In this edition of our “Voices of RSPA” series, 47‑year Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) member and RSPA Hall of Fame inductee Kathy Woods reflects on her many areas of participation in the industry, the importance of certification, and the relationships that have shaped her career. Longtime RSPA member John Weil sits down with Kathy to explore her story. John is a 15‑year teaching professional, a 46‑year RSPA member, a Midwest Division Hall of Fame inductee, and has spent 33 years in the tennis industry in sales.
John Weil: Kathy, let’s get started. Please share your name, where you live, your current position, and your RSPA professional level.
Kathy Woods: I’m Kathy Woods, and I live in Wilton, Connecticut, which is about an hour from Manhattan. It’s adjacent to Westport, Connecticut, where Ron and I lived about 24 years ago. I am an Elite Professional. I was working toward my Master Professional rating and had all my materials prepared, but unfortunately, I lost everything — including our home and its contents — during Hurricane Helene.
I’m not currently teaching; instead, I’ve been doing a great deal of consulting with tennis clubs, as well as mentoring, which I truly enjoy.
John Weil: And how long have you been a member of the RSPA?
Kathy Woods: I was trying to remember exactly, but I believe it’s been 47 years. I think I joined in 1979, so that sounds right — though you might want to double‑check me on that.
John Weil: Thinking back to when you joined, what motivated you to become a member?
Kathy Woods: The best answer is that it began through my husband, Ron, who was already an RSPA member. Before that, I had started teaching tennis in high school under a pro named Tony Fusco, who was also an RSPA member. Then Ron and I worked together at the Chase Tennis Camps and eventually had our own tennis school. I wanted to learn as much as I could and also wanted the professional credential that the certification provided.
“The relationships were critical to my development. They sharpened my leadership skills and exposed me to the best and brightest in the industry.”
– Kathy Woods
John Weil: As a member, what benefits did you see from your involvement with the RSPA?
Kathy Woods: In those days, the biggest benefit was education — having a community to learn from at both local and national conferences. At the time, I was part of the Middle States Division. Networking opportunities were also incredibly valuable. Over time, liability insurance became very important as well. Our certification and professional credentials carried significant weight, and that was huge.
John Weil: As you became more involved, tell me about how you actively participated in the organization — board positions, conventions, testing, seminars.
Kathy Woods: I was involved in almost every area of the organization, with the exception of conducting certification testing — that’s probably the one thing I didn’t do. I started as the newsletter editor for the Middle States Division, then became a board member and eventually the president of the Middle States RSPA. From there, I served on the National RSPA Executive Committee, became a national board member, and ultimately served as president of the National RSPA. Later, I was honored with induction into the National RSPA Hall of Fame. The organization played a tremendous role in my professional growth.
John Weil: We touched briefly on meeting people through the RSPA. Have those relationships remained with you, and how have they influenced your career?
Kathy Woods: There are truly hundreds, so it’s hard to mention anyone specifically without leaving many out. Those relationships were critical to my development and still are today. I’m still able to reach out to contacts from every stage of my career. Even now, in a new community, I’ve already reconnected with someone I met many years ago who is active locally as a club owner.
The networking never ends — from local communities to underserved populations, national junior tennis leagues, adaptive tennis, traditional clubs, and eventually to serving as director at the USTA National Campus in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Florida. The educational opportunities immersed me in advocacy for women in the industry, which I didn’t initially expect, but became a defining part of my path. Serving in leadership roles also pushed me to improve my communication, on‑court and off‑court skills, and exposed me to some of the strongest leaders in the sport.
John Weil: You’ve stayed involved even now. Can you share more about that and your goals moving forward?
Kathy Woods: I think I’ve found my sweet spot at this stage of my career. Semi‑retirement has given me the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over many years. I’ve been fortunate to work in nearly every area of tennis, and I’ve found that my experience, network, and perspective are very helpful to the next generation. That has been incredibly fulfilling for me.
John Weil: My final question — what advice would you give to a prospective or new RSPA member?
Kathy Woods: Get certified in every racquet sport you can — because that is the future. Learn everything you can, pursue education aggressively, and network intentionally. Connect with your community and understand that it takes time and experimentation to find your own professional sweet spot, and that it will change over time. Allow that evolution to happen.
This profession requires service‑industry skills, business and management skills, public speaking ability, technical proficiency, and even injury‑prevention knowledge. Continue playing yourself if you’re physically able — these are lifetime sports. Most importantly, remember this is your career, but it’s also a joyful profession. People choose these sports during their leisure time because they want to be there, and that makes us incredibly fortunate.
Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations in our “Voices of RSPA” series.