RSPA Intermountain Members Recognized with National Awards for 2023 Contributions

Congratulations Kendall Chitambar! USPTA I Bob Ryland Diversity Award recognizes a USPTA member who has demonstrated an outstanding ability to unite diverse populations within their community through tennis. KENDALL CHITAMBAR • Founder and Director of Tennis - Rocky Mountain Tennis Center • He has coached all levels and all ages for over 30 years • Kendall is a Wheelchair Tennis Certified Coach, USTA National Wheelchair Committee Member for 2 years, and USTA Net Generation Junior Wheelchair Regional Provider • Kendall has a wonderful way of making an individual comfortable in a challenging situation

Congratulations Roeland Brateanu! USPTA Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year Award recognizes a member who has stellar results as a team coach. ROELAND BRATEANU • Head Men’s Coach at University of Utah • 17th season including 7 years as an assistant • 42-6 record, #17 in the nation, Pac-12 Regular Season Champion • Team earned their first top 10 win over #7 Harvard. Other ranked wins over UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Arizona, Oregon, ASU, Memphis and Princeton • Ranks 3rd all-time with 157 wins in Utah history.

Congratulations Peg Connor! USPTA Industry Excellence Award recognizes teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing their tennis business. PEG CONNOR • USTA Wyoming Executive Director • She became USPTA Certified in the late 1980’s in Omaha where she was Director of Tennis at Oak Hills Country Club and the Assistant Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Creighton University • Peg arranged USPTA National Headquarter tours for Wyoming players and coaches while attending World Team Tennis Junior Nationals, resulting in two of the attendees becoming USPTA professionals • She has impacted Wyoming with 5 newly USPTA certified professionals in 2023.

Congratulations Marc Knutila! USPTA Manager of the Year - Large Facility recognizes a USPTA member or non-member who need not be a General Manager by name but must function in the position of Manager of a facility. MARC KNUTILA • Owner/Manager of Springs Tennis and 9th year directing tennis for the city of Colorado Springs, CO • Runs programs, lessons, and leagues on over 50+ courts across the city • Marc began his career in Colorado Springs with 70 kids at one site and this number has now exploded into the hundreds