Strength - Special Events 

  • Attract top industry experts through relationships I have established with them
  • Utilize the resources we have on hand to create a positive experience for the experts, the resort, the members and the community
  • Create "win-win" opportunities for local businesses, encouraging their involvement through sponsorship
  • Innovative "Get Paid to Advertise" package.
  • Create more local and global visibility of events via live streaming 
  • Provide an environment for experts, players and industry leaders which gives them the desire to return
  • Plan, organize and execute with other departments, ensuring a successful event
  • Provide educational environment for local pros and Ferris State PTM students
  • Provide opportunities for manufacturers involvement
  • Follow-up and including special promotions for event participants.

Ability to develop innovative programming, paving the way for continued  
participation and support with a strong desire to return.


The ability to develop and promote special events is a major way that we have kept our leadership status in the community and around the state.

When someone wants more info about tennis, they will search out the experts, those they can trust and those who have established positive relationships throughout the community.

The ability to attract some of the top experts and players, if executed correctly, creates a positive outcome for everyone involved and attracts those wanting to learn more.

From the experts and players themselves, to the staff running the event, the sponsors, the resort, the participants and volunteers, it is important for each of them to walk away with something gained that makes it worth their time and efforts and gives them the strong desire to want to continue to support future events.


The following are some of the events that I have developed giving us local state and national visibiity


1. ESPN 1310 Men's Snowbound Open Tennis Tournament

  • Initially a local event for college players and teaching professionals.  The event was opportunity for some of our top local talent to compare themselves to some of the better players in the surrounding area.
  • ​Initially a $750 event with $150 going to the singles champion and $75 to each of the two doubles champions
  • Through innovative sponsorship packages, the event grew to a total $23,000 raised with $13,000 contributing to the purse for players of all rounds.
  • Though no points a favorite stop for players because of the "US Open" feel complete with player areas, credentials, trainers, complimentary massages and food, ball kids and certified USTA officiating staff
  • Attracted top up and coming Canadian players as well as top college and challenger circuit players
  • USTA intersted in making the event a $50,000 event, but not able to because of a 9" post issue on the end courts.
  • Multiple media coverage including television, newspaper and radio interviews.
  • Promoted local Rallyball programs in-between singles and doubles finals

2. WTA Professioanl Exhibitions

  • Possible through relationships with Mike Woody and the Midland Community Tennis Center's $100,000 Dow Corning Tennis Classic (two hours south).
  • ​Create similar sponsorship package as we did with the Snowbound Open, covering minimal cost.
  • Promoted Grand Traverse Resort amenities: massages, 5-star dinner, practice courts, all activities and a night's stay in return for class visit and an 8-game pro set of doubles.
  • Two day window to organize, make player commitments, player profiles, promote, transform court #4 to show court
  • Pick up players Thursday, return on Friday AM for flights to Memphis
  • Lori McNeil, Sara Borwell and other players ranked in the top 100 
  • Win for Midland, Resort,  Players and Traverse City community

3. Guest Pro Workshops With Industry Leaders

  • Possible through relationships and networking.
  • Set up a package for visiting pros to come in and present a topic of their choice to our membership and visiting members of the community.
  • ​Workshop any where from 1-3 hours in length.
  • Resort covers cost of travel and a presentation fee.
  • Once completed the rest of the weekend is free for pros to relax, play one of our championship golf courses, casino, wine, color tours or just relax.
  • Professional staff gets a free educational experience.
  • PTM students assist in the event and learn valuable teaching skills.
  • Club members and members of the community get a chance to spend time with one of the world's best.
  • The pros are very marketable and makes it easy to fill up a workshop.
  • Live streamed and/or recorded for future content and educational resources.
  • Follow-up programs offered to participating players.


Emilio Sanchez


Oscar Wegner

Luke Jensen

Jorge Capestany

Stan Oley

4. Pre-Season High School Mini Camps

  • Designed to prepare high school players for up coming tryouts and season.
  • Match play weekend with two scheduled (singles/doubles) workshops.
  • GTR all-star staff as well as some top teaching experts from the Midwest section.
  • Guest pros receive free weekend stay for one hour of their time on court.
  • PTM Students offered a weekend stay to help teach and learn form guest pros. Saves on payroll expenses allowing us to provide better rates for players.
  • PTM Director - Guest speaker encourages players to consider a career in tennis.
  • Racquet manufacturers on board for "Demo Days" and product knowledge.
  • Resort receives room revenue, PTM students learn, guest pros get an amazing weekend with family, players gain knowledge from some of the top pros in the industry.

5. The Bob Swanson Memorial Tennis Tournament

  • Bob was a member that died of cancer.
  • One of the largest adult events in the state.
  • In it's 18th year (avg. memorial event is 5).
  • PTM Students are educated on TDM and tournament administration
  • They learn more in two days than 10 weeks in a classroom.
  • Six high school seniors receive a $1000 scholarship.
  • 270 entries.
  • A live streamed event with match coverage, interviews and commercial spots for the sponsors.
  • Players come to play from all over the Midwest.
  • Provide incentives for people not at the tournament to sign up for the live stream.
  • Once we get their email, we find out their interests.
  • Start sending them info they are interested in after they confirm.


Live Streamed


Players Interviewes

Scholarship Winners

Dinner and Dancing

6. College Team Workshops

  • Initial idea was to get college teams to play our members, but also raise funds so it made it worth the trip up north for the college.
  • Transformed into a tennis lunch, workshop, pro-am event (win-win for all).
  • Players have lunch with the team and coach gives an inspiring speech.
  • Everyone then goes down to the courts for two hours and the college players run cardio station drills for the players.
  • Two hour pro am where players pair up with a college players and play doubles (mixer style).
  • Event is live streamed when our pros play against their players.
  • Everyone wins.  College get funds, Resort gets visibility, members get to hit against the college players.
  • Community views us as the experts.
  • Most play more in a travel match than they would in a tournament.
  • In 2015 we hosted Aquinas College and Hope College.
  • Colleges use Funds for travel and stringing.

CLICK IMAGE TO SEE ONLINE SIGN-UP 
FOR OUR FIRST HOPE COLLEGE EVENT

Aquinas 2011 Event (Shows progression)
JUST CLICK IMAGE

Video is older but shows chronology

7. Travel Matches and Tournaments

  • Once a month we travel with our junior players to either a USTA Tournament or a Travel Match.  Tournaments are more serious and travel matches are a bit less (but more fun)!
  • Parents save money and get coaching.
  • Players love to travel with coaches.
  • Travel matches are the "stepping stones" between leagues and tournaments.
  • Travel to a club and play 3-hours of practice matches against their players of the same level.
  • Great way to work on skills not mastered yet.
  • Still has the tournament feel, but coaches are allowed to be out on court with the players.
  • Try to put a Friday/Saturday event together at different clubs to give the juniors more matches.
  • Most play more in a travel match than they would in a tournament.

CHICAGO - HOPE COLLEGE TRAVEL MATCH

CLICK IMAGE FOR TRAVEL MATCH VIDEO
(chronological for kids and parents)

National Campus Result 

  • Create local programs that are of interest to the local community 
  • Create programs/packages based on the content that players are looking for to bring them to the campus
  • Invite USTA coaches to inspire players to sign up based on the coaches specialty
  • Provides a positive guest experience on campus
  • Events can be live streamed and recorded for later content
  • Great way to get subscribers who are not in the local area, based on the event
  • Create positive relationships with players, coaches, industry experts and the community
  • Create programs that are specific to these special events if participation levels are appropriate
  • More activity on campus
  • More choices for players
  • PTM Students are great assistants for these types of events, providing a learning experience for them