The United States Professional Tennis Association honored outstanding tennis coaches, players, managers and volunteers during its annual national awards ceremony at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis on September 24. USPTA, the world’s oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals, is hosting its annual World Conference Sept. 21-26 at the Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa on Marco Island, Fla.

Robert Greene Jr., of Rangeley, Maine, received the association’s top annual member award, the Alex Gordon Award for the USPTA Professional of the Year. Greene, who has been a USPTA Professional 1 member for more than 30 years, is the director of tennis at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville, N.H.

The USPTA Star, recognizing teaching professionals who make an indelible mark on their communities through the sport of tennis, was awarded to two members. Shelly Susman of San Diego has made a significant impact on grassroots tennis in the U.K., and hopes to do the same in the United States. Brian Egelhoff of Mequon, Wis., has been dedicated to creating tennis programs and playing opportunities for those with special needs through his Advantage Kids Tennis program.

Tom Fey of Indian Wells, Calif., is highly committed to bringing tennis to his surrounding community of Coachella Valley, especially though camps and clinics. This and his work with Special Olympic athletes is what earned him the USTA/USPTA Community Service Award.

Angelo Rossetti of Hamden, Conn., and Ettore Rossetti of Huntington, Conn., received the USPTA Industry Excellence Award, recognizing business acumen and a charitable attitude. The Rossettis, who are identical twins, raised money for several charities with a campaign around their record-breaking rally for 25,944 consecutive strokes in 2008, which is a Guiness Book World Record. The award is sponsored by the Tennis Industry Association and supported by Tennis Tutor ball machines.

David Altshuler of Peabody, Mass., received the first Lessons for Life Individual Award, for his fundraising efforts as the founder of the Jimmy Fund Tennis Classic, which raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Jacques Faulise of North Kingstown, R.I., received the first Tennis Across America Individual Award, for his efforts over the last 15 years hosting a USPTA day of free tennis lessons during the ATP’s Campbell Hall of Fame Championships.

Michael Mahoney of Riverside, Ill., received the Facility Manager of the Year Award. Mahoney is the vice president and general manager of Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago.

Other honorees are:

Adrian Chirici, Roslyn, N.Y. – Touring Coach of the Year

Billy Chadwick, Oxford, Miss. – College Coach of the Year

Lawrence Eyre, Fairfield, Iowa – High School Coach of the Year

Glen Howe, Tallahassee, Fla. – Georgo Bacso Tester of the Year

The following have been named Player of the Year in their respective divisions:

Cory Ross, Denver, Colo. – Men’s Open

Jeff F. Cohen, Longwood, Fla. – Men’s 35-and-over

Pat Serret, Alexandria, La. – Men’s 45-and-over

Cliff Price, Tulsa, Okla. – Men’s 55-and-over

Marina McCollom, West Des Moines, Iowa – Women’s Open

Robin Keener, Melbourne, Fla. – Women’s 35-and-over

Sheila Chiricosta, Avon Lake, Ohio – Women’s 45-and-over

Laura Thomson, Centennial, Colo. – Women’s 55-and-over

USPTA divisions receiving awards are:

USPTA Texas Division – Large Division of the Year

USPTA Southwest Division – Small Division of the Year

USPTA Southern Division – Newsletter of the Year

USPTA New England Division – Most Improved Division of the Year

The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually. Nominations are submitted by the 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each awards category are decided by the USPTA’s awards committee.

Biographies of the award recipients follow.

– USPTA award recipient biographies –

Robert Greene Jr., Rangeley, Maine – Alex Gordon Award for the USPTA Professional of the Year

Robert Greene Jr., a USPTA Professional 1 for more than 30 years, is the director of tennis at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, N.H. He has served as the chair of the USTA Olympic Tennis Committee since 2006.

Greene has been very committed to the USPTA. He is a former USPTA New England Division president and served on the National Executive Committee from 1998-2001. He is also currently on the USPTA New England Division Testing Committee. In addition, he has been highly involved with the USTA. He has served as president of the USTA New England Section and served on several committees, including USTA National Budget Committee, USTA New England Leagues Committee and the USTA National Executive Committee.

Greene is also committed to giving back through the community as is seen through the events he has created and the time he has contributed in the New England Division. He has held USPTA Free Lesson Days at numerous pro events including the Pilot Pen in New Haven and the ATP Grass Court Tournaments. He also created and hosted the world’s largest free-tennis lesson for Girl Scouts at the Pilot Pen and serves as a volunteer coach with the Tenacity Program in Boston.

As a player, he has been ranked as high as No. 3 by the USPTA in Men’s Open and 35 Doubles. He has been ranked as high as No. 2 by the USTA in Men’s Doubles. As a coach, he has worked with several WTA-ranked players, including Heather Crowe, Lisa Albano and Whitney Laiho, and world-ranked men’s doubles player Matt Polimeno.

Previous accolades include receiving the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Educational Merit Award in 2003, the USPTA New England Division Pro of the Year award in 1995 and 2008 and being named five-time USPTA New England Division Tester of the Year.

Shelley Susman, San Diego – USPTA Star

Shelley Susman, who is a tennis-teaching professional at San Dieguito Tennis Club and Surf and Turf, in San Diego, has committed her time and energy to grassroots tennis. While she lived in the United Kingdom, she was successful in breaking down political and class barriers to help youngsters to play tennis, whereas they might not otherwise have had an opportunity.

She has knocked down doors to get tennis courts to be opened up for free use to make tennis more accessible and less intimidating to new players. Her efforts and positive attitude have made a significant impact on grassroots tennis in the U.K. Susman, who recently returned to the United States, will continue to bring that same zest and commitment to growing the game here.

Brian Egelhoff, Mequon, Wis. – USPTA Star

Brian Egelhoff has been dedicated to creating tennis programs and playing opportunities for those with special needs. He has been involved in wheelchair tennis for the past 20 years as co-director of a wheelchair tennis program for adults and children. He has created several programs and hosted wheelchair tournaments. Through Advantage Kids Tennis, a program that he co-directs with his mother, he has expanded his program to work with children affected by Autism, Downs Syndrome and Spina Bifida by going in to schools. Some children have been in Egelhoff’s programs for more than 15 years. The parents feel the kids greatly benefit from the program because they have the opportunity to socialize, while they are having fun and getting exercise.

Egelhoff, who is also a teaching professional at the Mequon Elite Club and Mequon Thiensville Recreation Department in Mequon, Wis., used tennis as his motivation as he recovered and rehabilitated from emergency brain surgery when he was 16. He is now a role model to many and has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many students.

Angelo Rossetti, Hamden, Conn. & Ettore Rossetti, Huntington, Conn. – USPTA Industry Excellence Award

Identical twins Angelo and Ettore Rossetti have had a great impact on tennis. They rallied for 25,944 consecutive strokes in 2008, a Guiness Book World Record. This record-breaking rally and campaign around it helped raise money for several charities including, ALS Association, Rally for the Cure, Save the Children and the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation. This is part of an annual tennis event the Rossettis have created called Rally 4 Charity. The Rossettis also held a promotion at a local middle school, Roton Middle School, in conjunction with the school’s health and wellness fair and offered a free tennis lesson to each of the 400 students. Angelo is the head tennis professional at Milford Indoor Tennis and Ettore is an assistant tennis professional at Milford Indoor Tennis and Yale University and works full time for Save the Children.

Tom Fey, Indian Wells, Calif. – USTA/USPTA Community Service Award

Tom Fey is very committed to growing tennis in his community. He just completed his eighth summer tennis camp for the Hispanic youth of the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and has conducted clinics on four different Native American reservations for Standing Tall Tennis. In addition, he has also worked with Special Olympic athletes in Southern California and Utah. Fey has conducted more than 40 workshops across the country as a USTA QuickStart Tennis Specialist and Welcome Back to Tennis clinician. He is currently the chair of the Southern California Tennis Association’s Community Tennis Committee and is on the executive board of the National Junior Tennis League of the Coachella Valley. At Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Fey is the tournament director for the USTA National Men’s 55 Hard Court Championships, the NCAA Big West Conference Championships and numerous sanctioned and nonsanctioned adult and junior tournaments. Fey is the director of tennis at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif.

David Altshuler, Peabody, Mass. – Lessons for Life Individual Award

David Altshuler is the founder of The Jimmy Fund Tennis Classic, which is now in its 20th year. The sole purpose of this doubles round robin event is to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston with all proceeds going to the Jimmy Fund Clinic in their efforts to provide treatment and research cures for children suffering from cancer. The event is held every June at Beverly Golf and Tennis in Beverly, Mass., and funds are raised through entry fees, sponsor support and auction items. The event raised more than $50,000 for the clinic in 2008. Altshuler’s quest is to make a difference with this tournament as the vehicle and the kids fighting cancer as the fuel. Altshuler is the director of tennis at the Nahant Country Club in Nahant, Mass.

Jacques Faulise, North Kingstown, R.I. – Tennis Across America Individual Award

Jacques Faulise has been hosting a Tennis Across America event called USPTA Day for the last 15 years during the ATP’s Campbell Hall of Fame Championships at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. In the spirit of Tennis Across America, it is a free lesson day, open to anyone attending the tournament. The event is structured to provide a day of free lessons, with about 150 students at each event learning to play tennis on grass. While Faulise does offer many junior groups free admission to the tournament, several of which happen to be from the inner city, the lessons are also open to adults. Faulise is the tennis director at the Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I.

Michael Mahoney, Riverside, Ill. – Facility Manager of the Year

Michael Mahoney is the vice president and general manager of Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago. The club, which has more than 4,000 members, has 18 indoor tennis courts, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, Pilates studio, nursery and pro shop. Midtown, which currently has 24 USPTA certified tennis-teaching professionals, encourages continuing education opportunities for all of its staff through financial support. One of Mahoney’s significant management accomplishments is the development of Midtown’s nonmember Tennis in No Time® program, which averages about 650 students annually during the six-week program and TenniSchools, which averages 110 students for every four-week session for six months. Both programs have had a great impact, since an average of 15 percent of lesson participants join the club.

Lawrence Eyre, Fairfield, Iowa – High School Coach of the Year

The Maharishi School boys’ tennis team won both the district championship and regional championship this year led by coach Lawrence Eyre. This allowed the team to qualify for the Iowa state team tournament for the 12th time in 22 seasons under coach Eyre. The team finished second in the state team tournament and had an impressive record of 9-2 for the season.

Billy Chadwick, Oxford, Miss. – College Coach of the Year

As the head men’s tennis coach at the University of Mississippi, Billy Chadwick has led his team to a No. 4 ITA national team ranking. His team had an impressive 27-3 record for the 2008-09 season. The men’s team also won the Southeastern Conference Championship this year, giving Chadwick his fifth SEC Championship. During his tenure, Chadwick has taken the team to the NCAA Championships 18 times.

Adrian Chirici, Roslyn, N.Y. – Touring Coach of the Year

Adrian Chirici is the head tennis professional at Robbie Wagner Tournament Training Center in Glen Cove, N.Y. He has been working with Anna Foldbnyi on the WTA Tour. This year, he has had many highlights with his juniors, including No. 3-ranked Julia Elbaba making the finals of both the Winter Nationals and Easter Bowl, No. 14-ranked Kristin Norton winning 20 straight matches and winning both singles and doubles back to back at the Southern Open and National Open, and Howard Weiss solidifying his No. 1 position in the section by winning four championships in a three-month span and winning a national open.

Glen Howe, Tallahassee, Fla. – Tester of the Year

Glen Howe, a USPTA Professional 1, is the tennis superintendent for the city of Tallahassee. He is the head tester for the Florida Division and has tested 143 people during the awards period. He keeps communication open among the Florida testers team through regular e-mails, meeting at division conferences and meetings at every test with multiple testers to evaluate the process and how it can be improved. Howe also serves on the HEAD/Penn National Advisory staff and speakers bureau.

Cory Ross, Denver, Colo. – Men’s Open Player of the Year

Cory Ross was the champion of the 2009 Clay Court Championships. He was the finalist of the 2009 Indoor Championships and the singles and doubles winner of the 2008 Hard Court Championships. Ross is the head tennis professional at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Jeff F. Cohen, Lake Mary, Fla. – Men’s 35-and-over Player of the Year

Jeff Cohen was the champion of the men’s 40 singles and finalist of the men’s 40 doubles at the 2009 USPTA Clay Court Championships. He was also winner of the men’s 40 doubles at the 2008 USPTA International Championships and of the men’s 40 singles and doubles at the 2008 USPTA Clay Court Championships. He was the USPTA’s No. 1-ranked player in men’s 40 singles and doubles in 2008. Cohen is the director of tennis at the Heathrow Country Club in Heathrow, Fla.

Pat Serret, Alexandria, La. – Men’s 45-and-over Player of the Year

Pat Serret was the winner of the men’s 45 singles at the USPTA International and Hard Court Championships in 2008. He was the USPTA’s No. 1-ranked player in men’s 45 singles and co-No. 1-ranked players in men’s 45 doubles in 2008. Serret is the tennis director at Courthouse Fitness and Tennis.

Cliff Price, Tulsa, Okla. – Men’s 55-and-over Player of the Year

Cliff Price was the winner of the men’s 60 singles at the 2008 USPTA International Championships. He was also the winner of the 2009 USTA Senior Father and Son Hard Courts in Newport Beach, Calif. He was the USPTA’s No. 1-ranked player in men’s 60 singles in 2008. Price is the owner of Totally Tennis, Inc.

Marina McCollom, West Des Moines, Iowa – Women’s Open Player of the Year

Marina McCollom was the champion of the women’s open singles at both the Clay Court and Indoor Championships this year. She was also the winner of women’s open singles at the following 2008 USPTA surface tournaments: Hard Court, International, Indoor and Clay Court Championships. She was USPTA’s No. 1-ranked women’s open player in 2008. McCollom is the associate tennis professional at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Robin Keener, Melbourne, Fla. – Women’s 35-and-over Player of the Year

Robin Keener was the winner of the women’s 35 singles at the 2009 USPTA Clay Court Championships and Florida State Convention Championships. She was also the winner of the women’s 35 singles at the 2008 USPTA International Championships, USPTA Florida Grand Prix Masters and USPTA Florida State Convention Championships. She was USPTA’s No. 1-ranked player in women’s 35 singles in 2007 and 2008 and USTA’s No. 1-ranked player in women’s 40 singles. Keener is the director of tennis at the Swiss Inn Tennis Center in Melbourne, Fla.

Sheila Chiricosta, Avon Lake, Ohio – Women’s 45-and-over Player of the Year

Sheila Chiricosta finished strong in several USTA tournaments. She was the open division winner of the 2009 National Mother-Daughter Indoors and the 2008 National Mother-Daughter Hardcourts. She was the USTA’s No. 18-ranked player in women’s 45 singles and No. 16-ranked in women’s 45 doubles. Chiricosta is an independent tennis-teaching professional.

Laura Thomson, Centennial, Colo. – Women’s 55-and-over Player of the Year

Laura Thomson was a finalist in the women’s 55 singles in the 2008 USPTA International Championships. She was the USPTA No. 2-ranked women’s 55 singles player in 2008.