USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference

Annual Conference Topics: 

• Growing the Game to 35 x 35
• Tennis Venue Services grants
• USTA Coaching
• Volunteer Management 
• District Open Discussions
• Electronic Line Calling and Live Streaming
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Activities
• USTA Leagues
• Junior Tournaments
• Adult and Junior Play 
• Social Tennis-Red Ball Tennis
• Officiating
• 2025 in Review 

Featured Speakers: 

• Craig Morris-Chief Executive Officer, USTA Coaching
• Perren Wong-USTA Board Member
• Scott Hanover-Vice Chair, USTA Volunteer Management Council
• Ted Loerke-USTA Managing Director, Section Partnership
• Lydia Colaresi-USTA Managing Director, Head of Digital Strategy
• Michael Hughes-USTA Senior Manager, Digital and Business Strategy
• David Minihan and Elliott McDermed-USTA Premier Facility Providers
• Tennis Venue Services grant recipients
• more speakers are being added

Schedule:

December 4

4:15 - 4:45 p.m. | Opening General Session: A Conversation with Leadership | Perren Wong, USTA Board Member & Mary Buschmann, USTA Missouri Valley CEO and Executive Director | Salon D

Join USTA Board Member Perren Wong and USTA Missouri Valley CEO and Executive Director, Mary Buschmann as they kick off our Annual Conference with an engaging and insightful discussion.

5:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Rockin’ Red Ball Rally & Social | Salon ABC

Join us for a spirited Red Ball Tennis session right in the ballroom! Whether you're a seasoned player or looking to try something new, this engaging social event offers a fun and relaxed atmosphere to hit the courts and mingle.

December 5

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. | General Session: A New Era for Coaching: USTA Coaching with Craig Morris | Craig Morris, Chief Executive Officer, USTA Coaching | Salon AB

Join us for an insightful general session as Craig Morris, CEO of USTA Coaching, unveils the exciting new vision and strategic direction for coaching within the United States Tennis Association.

9:30 - 10:15 a.m. | Cultivating Your Volunteer Garden: Strategies for Growth and Engagement | Scott Hanover, USTA Volunteer Management Council & Laura Puryear, senior manager - Coach Development and Training | Volunteer Engagement | Salon E

Join Andrea Norman and Scott Hanover from the USTA Volunteer Management Council for an interactive breakout session focused on nurturing a thriving volunteer program.

10:30 - 11:15 a.m. | Elevating the Game: Optimizing Tennis Venue Services for Every Funding Level | Moderator: Ted Loerhke, Managing Director, Section Partnership | Panelists: Mallory Weber-Cooper Tennis Complex, Peter McCorkle-La Fortune Tennis Center,  Kyle Markham-Jayhawk Tennis Center, John Terpkosh-USTA Missouri Valley Senior Manager, Tennis Venue Services | Salon F

Join USTA Managing Director, Head of Section Partnerships, Ted Loehrke, and a distinguished panel of tennis leaders representing the three funding levels, as we explore the role of Tennis Venue Services (TVS) in enhancing player experience and operational efficiency.

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Are You Sure? Electronic Line Calling and Live Streaming | Moderator: Marissa Moment Brown, USTA Missouri Valley Managing Director, Play and Competition | Panelists: David Minihan-Edmond Center Court, Elliott McDermed-Overland Park Racquet Club, Michael Hughes-USTA Senior Director Digital and Business Strategy, Sofia Dunlevy-USTA Manager, Community Tennis Digital Services | Salon E

This session will be a dynamic panel discussion featuring representatives from the USTA and leading providers who have made significant investments in both Electronic Line Calling and Live Streaming technologies.

12:15 - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch and Networking Time | Pre-Function North

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. | Adult Play Committee Meeting | Chair: Stephen Collins, Vice Chair: Ky Nichols | Salon F

Open meeting. This volunteer committee is charged with promoting and providing recreational and competitive tournament and League play for players 18 and over and social play opportunities for adults of any age and ability level as well as support and grow the Tennis On Campus programs on college and university campuses across the section.

2:30 - 3:15 p.m. | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Meeting | Chair: Nick Taylor, Vice Chair: Caitlyn Sagraves | Salon E

Open meeting. The charge of the committee is to promote greater diversity and inclusion in overall tennis player participation and USTA Missouri Valley services, activities, events and programs by supporting USTA Missouri Valley volunteers and staff in all organizational units and community partners.

3:30 - 4:15 p.m. | Junior Play Committee Meeting | Chair: Larry Newton, Vice Chair: Ben Gildehaus | Salon F

Open meeting. The committee is charged with implementing a competitive pathway for increased attraction and retention of local play opportunities. The Circuit Pathway will consist of Team Challenge, Team Tournaments, Junior Team Tennis and unranked tournaments, including Activity Tracker for 10U and will support the new unified sanctioned ranked tournament system being implemented.

5:30 - 6:15 p.m. | Meeting of the Association and Meeting of the Board | Salon AB

In this open session the seven district presidents will share a review of 2025, committee chairs highlight top achievements over the year, and the board of directors address the business of the association.

6:30 - 9:00 p.m. | Conference Dinner Party | Salon DE

Food, friends, and lots and lots of door prizes! Catch up with old friends and meet new friends at this conference-favorite night! You could walk away with a great US Open gift, section swag or gear.

December 6

9:00 - 9:45 a.m. | General Session: Charting the Course for the Bold USTA Vision | Ted Loehrke, USTA Managing Director, Section Partnership & Lydia Colaresi, USTA Managing Dir., Head of Digital Strategy | Salon DE

Join USTA leaders Ted Loehrke and Lydia Colaresi as they unveil the ambitious "35 by 35" goal – aiming for 35 million tennis players by 2035.

9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Officials Committee Meeting | Chair: Verne Weber, Vice Chair: Dean Richardville | Executive Board Room

Open meeting. The committee is charged with maintaining an effective program of recruitment, training, evaluation and retention to assure an adequate supply of USTA certified tennis officials to meet the officiating needs of the USTA Missouri Valley.

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | District Roundtables | Salon DE

District Roundtables provide a dedicated forum for district leadership and volunteers to connect and collaborate directly with their local community and/or section staff.

11:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. | Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Celebration Luncheon | Scott Hanover, Master of Ceremony | Salon ABC

The Annual Conference concludes with a celebration of USTA Missouri Valley award winners and the induction of three individuals into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame. The Class of 2025 are Sam Fotopoulos, Nathan Price, and David Steinmeyer. After the induction, enjoy a delicious meal and enjoy great company at your table. Following lunch, we honor players of all ages, tennis providers and organizers, coaches, officials and supporters from our five state area during our annual Awards Celebration. These awards highlight excellence in competition, service, and growth of the sport in our five state area. Find a list of our award winners here.

Register Here

2025 Recap

The 2025 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, hosted December 4-6, wrapped up yet another successful year in our section. The Olathe Conference Center hosted the event and provided a memorable experience for all attendees.

Read the full recap here.

Read about the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees here.

Read about the 2025 Award Winners here.

Watch the 2025 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album from the conference here.

Find the Facebook album from the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Celebration here.

2024 Recap

The 2024 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, hosted December 5-7, wrapped up yet another successful year in our section. The Sheraton Overland Park Hotel hosted the event and provided a memorable experience for all attendees.

Read the full recap here.

Read about the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees here.

Read about the 2024 Award Winners here.

Watch the 2024 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album from the conference here.

Find the Facebook album from the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Celebration here.

2023 Recap

The 2023 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, hosted November 30 - December 2, wrapped up yet another successful year in our section. The Olathe Conference Center hosted the event and provided a memorable experience for all attendees.

Read the full recap here.

Read about the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees here.

Read about the 2023 Award Winners here.

Watch the 2023 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2022 Recap

The 2022 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, hosted December 2-3, wrapped up yet another successful year in our section. The Olathe Conference Center hosted the event and provided a memorable experience for all attendees.

Read the full recap here.

Watch the 2022 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2021 Recap

The 2021 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, hosted December 3-4, was our first chance since 2019 to get back together with some familiar faces. The Olathe Conference Center hosted the event and provided a memorable experience for all attendees.

Read the full recap here.

Watch the 2021 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2020 Recap

The 2020 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference, hosted December 1-2, was unlike any other conference we’ve had - and was capped off with the 2020 USTA Missouri Valley Highlights video. The USTA Missouri Valley community was connected digitally rather than face-to-face and was a culmination of our centennial celebration in 2020.

Read the full recap here.

Watch the 2020 recap video here.

Watch the 100 Years of Growing the Game video here.

2019 Recap

Approximately 200 people attended the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference which took place from Thursday, December 5, through Saturday, December 7, in the Olathe Conference Center in Olathe, Kansas. 

Read the full recap here.

Watch the 2019 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2018 Recap

More than 200 people attended the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference November 29 to December 1 at the Olathe Conference Center adjacent to the Embassy Suites in Olathe, Kansas. The conference offered a Net Generation Pathway Workshop followed by sessions on parent engagement, and the Positive Coaching Alliance also led a session on coaching and creating positive experiences within the sport. 

Read the full recap here.

Watch the 2018 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2017 Recap

Watch the 2017 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2016 Recap

Watch the 2016 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2015 Recap

Watch the 2015 recap video here.

Find the Facebook album here.

2014 Recap

Watch the 2014 recap video here.