2025 RSPA Florida Conference: Bonding Creates a Stronger Sports Village
Sep 08, 2025
From a lifetime of personal experience, one of the highlights of a RSPA teaching professional is annually filling a conference classroom or ballroom with professional colleagues indulging in fellowship and companionship. Magnifying that feeling is adding more smiling and happy faces. Bonding the two court-sports of tennis and pickleball has broadened the base for finding your “lifetime” sport or mixing both sports at various times. Many of us as tennis pros have come to terms with realizing that many recreational and club players are playing these two sports for social and friendship benefits.
Being in the industry for five-plus decades, I can testify that sharing our passion for the game and our desire to augment our teaching knowledge and communication methods is what keeps us devoted to our careers. There is no better feeling than to know that the description below is about you: “People say that I was made for this, there is nothing that I would trade for this, and to think that I even get paid for this.” And that is who you are!
With pride, our association continues to be respected in the technology sphere, with South African, the late Tim Heckler (1942–2013), serving as CEO for 32 years (1982–2012). Earlier in his career, Heckler was a Wimbledon & US Open player who had some wins over his good friend Cliff Drysdale.
As always, the Florida RSPA Conferences provide numerous venues to strengthen us as professionals: Welcome Reception, Education Courses, Specialty Courses, Cardio Tennis Workouts, Yoga for Tennis, Fast Feeding Competition, Golf Scramble, Vendor Trade Show, Pickleball Certification Classes, On-Court Pickleball, and an annual Awards Luncheon.
It has always been rewarding to follow the successful careers and contributions back to the association of Lisa Pugliese–LaCroix, Michele Kause, Chuck Gill, Tim Brueggeman, Laura Bowen, and world legend Trish Faulkner. Trish and I have the two lowest RSPA member numbers. I thought that I had the lowest with 431; however, Trish won with a slightly lower number. It is impactful to feel the commitment that our Florida RSPA president Mike Curran has as he leads our multi-sport team. And, unequivocally, we are in a very secure mode as RSPA CEO Brian Dillman provides direction with his acumen and established success record.
Congratulations to our Award Winners:
- Professional of the Year – Robert Gomez
- Facility Manager of the Year – Matt Lambert
- Star Award – Rita Dotson
- Industry Excellence – Pedro Roese
- College Coach of the Year – Doug Neagle
- Diversity Award – Michael Ray Pallares
- Lessons for Life – Dennis Quaye
- Division Tester of the Year – Greg Musette
Regional Professionals of the Year:
- Region 1 – Brock Sakey
- Region 2 – Mark Worsham
- Region 4 – Gene Paul Lascano
- Region 5 – Samuel Beddow
- Region 6 – Aldo Burga
- Region 7 – Alex Sweet
- Region 8 – Bradly Mixson
As a lifetime tennis parent/coach and promoter, and later in life a tennis media guy, I take great satisfaction in sharing the supplement that my son Davidson contributed to our new and additional status of Pickleball. Before turning his interest to pickleball, he played No. 1 singles and doubles at Florida State University and then, on the tour, registered four tennis wins over top-80 ranked ATP players including Jan-Michael Gambill (then ranked #20) on clay. He also acquired NCAA success coaching Drake University men’s team to a historic high of #15 in the NCAA rankings. The young Koz got an instant taste of Major League Pickleball as he coached and traveled with top-ranked Megan Fudge, Tyler Dehart, and their children Lily and T.R., also playing on the pickleball circuit.
“Pickleball, while not embraced by every tennis player, has an incredible crossover appeal. For many active and former tennis players, it provides another outlet—often a social one—to connect with friends and stay engaged in the game. It also serves as a natural ‘ice breaker’ when meeting new players; often, the first question asked on a pickleball court is, ‘Do you or did you play tennis?’
One of the greatest advantages of tennis and pickleball embracing each other is the way they bring people and families together. Traditionally, country clubs and racquet clubs offered tennis, golf, and swimming. Today, pickleball courts are being added, creating more opportunities for families, couples, and individuals to share experiences in one place.” – Davidson Kozlowski
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Written by: Dave "Koz" Kozlowski. Kozlowski is one of the USPTA (now RSPA) first 17 Master Professionals in the world. His television show was previously broadcast on The Tennis Channel and he was named the USTA Broadcaster of the Year.