In this edition of our “Voices of RSPA” series, 42‑year Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) member and Midwest Division Hall of Fame inductee Mary Herrick reflects on her extensive participation in the industry, the importance of certification, and the relationships that have shaped her career. Longtime RSPA member John Weil sits down with Mary 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: Mary, let’s get started with your name, where you are, your current position in business, and your RSPA professional level.
Mary Herrick: My name is Mary Herrick, and I am an Elite Professional and the Tennis Director at Avon Oaks Tennis Center in Avon, Ohio.
John Weil: How long have you been a member of the RSPA?
Mary Herrick: I’ve been a member for 42 years.
John Weil: Thinking back, what motivated you to join the RSPA?
Mary Herrick: I actually wish I had known about the RSPA long before I did. I first heard about it while teaching tennis in Florida, when everyone at the club was talking about a woman who was coming in who was a Master Professional. I wanted to know what that meant and how someone became one. When she arrived, she talked to me about the RSPA, and that was my first introduction to the organization.
I didn’t pursue it right away because I was busy teaching, and I didn’t fully understand the requirements or have the resources at the time. After moving back to Ohio, it was Greg Aten and Tom Gray who got me involved. Greg took me to my first RSPA meeting, and Tom talked to me extensively about the organization. I was so impressed with the level of professionalism that I knew immediately this was where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.
“The RSPA has been my source of education and mentorship.
Being able to sit and communicate with like‑minded
professionals shaped my entire career.”
– Mary Herrick
John Weil: What benefits have you gained from your membership, and how has it helped you?
Mary Herrick: Career‑wise, the RSPA has absolutely been my primary source of education. Networking with pros around the country and engaging in various activities and events has been extremely valuable. Being able to sit and communicate with like‑minded professionals helped shape my career in countless ways.
John Weil: You’ve been involved a lot. Give me a quick overview — board positions, conventions, testing, seminars, anything you’ve done with the RSPA.
Mary Herrick: My first involvement was serving on the RSPA board for Northeast Ohio, and then I became the RSPA President for Ohio. From there, I became involved nationally on the nominating committee and eventually served as President of the Midwest RSPA Division. In that role, I gained a national perspective on the tennis industry through working with the other divisional presidents. It was incredibly valuable to understand the advantages and challenges professionals face depending on where they live and how they market their businesses.
I was also heavily involved in coaching certification. I believed then—and still do today—that the most important thing we can do is support entry‑level coaches, whether they are high school coaches, volunteers, or parks and recreation staff who help build the game.
John Weil: Let’s talk about networking. Did you meet individuals through the RSPA who remained in your contact list? And did any of them inspire you?
Mary Herrick: Oh, yes, absolutely. Many of them are still good friends today. I still attend some Midwest RSPA events, activities, and educational opportunities. There’s no doubt that Greg Aten has been a huge mentor to me. We’ve worked on countless projects and organized many seminars together. Greg was the one who originally got me involved with both the USTA and the RSPA. His work ethic, his inclusiveness, and his energy are unmatched.
Carol Anderson was also a major influence, especially in administrative work. She was incredibly organized and truly the glue that held the Midwest Division together when I was president. Her professionalism and dedication to the sport were inspiring. I loved working with her and brainstorming ideas at conferences.
And of course, I could name many more — including a certain Wilson rep named John Weil, who used to come into my club. It was always fun brainstorming with him.
John Weil: You mentioned you’re still teaching. Do you still participate much in the industry beyond teaching? And what goals do you have moving forward?
Mary Herrick: I do. Whether it’s serving on an awards or nominations committee, like the Midwest Hall of Fame, or jumping in to help with educational events, I stay involved where I can. I’m not currently serving on any formal committees, but staying connected helps keep my finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the industry, which is important when this is your career.
Networking is essential, especially if you ever consider changing jobs. One thing I think the RSPA has done particularly well recently is focusing more on job opportunities for teaching professionals. That’s been so beneficial for younger pros entering the field. It’s exciting to see a new generation coming in — they’re competent, energetic, and fully engaged.
My goals going forward focus on helping young people stay involved in sports. The rate at which kids quit sports at a young age is high, and I want to offer families opportunities to keep kids active. I also want to help develop the next generation of tennis teaching professionals and support them in building their careers.
John Weil: We’ll finish with this: What advice would you give to a prospective or new member about the RSPA?
Mary Herrick: If you’re going to teach tennis for a living, you should join the RSPA. The networking, career opportunities, and educational resources are unmatched. The organization has been around for a long time — it’s established, consistent, and capable of helping professionals get where they want to go. You can tap into just about anything you need for your career through the RSPA.
The more sources of information you can learn from, the better — and the RSPA has decades of expertise behind it. It’s solid and will continue to grow. The addition of other racquet and paddle sports only enhances the opportunities available to professionals. Tennis pros now have avenues to expand their careers through teaching pickleball, platform tennis, padel, and more. Instead of resisting these changes, embrace them. It’s the future.
Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations in our “Voices of RSPA” series.