Matthew Gordon is the co-founder, Chief Investment Officer and Corporate Counsel for the Company. An attorney by training, and an investment banker by profession, with over 20 years of experience. Matt is a noted policy expert on foreign investment in the United States and has testified in front of the United States House of Representatives as a policy expert. Matt has been instrumental in providing the expertise in raising the debt and equity capital for the Company’s real estate portfolio and general operations. He is an avid pickleball player as well.

Valerie is in her element too. Valerie has been involved in physical fitness her entire career, with over 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry. She held numerous positions in the YMCA, the last as Executive Director of a 20,000 sq. ft. YMCA facilities in Palo Alto & Mountain View, California. Valerie also founded and operated FLEX FITNESS, a successful fitness facility in Sausalito, California for nearly a decade. Valerie holds a BS and MS in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University.

Bob Hamilton serves as The Pickleball Club’s Chief Administrative Officer in the corporate office overseeing Human Resources, IT, Risk Management, and Administrative Operations. Bob brings over 20 years of C-Suite and corporate leadership experience to the Club having served in COO and CAO roles for firms in the Real Estate Development, Management and Hospitality industries. He has extensive experience not only running organizational operations and administration, but also consulting with organizations and their CEO’s on matters of strategic growth, operational and administrative efficiency, talent management, and the development of strong company cultures.

Bob is experienced with rapid growth entrepreneurial firms having recently led an accelerated organizational ramp up from 50 to 250 employees over an 18-month period including navigating through the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

He is a lifelong learner evidenced by his many years of pursuing higher education. Bob earned a Doctorate in Organizational Behavior from The George Washington University, MBA and Law Degrees from the University of Baltimore, a Master's in Psychology from Towson University, and a degree in Finance from the University of Delaware.  

Bob has unique leadership development experience including leading an Executive Institute within Allegis Group (a technical staffing firm owned by Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti) where he led a team of Psychologists focused on accelerating the development of over 250 rising executives in the organization. While there he designed and delivered innovative leadership and diversity workshops throughout the United States and Europe. 

Bob is passionate about the health and well-being of both individuals and organizations and has served on the Board of Sheppard Pratt Behavioral Health System (one of the top-ten Community Behavioral Health Systems in the US) as well as their subsidiary Family Services, Inc.

Bob is a Lakewood Ranch resident and an avid Pickleball player.

Chris Foster is a lifetime entrepreneur having started multiple businesses over the past 35 years.  A member of the finance team at The Pickleball Club, Chris is tasked with raising equity capital for our initial "Florida First" plan of 15 indoor private membership pickleball clubs. We plan on building a national enterprise platform company positioned to go nationally. I do one on one investment presentations with accredited investors and group presentations around the country.

An inspirational sales leader adept at building businesses and a seasoned sports marketing & promotions executive with 24 years of successfully building and executing sales & marketing initiatives. Extensive experience in business management, marketing, and sales leadership with expertise in designing effective sales, training and motivation strategies. An entrepreneurial drive to lead & create where others fail to see opportunities.

Chris has been happily married for 33 years and is a father of four and a grandfather of one.  Chris enjoys extreme life experiences from sky diving to scuba diving, all sports and anything outdoors.  He has served on many boards and community groups and enjoys helping others.  Chris is one of those individuals who rarely slows down and has no plans to retire.

Brian has over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance in a variety of business and industry sectors including manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and natural gas utilities. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Business Administration - Comprehensive Accounting Major. Brian passed the CPA exam while working for a CPA firm in Minnesota. He is excited to be the Corporate Controller and looks forward to improving his pickleball game.

Nancy has over 30 years of experience of increasing responsibility with successful management experience in a major manufacturing, high-tech, widely diversified , international corporation.  Extensive experience in service-related businesses where optimization of customer satisfaction is key. She has a consistent record of creating proactive, “win-win” environments, directing project execution teams, and managing large manufacturing plant closeouts and startups.  A genuine leader characterized by a positive attitude, negotiating skills, fine business acumen, an appreciation for hard work and a drive for bottom-line responsibility. She received an MBA from the University of Wisconsin and is a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).

Dawn joins The Pickleball Club as Executive Director of Training. Dawn has a wealth of experience in the health care and fitness industries. Early in her career she was a Physical Director and Corporate Challenge Director of the YMCA of Central Ohio. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from The Ohio State University. She was the Vice President of Sales and Owner of Berry’s Barbell and Fitness Equipment Co. Later she was the regional sales manager for Sun Pharmaceuticals, where she developed and managed a team of highly successful sales representatives.

The Training Director responsibilities include identifying training needs, developing group and individual learning courses, and managing the training budgets.   She has the task of developing curriculum and training club personnel.

Anne  is excited to be joining The Pickleball Club as the Director of Membership. She grew up in Ohio and graduated with a degree in communications from Ohio University. Anne and her husband have three children in university. They spent twenty-five years living overseas with most of their time being spent in the Asia Pacific region. After moving back to the United States, they spent a few years in Texas before making the move to Sarasota just two years ago and are are excited to call Sarasota home.   Early in her career she worked for Marriott International in group rooms and catering sales. Then transitioned into their training department at Marriott, where she focused on training and development for the sales and marketing teams across all worldwide brands. Anne took a brief break from the hotel industry and managed the call center for a luxury inbound travel operator. During her time in Texas, she worked for Hilton, as a guest engagement specialist working across all brands with their customers worldwide.  Anne loves to travel and spend time outside, has a passion for hospitality and customer service, and looks forward to welcoming all our members into The Club.