Bob is living proof that robots and pickleball can coexist perfectly in one's life story. An Aiken native and proud 1977 graduate of Aiken High School, Bob went on to earn his Electrical Engineering degree from Clemson University, setting the stage for what he considers "one of the best jobs in the world" - working with robotics at the Savannah River Site for 38 years. Together with his wife Jane, Bob has built a life rich in family connections, including their two adult children and two grandchildren who keep their hearts full and their schedules entertaining. As a man of faith and community, Bob has been an active member of St. Johns Methodist Church for over five decades, where his steady presence has been as reliable as his engineering calculations. Now, you are likely to find Bob on the pickleball court, where he's discovered his post-retirement passion. Since picking up a paddle in 2019, he has expanded his social circle by over 100 new friends - proving that you can teach an engineer new tricks! His enthusiasm for the sport is contagious, and Bob has found his newest calling in helping to grow Southern Pickleball Academy and First Paddle into their next era, sharing the joy of the game with others and building an even stronger pickleball community.

When folks ask Beth what brought her to Aiken, her reply is, "the stork." A native Aikenite, in her career as a teacher she met many people. However, when she and her husband retired and took up pickleball, she met and befriended so many more. The social aspects and the sheer fun of the sport have captivated her such that she plays every chance she can get. Her teacher-brain recognizes the power of pickleball to encourage youth to put down their phones and pick up a paddle. Engaging kids with pickleball--she says there's nothing better!

Cindy fell hard for pickleball after recovering from an accident and finds great joy in playing an easily adaptable sport. She went to college as a non-traditional student (older than normal) and graduated the same week her oldest graduated from high school. Cindy worked 15 years at Morris Communications in HR as a training specialist and brings a bit of technical experience to the team. She also served six years as the Business Admin in a local church and has the valuable non-profit bookkeeping experience we need to manage our accounting and guide our financial stewardship. Cindy is married to Robbie, another Pickleball aficionado. About the only thing they enjoy more is spending time with their three adult children and four grandchildren.

Born in Greenville, David is a lifetime resident of South Carolina, moving to the Aiken area in 1981 with his wife, Paula. They have three children, Ryan, Morgan and Paul, and two grandchildren, Tucker and Caroline. David’s passions have been time with family, his dental profession, love of flying, golf, and sports of any kind. He played baseball and basketball in high school, and served 4 years in the USAF as a Medical Service Specialist at Myrtle Beach AFB. He earned a BS degree from the University of South Carolina and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Webster University and graduated from the MUSC School of Dentistry. After practicing dentistry for 35 years, David retired in 2015. Since retiring he has enjoyed playing golf, shooting sporting clays, and traveling, but now is concentrating on getting better at Pickleball!

Paul Turner is a skilled pickleball player, lifelong athlete, and dedicated advocate for under-resourced youth. With decades of success in business development, marketing, and nonprofit leadership, he brings valuable expertise to Southern Pickleball Academy’s mission. Paul lives in Windsor, SC with his wife, Tracey, and stays active through pickleball, swimming, cycling, and golf.

Meet Abby, our social media guru who believes that pickleball content creation is just as addictive as the sport itself! Originally from Kansas but with roots stretching across the South, Abby made her way to the CSRA in 2018 when she purchased her late grandmother's home—bringing her family full circle. With a background in Healthcare Administration and Human Resources, plus 15 years in social services and foster care adoption (including five years with Bethany Christian Services), Abby knows all about building communities and connecting people. Now she's channeling those same skills into building our online pickleball community, one post at a time. Abby's pickleball love story began just two years ago when a friend introduced her to the sport. Her "aha" moment? "From the moment my paddle hit the ball," she says, crediting God with placing an obsession for pickleball in her heart and spirit. Her passion for the game and the friendships it creates is undeniable. When she's not crafting the perfect pickleball post, you might find Abby on the golf course (working on what she calls "one of the most difficult sports"), serving at her church, or planning her next travel adventure. Fun fact: she's a distant relative of comedy legend Oliver Hardy - yes, as in Laurel and Hardy! The connection is so legitimate it's actually documented in the museum archives in Harlem. And her best advice? "Work for the Lord, not for people," - wisdom she carries into everything she does, including making our academy shine online. Abby describes herself as both a morning person and night owl - which explains how she keeps up with social media around the clock! Whether she's sharing tournament highlights or showcasing our amazing community, Abby brings that perfect mix of heart, humor, and authentic connection that makes our online presence as welcoming as our courts.

Crystal is a key volunteer with Southern Pickleball Academy and a proud First Paddle mom whose son Logan is a program graduate. She's seen firsthand how pickleball can light up a kid who isn't typically motivated by sports—and that got her attention. Crystal and her husband Jeremy moved to Aiken in 2016 with their kids Autumn and Logan. When their oldest needed extensive therapy, Crystal shifted gears to focus on family, leading them to start homeschooling in 2018. They welcomed their third child, Eliana, in 2022. A 2009 graduate of Augusta State University with a degree in Management Information Systems, Crystal brings a strong tech background to everything she does. When the Sanders family isn't working on home projects or gathering with relatives, you'll find them traveling (Disney is a favorite!) or on the pickleball courts. After watching Logan thrive in the sport, Crystal picked up a paddle herself and quickly understood the hype. As the coaches say, "If you had fun... you won!" With her tech expertise, Crystal knows the importance of balancing screen time with being physically active—something she's passionate about for all ages. Southern Pickleball Academy's mission of "Healthy Youth and Communities Through Pickleball" hits home for her. It's a fun, engaging way to bring families together and keep everyone moving. She truly wants to help more families discover what makes pickleball so special!

Meet Coach Eric: Bringing Fun and Expert Instruction to First Paddle! We're thrilled to introduce Eric Erlandson, one of our pickleball instructors at Southern Pickleball Academy's First Paddle program. With a background in kinesiology from the University of Houston and over two decades of racquet sports experience, Eric brings the perfect blend of expertise and enthusiasm to our young players. Eric discovered his true calling in coaching after a competitive tennis career, and he's been passionate about developing young athletes ever since. His journey into pickleball began while running youth programs at Houston-area YMCAs, where he helped introduce the sport to a new generation of players. Most recently, he served as director of tennis and pickleball at Camp Pontiac in New York, working with hundreds of young campers from around the world. What makes Eric special is his natural ability to connect with kids while teaching them solid fundamentals. Since moving to the CSRA three years ago, he's been sharing his love of pickleball with players of all ages, and we couldn't be more excited to have him as an instructor with our First Paddle youth program. When he's not on the pickleball court, you might find Coach Eric mentoring student athletes at local schools or planning the next fun drill for his First Paddle classes. His energy is contagious, and his dedication to helping young players develop both their skills and love for the game makes him the perfect fit for our youth program.

Perry has been on the court teaching pickleball since 2017, and his favorite part of the job has never changed: watching a kid try something new, mess it up, laugh about it, and try again. He builds a space where students feel safe taking risks, learning through trial and error, and walking away with a little more confidence and self-reliance than they had when they showed up — on the court and off. Before pickleball took over his life, Perry spent more than 20 years as a senior military officer, and that background shows up in his coaching every day — structured, patient, and always focused on helping each student grow at their own pace. He also holds degrees in business, kinesiology, and communications, giving him a well-rounded understanding of how people learn and improve. Perry believes every student deserves to feel both challenged and supported, and he brings that balance to every session he runs.

Kiss is a former beach volleyball player who instantly fell in love with pickleball when she discovered it also featured a "smash." A native of Brazil, Kiss and her husband made Aiken their home in 2019. She works as a budget analyst at the Savannah River Site and has a passion for spreadsheets and numbers. With extensive experience running volleyball tournaments and leagues in Florida, Kiss has also successfully managed a pickleball league in Aiken. She is dedicated to improving her own skills and sharing her love for the sport with others.

As a professional firefighter, Dennis has volunteered his photography skills to raise money for hospitals and charities such as the Ronald McDonald House and the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. He continues to find worthwhile programs that contribute to the health and fitness of our next generation.