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ABOUT

Our mission is to build community through shared sports experiences. Whether that’s with your corporate team or your double’s partner, we’re curating connection through fun, premium, unique and memorable pickleball events. The thing that makes PBX different from other pickleball providers is our promise to Play with the PBX Pros; all our experiences include opportunities to play with retired professional athletes.

 

PBX Leadership Team

​Todd Yancey, PBX Co-Founder – sports industry leader with extensive background in building and leading on-and-off field sports-related experiences for brands such as Ballparks of America (Branson, MO), Cal Ripken Major 70 World Series, the MLS and CONCACAF

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Kevin Wilson, PBX Co-Founder – Former professional baseball player and coach, including a gold-medal winning USA Baseball squad.  Experience as an entrepreneur building experiential sports events that connect brands, professional athletes and coaches with their communities.

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Sue Schlegel, PBX Co-Founder – VP of Agency Operations at Group G Marketing Partners, leading creative development, strategy and program implementation for brands such as AARP, UnitedHealthcare and The Home Depot.  Avid pickleball player and gold medal winner in women’s doubles at inaugural Atlantic City Pickleball Open.

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Matt Farrell, PBX Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor - CEO of Bat Around; President of Farrell Sports; former exec at Golf Channel, USA Swimming, USOPC, and Warner. Bros.

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Stu Upson, PBX Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor – former CEO of USA Pickleball; former COO of International Tennis Hall of Fame; executive at MLB Properties.

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Ken Byck, PBX Co-Founder – Co-founded multiple sports enterprises working with pro athletes.  He co-owned the leading Sports Fantasy Camp operator, licensed by 15 pro sports franchises and three leagues.  He developed experiences and media properties for the largest credit card issuers, sports media companies and major brands.

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Cristina Vincente, PBX Operations Manager – extensive sport event planning and management experience; Tampa Bay Buccaneers; NFL Draft, Super Bowl operations; LSU Tiger Athletics, UConn Huskies Athletics, IRONMAN

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Paul Holmgren, Chief Ambassador & PBX Co-Founder – USA Hockey & Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame member.  Five decades as successful NHL player (All Star selection), coach, executive, GM and Club President.

 

Brad Penny, PBX Ambassador & Co-Founder – 14-year MLB career; 2x All Star; World Series Champion (2-0, 2.19 ERA); 319 MLB games started; 121-101 MLB record (.545 winning %); led NL in wins (2006) and winning % of .800 (2007).

 

Kent Mercker, PBX Ambassador & Co-Founder – 18-year MLB Career; 692 games pitched; drafted 5th overall in 1986 MLB Draft; pitched a no-hitter and started the first six innings of a combined no hitter for the Atlanta Braves; World Series Champion (1995).

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Clint Hurdle, PBX Ambassador – close to 50 years as MLB player, manager, coach and special advisor; was selected 9th in MLB draft at age 17 and debuted two years later with HR in first MLB game; 10 years as MLB player; injuries derailed career at young age, world Series batting average of .417 with 1.000 OPS; 2615 MLB games managed (30th All-Time), NL Manager of the Year, led turn around of Rockies and Pirates, from perennial last place clubs to post season winners; universally admired and respected as selfless leader and friend.​ 

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Strategic Advisors

 

Tracy West – Co-Founder, Partner and Executive Vice President of Pro Links Sports; Tournament Director for the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship; CEO of Hayson Sports Consulting Group

 

Evan Kaplan – Managing Director of MLB Players, Inc., OneTeam Partners board member and MLB Players Alumni board

 

Zac Logsdon – CEO/Founder of Old Hat Creative; has worked with more than 200 collegiate and professional athletic organizations across all leagues and all levels in the United States, Canada and Europe

  

Mark Piazza – Former SVP of Operations for NY Knicks, NY Rangers and Madison Square Garden; president of MP Sports

 

Gary Rosenberg – Successful Golf and Experiential Event Entrepreneur; former executive at CAA Sports; Chief Revenue Officer at Zinc Agency

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Chris Sprowls – A trusted advisor for high-growth trajectory companies in Florida as managing Partner of Rooker Ward Partners, LLC; attorney and served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2020-2022)

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PBX Pickleball is led by a team of executives from industry-leading organizations like The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) in partnership with professional sports alumni associations and a roster of sports business veterans. We’ve come together to provide an unparalleled pickleball experience.

 

 

The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. SFC currently operates 45+ properties in 18 states across the country that welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $300 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com

and theSFnetwork.com. 

Image by Ben Hershey
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CORE PRINCIPLES

The PBX Difference – Built By the Pros, For the Pros

  • No Ropes – Forget “inside the ropes” as there aren’t any. We are relatable, approachable, real, gifted, flawed and connected to our fans.

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  • We’re Out There – We are giving it a go in our new sport and will enjoy the moment, compete to win and make it a show.

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  • We Take It Personally – Our fans supported us for years, so now it’s our turn to create personal experiences. We are the hosts, not the guests.

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  • We Give Back – We give to good causes and give everyone a memorable experience. 

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  • We Will Tell Our Truth* – Fans know our stats, so we are here to tell the stories on the court, at special events, at dinner or even at the hotel bar.

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* Truth levels to our stories may vary!

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