Mike Nealy is the Chief Executive Officer at USA Pickleball and is responsible for the overall leadership of the organization. He is a Minnesota native and holds a BSB and an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Mike believes pickleball has a special quality of bringing people together and loves seeing the diversity of players enjoying the game. When he’s not working, you can find him on the pickleball court, golf course or out hiking with family or friends.

Jose Moreno is the Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at USA Pickleball, where he oversees the organization’s brand strategy, marketing, partnerships, community impact initiatives, national event operations, and membership growth efforts. Originally from Tucson, he is a proud graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and holds a master’s degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Jose loves pickleball for its energy, inclusivity, and the way it brings people together. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching youth sports, exploring the outdoors, and traveling the world.

Luke Underwood is the Vice President of National Events. He works to partner with cities and sports commissions to build and produce world-class events, including USAP Golden Tickets and the USAP National Championship. With over 20 years of industry experience, he has worked in various sports and entertainment events, including the FIFA World Cup, Major League Rugby, MLB, Live Nation, and ESPN. Luke spent over a decade touring with mainstream recording artists and has spent time teaching English and Communications in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With additional experience in broadcasting, political consulting, hospitality, and construction management, he is dedicated to building world-class event experiences and helping to continue to grow the sport of pickleball. Luke loves pickleball because it allows for all ages and generations of my family to compete in a sport that values fellowship, athleticism, and integrity. It's a great way to meet people and be hyper competitive and social at the same time. His favorite things to do when not working are: playing pickleball, volunteering, watching the Buffalo Bills, cooking, and going on family adventures. He has been married for 15 years to his wife Angie, and has 3 children (Sydney, Nolan, and Baxter) who all play pickleball. Luke calls both Woodstock, VT, and Peoria, AZ, home, and is a proud Lumberjack from Northern Arizona University.

Lance Cowart is the Managing Director of National Championships. Lance fills the role of tournament director for all events run and operated by USA Pickleball. He is also a member of the Rules and Equipment committees, working to ensure fair play across all levels of pickleball. Lance is from Dallas, Texas, and attended Abilene Christian University. Lance got involved in pickleball after he saw four generations of the same family playing together on the court, which he had never seen with any other sport. When not working or playing pickleball, Lance loves spending time with family, traveling and on the lake doing all types of watersports.

Julie Atherton is the Managing Director of Human Resources and oversees the organization's human resources programs, payroll and IT support. She is from Illinois and a graduate of Eastern Illinois University. Julie loves that the sport of pickleball reaches everyone and is enjoyed by so many. When not working, Julie can be found hiking or spending time with friends.

Tom Tadler is currently the Managing Director of Officiating and the Chairman of the Referee Advisory Council for USA Pickleball. He is a Registered Referee Trainer and a member of the Advanced Training Session Team in the Atlantic South Region led by Julie Scott. Tom has over 1,500 refereed matches since joining USA Pickleball. He joined the USAP referee program in 2018 and became a Certified Referee in September of 2019. He has been the lead official on many televised and live-streamed broadcasts, including for USA Pickleball, the Minto US Open, Association of Pickleball Players (APP), and Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) matches. Tom has worked for Axalta Coatings for many years, managing multimillion-dollar global customers located in 10 countries. He has negotiated contracts and managed support teams that service the customer to reach production and quality goals. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Illinois State University.

Andrea Fogarty is the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications at USA Pickleball, where she leads brand strategy, marketing initiatives, and creative development across the organization. Andrea brings over a decade of experience in marketing and branding, including several roles at marketing agencies, where she partnered with a wide range of brands to build compelling campaigns and experiences. A graduate of Arizona State University and an Arizona native, Andrea is passionate about creating work that is both strategic and engaging, helping connect people to the sport through thoughtful storytelling and fun, community-driven experiences. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Craig Haas is the Director of Tournament Operations. He loves managing the operations of the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket tournaments and the National Championships. He found pickleball through a friend in 2012 in his hometown of Huntington Beach, CA where he quickly fell in love with playing pickleball. Since 2015 he has been helping to manage tournament operations from local events to nationally run tournaments. When not running a tournament or playing pickleball Craig is usually off walking with his dog Rascal.

Ashley VanOchten is the Director of Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Projects. I am from Bay City, Michigan and graduated with my Bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University. Fire up Chips! I love the sport of pickleball because it truly is for everyone and this sport has introduced me to so many amazing people. My favorite thing to do when I’m not working is going to pilates or spending time with friends, family or my Bernese Mountain Dog!

Hana Papaco serves as the Director of Recreational and Collegiate Engagement for USA Pickleball. In this role, she develops and facilitates resources that support recreational groups, universities and organizations looking to create or expand pickleball programming. Originally from Temecula, California, she played collegiate tennis at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona. Hana loves playing pickleball for its social and competitive nature. Outside of work, she enjoys shopping, cooking, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Devyn McCurdy serves as the Director of Event Operations for USA Pickleball. In her role, she oversees the planning and execution of premier pickleball tournaments nationwide, managing all operational logistics to ensure each event aligns with the organization’s brand, mission, and growing community. Originally from Folsom, California and a proud University of Oregon graduate, Devyn brings a deep passion for sports and community-driven experiences to her role. As a beginner pickleball player, she fell in love with the sport for its energy, accessibility, and the way it brings people of all ages together. When she’s not working, Devyn enjoys cooking, attending sporting events and concerts, spending time outdoors, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Jordan Onarheim serves as Graphic Designer for USA Pickleball. In her role, Jordan works diligently each day to ensure the brand remains visually consistent, recognizable, and fresh, applying her creativity and attention to detail across a wide range of design materials. Jordan is native to Wisconsin but graduated from Grand Canyon University. When not working, you can find Jordan trying new crafts, thrifting, and enjoying some good sushi.

Andrea Moultrie is a Volunteer and Events Manager at USA Pickleball, where she leads volunteer programs, event operations, and hospitality efforts for national tournaments. She is passionate about creating seamless, welcoming event environments by blending operational strategy with people-centered leadership to support athletes, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders. From Bessemer, Alabama, Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Sport Management from Jacksonville State University. She loves pickleball for its inclusive, community-driven nature and the way it brings people of all backgrounds together through sport. When she’s not working, Andrea enjoys traveling, spending quality time with friends and family, and engaging in experiences that recharge her and keep her inspired.

Nick Gulotta is our Event Logistic Coordinator. Nick helps plan and facilitate our Golden Ticket tournaments across the country. He is from Chicago, IL and a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a bachelors in Sports Management. Nick loves pickleball because it is a sport that brings people together and is a great opportunity to meet so many new faces on any court. When he is not working, Nick loves to travel, golf, play pickleball, and watch his Chicago sports teams.

GraceAnn Stewart serves as the Communications Coordinator here at USA Pickleball where she supports the organization’s communications and public relations efforts, with a strong focus on email marketing. She works closely with the communications team to help share USA Pickleball’s stories, engage the growing pickleball community, and support media and digital outreach efforts. GraceAnn was born and raised in San Diego, California, but graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in Communications and Sports Management. She loves pickleball for the unique sense of community it creates, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. Outside of work GraceAnn enjoys traveling, spending time on the water, and hanging out with friends and family.

Logan Halla serves as the Ambassador Engagement Manager for the North region, I have the privilege of working with USAP Ambassadors across Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. My role centers on recruiting, developing, and managing our ever-expanding network of Ambassadors to effectively grow the sport in their local communities, and I'm here to serve as a resource for each and every one of them. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota (SKOL Vikings!), I've proudly called Denver, Colorado home for the past 10+ years. I love pickleball for how accessible it is to people of all ages and backgrounds — it's a fantastic way to meet new friends, build community, and have a great time while burning some calories. When I'm not working — or playing pickleball, which I suppose now technically counts as working — you can find me hiking, skiing, or taking my dog for walks with my wife.

Heather Conger serves as the Ambassador Engagement Manager – East for USA Pickleball, supporting ambassadors, facilities, and pickleball communities across the eastern United States, from Maine to South Carolina. She values pickleball for the strong sense of community it fosters and the meaningful relationships built through the sport, while also appreciating the competitive aspects that align with her lifelong background in athletics. She is based in Medford, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, as well as a Master of Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration from The College of New Jersey. Outside of work and pickleball, she enjoys spending time with her family, including husband, Stephen, and their children, Matthew and Emily.