Northern

Becky Cantellano Hired As Executive Director 

USTA Northern | March 14, 2018


She is back!

Former USTA Northern Director of Tennis Programs and Services Becky Cantellano has been named the Section’s new Executive Director replacing Mike Goldammer, who resigned in November. In her new position, Cantellano, who starts in mid-March, will ensure USTA Northern is providing tools, training and leadership necessary for volunteers, community leaders and tennis enthusiasts to continue promoting and growing the game of tennis. She will also lead efforts to expand and enhance the organization’s programs while increasing and strengthening participation in the game and the volunteer engagement.

 

“It is an exciting time for tennis in USTA Northern,” Section President Liz Hamburg said. “We are thrilled Becky is returning to USTA Northern in this important leadership role.”

 

Cantellano brings extensive experience in association management, including strategic planning and community development to USTA Northern. Since January of 2012, she has served as the Executive Director for St. Paul Urban Tennis where she grew the non-profit’s offerings nearly three-fold. Some of her major accomplishments while at St. Paul Urban Tennis include: 

  • Doubling the operating budget from $250,000 to half a million gross receipts annually.
  • Establishing a cash reserve to ensure financial security of the organization and setting up an investment committee to maximize the long-term impact of significant gifts.
  • Rebranding the organization with a new logo and messaging to highlight the life skills and leadership development programming.
  • Negotiating a management contract with the City of St. Paul to move into and operate the Eastview Recreation Center.
  • Organizing financial systems to include approval of an annual operating budget and monthly board reports to ensure sound oversight.
  • Adopting a strategic vision and creating an organizational “Theory of Change” to inform decisions and set annual goals.
  • Formalizing human resources management and development through annual coach training, employee handbook, performance reviewsand payroll systems.
  • Strengthening the board of directors through the approval of term limits, creation of a board manual and orientation process, and recruitment of new members.

During her tenure, Cantellano was also selected by former St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman to serve as part of the Sprockets Network Community Advisory Council, a coalition of non-profits to support youth during out-of-school-time hours.

She also was highly engaged with USTA Northern, working as a member of the Community Tennis Association/National Junior Tennis & Learning Committee since 2012, and serving as chair in 2017, and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee from 2012-16. She graduated from the USTA Foundation Capacity Building Program in 2017 and was a USTA Adjunct Faculty and Netspeed Leadership Trainer from 2009-13.

Prior to her work at St. Paul Urban Tennis, Cantellano was an integral member of the USTA Northern team where she oversaw operations and performance of the Adult, Junior and Community Development departments. She also directed the Section’s grant making, advocacy and public assistance programs and helped merge the Northern Tennis Foundation and USTA Northern. She was named the Section’s ACE Award winner in both 2005 and 2010.

“I’m proud to accept this position and help lead this organization to our next chapter,” Cantellano, who has played USTA Junior Team Tennis, junior and adult tournaments and leagues, said. “I am truly excited to continue working with this great staff to promote and grow our game in Northern and beyond. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress that’s been made in recent years.”

Cantellano graduated from Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 2002, majoring in Spanish and Secondary Education. She attended the Disney Institute for Business Excellence in 2009, and earned a mini MBA in Non-Profit Management in 2015 from the University of St. Thomas. She is a Professional Tennis Registry Professional Level Coach and a USTA Northern On-Court Clinician.

A graduate of Mounds View High School and current resident of St. Paul, Cantellano is married to Aldo Cantellano and has two children, Ela (8) and Javier (6).

 

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