspiring coaches of all levels, along with summit attendees. After the workshop, enjoy our Red Ball Social reception on the San Diego bay.

(CE Credits available)

Click here to register for the workshop!

Saturday, August 3, 2024 – 4:30pm-6:30pm
Bahia Resort Hotel – Palm Terrace

Slip on your sneakers and join summit attendees on the short courts for a lively Red Ball Social and evening taco bar reception. 

Open to those registered for the Summit on Sunday, August 4th or the Play Facilitator Workshop earlier in the day. You will be prompted at registration to RSVP.

Sunday, August 4, 2024 – 9am-5pm (Summit)
5:15pm-7:30pm (Awards & Reception)
$150

Bahia Resort Hotel – Shell/Ventana Rooms

Join us for a day featuring empowering panels, impactful presentations, sports industry networking and the annual award presentation. We will explore allyship from the court to the boardroom, the journey from athlete/coach to executive and breaking down barriers to success.

Presenters and panelists will include internationally acclaimed coaching and leadership educators Linda Low and Sarah McQuade, USTA leadership, professional sports executives, and community leaders. The day includes lunch on the bay, an afternoon awards reception, attendee gifts and post event PTRW mentoring opportunities.

This session is designed for coaches, sports industry professionals (and those aspiring!), community leaders, adult league players, and tennis enthusiasts.

Click here to register for the summit!
 

PANELS & PRESENTATIONS

Allyship: A Gold Medal Approach – Shawna Fors, Esther Hendershott, Kevin Finkelberg, Nancy Abrams, Trevor Kronemann

PTR-W Session: Because We Need Change – Linda Low 

USTA Premier Facilities: Allyship in Action – Justin Landis, Jen Azevedo, Ann Reeder

Athlete (and Coach) to Executive – Dr. Ashley Sloper, Summer Verhoven, Cassidy Lichtman, Gailor Large

Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers…Where Do We Go From Here? – Allysia Rohlehr, Lindsey Keeler, Gianina Thompson, Allie Glover

PTR-W: Tying It All Together – Linda Low, Nancy Abrams

Women and Girls Who Ace Award Presentation & Reception
Recipient – Doris Obih, 40 Love Foundation

Monday, August 5, 2024 – 8am-4:15pm – $25
Bahia Resort Hotel – Shell/Ventana Rooms

High School female athletes will kickstart the day with an optional Red Ball Cardio Social on the tennis courts, perfect for warming up and meeting fellow participants. The Empowerment workshop begins at 9am and is designed to prepare high school girls for the upcoming tennis season.

This workshop will include panels and interactive presentations on allyship, leadership, and strategies for balancing academics and athletics. It’s an excellent opportunity for young athletes to gain confidence and meet peers who share their passion for sports. The day includes lunch, refreshments, and attendee gifts and post event PTRW mentoring opportunities.

Click here to register for the workshop! 
 

PANELS & PRESENTATIONS

Red Ball Social

Allyship: A Team Approach – Shawna Fors, Chuck Kingman, Doris Obih 

PTR-W Empowerment Session – Linda Low

Ancestry: What Nation Would You Play For?

Grow with the Flow – Marianne Werdel, Allie Glover, Jen Azevedo

Career Path: On Court Skills Apply! – Dr. Ashley Sloper, Sammie Xiao, Hanna Martetschlaeger, Kali Krisik

PTR-W: Tying It All Together – Linda Low, Nancy Abrams

Jen Azevedo
General Manager, The Paseo Club

Shawna Fors
Player Development Director, USTA New England

Allie Glover
Former UCLA Women’s Tennis / Current Wheelchair Tennis Athlete / Financial Planner

Lindsey Keeler
Executive Director / CEO, USTA New England

Chuck Kingman
Head Tennis Coach, Marina High School

Kali Krisik
Director – Section Development, USTA

Justin Landis
Senior Manager, Grassroots Sales and Partnerships, USTA

Cassidy Lichtman
Director of Volleyball for Athletes Unlimited / Founder of P/ATH

Linda Low
PTR Coach Education and Leadership Consultant

Hanna Martetschlaeger
Head of Retail US, Waterdrop Microdrinks, LLC

Sarah McQuade
PTR Coach Education and Leadership Consultant

Doris Obih
CEO / Founder, 40 Love Foundation

Ann Reeder
General Manager, Westlake Athletic Club

Allysia Rohlehr
Senior Manager –  Marketing & Partnerships, Women’s Sports Foundation 

Ashley Sloper
University of San Francisco, Associate Director – Sport Management

Gianina Thompson
Communications, Entertainment & Studio Executive, Netflix

Summer Verhoven
Executive Director, USTA Northern California

Marianne Werdel
Athletic Recruiting Consultant / Former WTA Tour Player

Nancy Abrams
Director of Engagement & Industry Relations, USTA Southern California

Kevin Finkelberg
Manager – Schools, Wheelchair, & Adaptive Tennis, USTA Southern California

Esther Hendershott
Director – Community Tennis & NJTL, USTA Southern California

Trevor Kronemann
Executive Director, USTA Southern California

Gailor Large
Senior Director of Marketing, USTA Southern California

Linda Milan
Chief Administrative Officer, USTA Southern California
Executive Director, SCTA Foundation

Sammie Xiao
Community Coordinator/DEI, USTA Southern California

Check back soon for additional presenters!

The annual Women & Girls Who Ace Award recognizes an outstanding Southern California-based leader and role model, dedicated to the mentorship and advancement of women and girls in sports.

This year, USTA Southern California is pleased to present the award to Doris Obih, in recognition of her outstanding work as the CEO and Founder of the 40 Love Foundation. Doris is a leader and mentor in the community of Inglewood and part of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis and Learning network. She inspires numerous young women on and off the court. Join us in celebrating Doris on August 4!

Read more about Doris’ story by clicking here!

Previous Women & Girls Who Ace Award Winners

2023 – Jami Yonekura-Jones (Head Coach, Women’s Tennis at SDCC)
2022 – Sherri Stephens (Former Head Coach, Women’s Tennis at USD)

BAHIA RESORT HOTEL

998 West Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109

Reservations must be made at least 30 days before the event by calling the Bahia Reservations Center at 800-576-4229 and mentioning USTA Southern California’s Women & Girls Who Ace Summit.

Click here to book the Bahia Resort Hotel! 

HAMPTON INN AND SUITES – LIBERTY STATION / SAN DIEGO AIRPORT

2211 Lee Court
San Diego, CA 92101

Click here to book the Hampton Inn and Suites!

–

Conference attendees at Women & Girls Who Ace have access to exclusive discounts through USTA SoCal’s partnership with Hotel Engine. Please create an account via the link below. You will be able to search and book hotels near the conference.

USTA Southern California – Player Hotel Booking Portal