The USTA Florida Leadership Academy celebrated its newest graduating class on March 28, with five participants completing the program designed to mentor the next generation of leaders in Florida tennis.
What is the USTA Florida Leadership Academy?
Launched in 2019, the Leadership Academy was created to bring new and diverse volunteers into the organization. Designed as a lead-up to the next board and committee terms, the program provides participants with roughly six months of training, education and direct mentorship from existing USTA Florida Board members to help them take on leadership roles in Florida tennis.
Throughout the program, participants dig deeper into USTA Florida’s initiatives, brainstorm ideas to improve them, and engage in exercises that help them identify and understand different communication and leadership styles.
Since its creation there have been more than 50 graduates, with a great portion going on to serve on a committee or project team, and a handful of graduates have served, or currently sit on the USTA Florida and USTA Florida Section Foundation Boards.
The Class of 2025-2026 was mentored by USTA Florida Board members Marcelo Gouts, USTA Florida President-Elect, and Lezita Davis, USTA Florida Treasurer, who guided the five participants through the program’s curriculum and provided hands-on mentorship along the way.
“It has been a true privilege to mentor such an outstanding group of leaders who have stepped forward with a genuine commitment to serve our organization at the highest volunteer level,” Gouts said. “Their passion, engagement, and willingness to lead have been inspiring throughout the journey. The Leadership Academy continues to be a powerful pathway for developing future leaders in Florida tennis, and I firmly believe the future of our organization is brighter than ever. We look forward to seeing the 2025-2026 graduating class continue to grow and make a meaningful impact across our tennis community.”
“Working with the graduating class has been a meaningful experience for me. I’ve been able to observe their growth as confident, thoughtful leaders. Getting to know their individual ‘why’ and supporting them through mentorship has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience,” Davis said. “The Leadership Academy is so special because it nurtures passion, purpose, and service. By preparing new and prospective volunteers, it empowers them to make a lasting positive impact to Florida tennis and the communities they serve.”
Meet the Graduates
Darlene Day
“As someone who works for a Fortune 500 financial services company, I already had a broad experience with some of the concepts presented in the Leadership Academy; however, the additional training on engaging as a volunteer as well as becoming a kind of brand ambassador for tennis in general was most beneficial,” Day said. “I’ve already put the training to use in my area and look forward to continuing to use the tools I’ve learned about and will continue to sharpen to grow the game that I love so much!”
Peita Rodewald
“I loved the informative learning modules about the history of USTA Florida and what the Foundation function is,” Rodewald said. “I am currently serving as a chair on the Investment and Audit Committee and will continue to do so in the future.”
Kevin Johnson
“I enjoyed the experience of the Leadership Academy. Learning about planning as a leader, networking, and professional development will be a benefit to me in my work life. I was also excited about spending time with my mentor,” Johnson said. “We had stimulating conversations on a plethora of topics. He provided excellent counsel and humor during these three months of the Leadership Academy.”
Kristine Mendivil
“Being part of the Leadership Academy was truly a privilege, offering the opportunity to learn from instrumental leaders whose passion for tennis and its future growth is inspiring,” Mendivil said. “I look forward to using my strengths and passion to give back locally by engaging players from the Palm Beach County Women’s Tennis Association as valuable resources to support community initiatives. Through this collaboration, I hope to contribute to the continued growth of tennis while remaining actively involved with USTA Florida in a meaningful and influential way.”
Scott Pukys
“My favorite thing about being part of the leadership academy is being around such great like-minded people. Marcelo and Lezita have been amazing with us throughout this whole process, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the others in the leadership academy better,” Pukys said. “Moving forward, I’m looking forward to continuing what I love to do and that’s showing people the great sport of tennis. I hope to find more ways to facilitate this by working with city officials on how to utilize many of our public courts scattered throughout the community.”
To learn more about USTA Florida and how you can get involved, visit ustaflorida.com/ tennis-advocacy.