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.

Meet Lindsey Greene, our college marketing intern who proves that good things happen when athletic talent meets marketing savvy! A true Aiken native, Lindsey has called this town home her entire life, blazing trails from Kennedy Middle School to South Aiken High School, where she showcased her skills on the golf course for both schools. Her athletic journey continued at Spartanburg Methodist College, where she spent two years balancing academics and golf before returning home to finish her business degree at USCA. Now she's bringing that same competitive drive and strategic thinking to help Southern Pickleball Academy connect with the next generation of players. Lindsey discovered pickleball about two years ago and describes herself as "completely obsessed" with the sport. Her lightbulb moment? "I knew I loved pickleball when I hit my first drop shot perfectly over the net and my opponent couldn't return it." That perfect shot sealed the deal, and she's been hooked on the fun journey of getting better and learning new techniques ever since. But for Lindsey, pickleball is about more than perfecting shots—it's about the people. "My favorite thing about pickleball is the amount of people it's brought into my life," she shares. "When I needed it the most, I've met and continually meet so many amazing people who are now big parts of my life!" It's exactly this understanding of pickleball's community-building power that makes her such a valuable addition to our marketing team. When she's not on the court or crafting marketing strategies, you'll find Lindsey channeling her creativity into making bracelets—both for the people she loves and for complete strangers, because that's just the kind of thoughtful person she is. Her generous spirit and genuine love for connecting people perfectly embodies what Southern Pickleball Academy is all about. With her combination of local roots, athletic background, business acumen, and authentic passion for pickleball's community aspect, Lindsey brings a fresh perspective to help us reach new players and share the joy of this amazing sport!

Davion is not only a championship pickleball player, he is also a certified referee. He freely uses those skills for the Academy to bring an extra-special experience to our tournament players. Davion will also answer your questions about USAP rules as the author of our "Ask the Ref" blog.

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.

Lisa Barrett-Johnson (LBJ) comes to us with over twenty years teaching experience in racquet and paddle sports. After achieving a 5.0 rating in tennis, she moved to the south and found that lovely plastic yellow ball. It was love at second sight. A PPR Certified Teaching Professional, Lisa teaches pickleball at various facilities in Georgia and South Carolina. With a focus on strategy, she believes you don't have to be the best player on the court, just the smartest. Lisa is committed to the expansion and development of pickleball at all levels and in her spare time, (which is none) she cleans her house.

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.