Magers Earns National Recognition for Springfield-Based Tennis Court Company

“You don’t realize people are actually paying attention to what you do over the decades,” Magers said. “You get lost in the work. It gets busy and it gets hot and all these things. To win something like that, it’s really what you do day-by-day when people aren’t looking. Did you take care of the paperwork? Did you follow up? Did you go back? I was just really happy.”

GPTC had previously won the USTA Outstanding Facility Award in 2016 for the company’s work on Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. “Tennis Industry” magazine awarded the Municipal Facility of the Year and doled out Champions of Tennis recognition for GPTC’s surfacing work on Cooper.

Gerald Perry Tennis Company additionally earned accolades in 2018 for its efforts on the LaFortune Tennis Center in Tulsa. GPTC was featured by “Tennis Industry” and selected as the USTA Facility of the Year. Magers said previous GPTC employees reached out to congratulate her and shared in the joy of the company’s most recent Champions of Tennis honor.

“The crews were over the moon about it,” she said. “It was really nice for everybody who works here and has worked here. The big part of it for me is just to make every effort to go out, stay in your lane and do what you say you’re going to do. If you’re supposed to be some place, we really pride ourselves on that and take pride in doing quality work.”

In addition to Cooper and LaFortune, Gerald Perry Tennis Company has worked on tennis facilities around the state and region including Principia College and Principia Upper School. Magers explained building companies like hers have their “pockets” and areas to work within, which gives them a niche in the market.

“It’s a lot of great people in the industry, and you make friends with those people over time,” Magers said. “Courts have to be redone typically around the five-year mark. If you stay in it long enough, you see those people again and they’re a joy to work with. A lot of coaches and pros. There’s not a lot of us, but even competitors close enough to me — we all are very warm competitors and friendly.”

While Magers enjoys the warm months when her seasonal business is in intense go-time mode, she also likes the slower cold months that afford her time to sharpen her saw. Throughout the years, Magers has assisted smaller Midwest communities and answered any of their questions pertaining to the technical side of applying for USTA grants.

As the youngest of six children from parents who were raised in the Great Depression, Magers said she has “thick skin” that makes her well-suited for business. With a large family contingent living in Springfield, several of Magers’s nephews, nieces and great-nephews have worked at GPTC. Magers loves her career and also enjoys hobbies including gardening, canning, golfing and water skiing.

“I never dreamed this is where I’d land,” she said. “But it’s been a grand adventure, that’s for sure.”