Tennis Weekend Speakers & Sessions

Part 1: The Foundation - Know Your Coaching Style 

• Discover the core of your coaching identity. This foundational session, incorporating the DISC Assessment, will help you pinpoint your personal coaching values, disposition, and default style. Presented by Tammy Azur and Kelly Gately.

Part 2: The Toolkit - Strategies for Engagement

• Learn practical strategies to identify and adapt your coaching style to the diverse needs of your athletes. Gain valuable tips for effective group management, maintaining player motivation, and catering to various learning styles. Presented by Kelly Day and Traci Kissane.

Part 3: Real-World Scenarios - Collaborative Problem-Solving

• Put your newfound knowledge into action! This interactive session challenges you to tackle common coaching dilemmas through collaborative problem-solving. Work in small groups to troubleshoot scenarios and share your best solutions with the wider group. Presented by Tammy Azur.

Part 4: Leading with Confidence - Your Path Forward

• Reflect on your journey and chart your course for growth. This concluding segment encourages you to identify one key strategy to implement immediately and one personal area for continued development after the workshop. Presented by Tammy Azur and Kelly Gately.

Tammy Azur, USPTA Elite Tennis Professional

As Director of Tennis at The Edge, Tammy has over 30 years of teaching/coaching experience.  She currently trains local high school players who are high performance/tournament players, intermediate players looking to enhance their skills to be more competitive, and newer players aspiring to make their high school team.  Tammy‘s coaching experience includes 13 years as the assistant coach for the University of Vermont Women’s Tennis Team as well as coaching Rice High School Boy’s Tennis for 5 years before becoming a full-time teaching professional.  A former three sport athlete in High School and Division I Collegiate Tennis Player, Tammy is knowledge in training players to become good athletes, good sports, and good teammates.

Kelly Gately

Kelly Gately is a Coach Development Coordinator at USTA New England, with a deep passion for both education and coaching. A former collegiate tennis player, she brings her experience as an elementary school teacher to her work, where she now integrates principles of adolescent development and empathetic coaching into workshops and trainings.

She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to directly inform her work with USTA.

Kelly Day

Kelly Day is the Junior Competition Manager at USTA New England, where she is dedicated to expanding competitive opportunities for tennis players of all skill levels. After discovering the sport later in life, she became a passionate league player, competing in multiple divisions at Nationals. 

She brings a background in teaching and coaching to her current role. Her philosophy is to foster a fun, play-based learning environment where young athletes are encouraged to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and understand that success is a personal journey.

Traci Kissane

Traci has taught as an elementary physical education teacher in Simsbury, CT for the last 24 years. Traci also has a background in recreation programming having worked as an Adaptive Program Coordinator for the Cheshire Parks and Recreation Department and working for the State of CT as a rehabilitation therapist assistant.

She has a Master's degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Adaptive Physical Education and a Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Traci lives in Berlin, CT with her husband Pat and their two daughters Bailey and Harper.

Mitch Case

Mitch Case is a PTR Level 4 Certified Tennis Coach and a PPR Certified Coach with over 15 years of experience in the tennis industry. He has held numerous roles, including Director of Tennis and Junior Player Development, and was named the PTR Connecticut Member of the Year in 2017 and 2022.

In addition to his coaching roles, Mitch is a strong advocate for coach education and an avid racquet stringer. He contributes to PTR TennisPro Magazine and serves on the playtester panel for Tennis Magazine. He was awarded the RSI Stringer/Racquet Tech of the Year in 2024.

Carlos Melgar-Petrain

Business Analyst at Mass General Brigham, former collegiate player, dedicated tennis advocate.

Now entering his third year with the Uxbridge High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team in Uxbridge, MA, he leads the team to consistent improvement and competitive success, while building a strong foundation for future seasons. He brings the same enthusiasm to his role as coordinator of the Worcester, MA Social Tennis League, which he started over five years ago. 
 

He recently finished his time on the USTA National Coaches Taskforce and is excited to share his knowledge with his peers on the USTA New England Coaches Commission, as well as with fellow tennis enthusiasts and friends in the broader tennis community.

Marc Stingley

Marc Stingley is the Director of Coach & Player Development for USTA Northern. A native of St. Paul, MN, Marc's journey in tennis began as a participant in an NJTL program, eventually leading him to play collegiate tennis.

His industry experience includes serving as a high school and collegiate coach, tennis director at the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center, and the PTR Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator. Marc holds designations as a PTR Level 4 Coach, RSPA Elite Professional, USTA Senior Coach Developer, and USTA Master Coach. In 2025, Marc is celebrating 30 years of coaching, 20 years of marriage, and a lifetime of disappointment being a Vikings fan.

Laura Puryear

Laura Puryear, Senior Director of Coach Development & Training for USTA Missouri Valley, is a native of Oklahoma. Her journey in tennis began with a friend’s invitation to play a tournament, leading her to play high school and collegiate tennis, ultimately deciding to make tennis her career.

Laura has experience as a teaching professional at public and private facilities, a high school coach for both boys and girls varsity teams, and adjunct faculty teaching beginning tennis at her local university. She’s certified as a PTR & RSPA Professional and holds designations as a PTR Coach Developer and USTA Senior Coach Developer.

Laura believes in the transformative power of sport to not only develop athletes, but shape character, foster inclusiveness, and unite individuals and communities across generations.

Join ACEing Autism for an impactful training and clinic focused on making tennis accessible for everyone. This session will provide coaches with the knowledge and tools to create a supportive and inclusive environment for players on the autism spectrum.

This session is presented by Lauren Lamanna and Nils Weldy. 

Keynote Session:

USTA Coaching is a bold new initiative designed to transform the way tennis coaches are educated, supported, and connected across the country. In this keynote, Craig Morris and Megan Rose will share the vision behind USTA Coaching, how it addresses the evolving needs of coaches at every level, and why it’s a game-changer for the future of the sport. Attendees will get an inside look at the platform’s flexible education pathways, professional tools, and national community—built to empower coaches and grow the game from the ground up.

Session Description

Led by industry expert Gavin Glider, "The Professional Edge: Building a Cohesive Visual Brand for Your Coaching Business" is a breakout session designed to help tennis professionals build a powerful online presence. This session provides a holistic approach to the digital world, teaching you how to define your brand identity, create high-impact online content, and build a cohesive presence across all platforms. You'll also learn essential strategies for protecting your athletes online, ensuring a safe and secure digital environment. This session offers the practical tools and insights you need to build trust, authority, and success in the competitive coaching landscape.

Speaker: Gavin Glider

Gavin Glider is the head tennis professional at Apex Racket & Fitness in Portland, Maine, and a coach developer for the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). He has built a successful personal brand and has nearly 50K followers on Instagram as a tennis social media influencer. Gavin has collaborated with various brands, including Wilson Sporting Goods, and has worked with businesses and individuals to enhance their online presence.

Sharon Murphy

Sharon Murphy has been a member of Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) for over 25 years.  In 2013 she achieved her PTR Master Professional designation in junior Development and is  currently a PTR Level 4 Coach. She is also a member and Professional of Racquet Sport Professional Association (RSPA). 

Sharon works as Coach Developer with both USTA and PTR. She is actively involved out of the East Hartford Tennis Club in CT as follows: teaching all ages and abilities; Tournament Director for USTA sanctioned junior tournaments; Director for Nike Summer Tennis Camp. She has held the position of Girls Varsity Tennis Coach for Glastonbury High School for 12 years.  In 2005 Sharon was awarded PTR State Member of the Year and in 2011, PTR New England Pro of the Year.

Shelby Baron

Shelby Baron was a professional wheelchair tennis player and achieved a career-high world ranking of 24 in singles and 20 in doubles. Baron represented Team USA at 10 World Team Cups as well as two Paralympic Games in Rio and Tokyo. In addition, she won four consecutive collegiate national championships. After she graduated, she became the assistant coach for the wheelchair tennis team where she helped coach the team to 3 additional national championships.

Baron is Level 2 certified for tennis and has been coaching junior and wheelchair tennis players since 2013. She was named the PTR Wheelchair Professional of the Year in 2019 and inducted into the USTA Hawaii Pacific Hall of Fame in 2023. Most recently, she obtained her Level 1 certification for pickleball.

Shelby served 3 terms as a member of the USTA National Wheelchair Committee, during which she became Chair of the Collegiate Subcommittee and the Net Generation Southern Wheelchair Tennis Provider. Residing in Orlando, FL Shelby is currently working for USTA as a Manager of the Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship.

Shawna Fors

Shawna is the Director of Competition and Coach Development for USTA New England, where she shapes the strategic direction of the junior competition and coach education space. With extensive experience as both a player and a coach, she understands the profound impact coaching can have on an individual's life and a community as a whole.

Her passion is rooted in the transformative power of sports, which she believes can shape character and change lives. She is an active advocate for girls and women in Sports and was nominated as Coach of the Year for her work with the Lesley University Men's and Women's Tennis Teams.

Troy Crichlow

High School Varsity Coach (Milton Academy) & High Performance Coach

Troy Crichlow is a highly accomplished tennis coach and leader with over 20 years of experience in the Boston area. A decorated junior player who was the first-ever inductee into the NETA Hall of Fame for his ATA accomplishments, he went on to play Division 1 tennis at Georgetown University. His coaching career includes working with ATP tour pro James Cerretani and developing numerous nationally ranked junior players. He currently serves as the head coach for the Milton Academy varsity girls' team, leading them to five consecutive Independent School League titles and three consecutive NEPSAC championships.

In addition to his on-court achievements, Crichlow holds significant leadership roles within the tennis community. He is the chair of the USTA New England National Selection Committee and was awarded the William Freedman Award in 2017 for his contributions to junior development. He also serves on the New England Tennis Association Board and is a board member for A Bright Future, a non-profit that helps underserved African American boys through tennis and education. 

Angela Hayden

Angela Hayden is a Tennis in the Parks coach who loves bringing people together on and off the court. When she’s not coaching tennis, Angela runs an estate planning law practice serving clients in NH and MA and works as an ICF-certified life coach, helping busy professionals simplify their lives in and out of the office - so they can focus on what matters most (and have time to play tennis). 

She also organizes tennis socials and weekend tennis getaways for groups of fun, positive, inclusive players.

Alex Skinner

Alex Skinner is an RSPA Elite Professional with over a decade and a half of coaching experience. He has served as the Head Varsity Boys’ Tennis Coach at Brooks School for 11 years and is also the Director of Tennis at Chatham Beach and Tennis Club in Massachusetts. A former Division I player and captain at Boston College, Alex went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. He is also Executive Director of Serving Stars, a USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning program in Lawrence, MA, and is the co-founder and CEO of clubcloud, racquet and fitness club management software platform.

Shelby Baron

Shelby Baron was a professional wheelchair tennis player and achieved a career-high world ranking of 24 in singles and 20 in doubles. Baron represented Team USA at 10 World Team Cups as well as two Paralympic Games in Rio and Tokyo. In addition, she won four consecutive collegiate national championships. After she graduated, she became the assistant coach for the wheelchair tennis team where she helped coach the team to 3 additional national championships.

Baron is Level 2 certified for tennis and has been coaching junior and wheelchair tennis players since 2013. She was named the PTR Wheelchair Professional of the Year in 2019 and inducted into the USTA Hawaii Pacific Hall of Fame in 2023. Most recently, she obtained her Level 1 certification for pickleball.

Shelby served 3 terms as a member of the USTA National Wheelchair Committee, during which she became Chair of the Collegiate Subcommittee and the Net Generation Southern Wheelchair Tennis Provider. Residing in Orlando, FL Shelby is currently working for USTA as a Manager of the Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship.