Court Sports for Life, the nonprofit that operates the Steamboat Tennis and Pickleball Center, announced Monday that executive director Loretta Conway and director of operations Bill Conway have resigned.
Court Sports for Life Board President Steven Mozelevski said the organization is grateful for all that Loretta and Bill have done for the center and the community, and will continue to support the center as it rapidly grows. He said the board made the decision due to disagreements.
“There is no question that their passion and dedication were essential in getting us to the nationally renowned local treasure that we are today,” Mozelewski said. “There were disagreements over the division of roles between the executive director and the board, and concerns about responding to the significantly expanded range of challenges faced by the organization given its recent growth. Despite the disagreements that led the Board to take this action, we are confident that everything the Conways did was what they felt was in the best interest of our organization and our community. doing.”
Mozelewski said the vote for the change was unanimous among the seven Court Sports for Life board members who were able to attend Monday's meeting. The Conways were informed of the decision shortly thereafter.
“They told us (Monday) that they wanted to take it to a new level, but they didn't think Bill and I were the leaders they needed to do that,” Loretta Conway said. “That's how we found out. They're taking care of us, so we'll be okay.”
Mozelewski said the board is in the process of forming a search committee to find the next executive director. In the meantime, Court Sports for Life board member Ricky Jenkins will serve as interim executive director.
“My goal during this interim period is to continue to operate our business as seamlessly as possible for our employees, players and the public,” Jenkins said. “We also want to initiate operating procedures and systems that will take us to the next level professionally and set our new managing director up for immediate success.”
Loretta Conway said she will assist with consulting during the transition period, which runs until the end of March. The center will have a special focus on providing tennis while facing the unique and unconventional challenges of changing leadership in an organization.
“We need to make sure we continue our youth programs. Next week we start our high school girls tennis program,” Mozelewski said. “Bill Conway was a valued coach, and with his departure we are asking our private tennis lesson patrons to help us while we devote our educational resources to serving our communities. It may not happen.”
Bill will be succeeded as high school girls tennis coach and tennis director by Jason Scicchitano, who has served as the center's head tennis pro for the past two years.
Head of Pickleball Professionals Jason Harris will remain in his position while the nonprofit searches for a director of pickleball.
The Conways came to Steamboat Springs 13 years ago and joined the tennis center. The two worked for former owner Jim Swigert for several years before purchasing the business from him.
Loretta Conway said the center had been operating as a for-profit for three years, but the community showed so much interest in a pickleball building that she decided to form a nonprofit organization to help grow these racquet sports. He had an idea.
Court Sports For Life officially took over operations of the center in 2021. Since then, the organization has collected his $7.2 million in donations, grants and sponsorships for a new pickleball facility scheduled to open this spring.
“I feel like we're moving in a really positive direction,” Loretta Conway said. “I think we'll be fine and the center will be fine. It's a pretty great success story. At the end of the day, that building is going to be $12 million.”
“I have no malicious intent,” Bill Conway said. “I wish the people who come here and the people they elect, Jason Scicchitano, and the entire pickleball community with Jason Harris, the best of luck and great things.”
