PTR Headquarters Staff

Dan Santorum
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

In addition to his administrative and financial duties, Dan represents the organization at industry related events and workshops. He has conducted more than 350 PTR tennis teacher workshops on six continents, in 44 countries and 171 cities.

In the early 90's, Dan created the PTR ACE Program, which has led to thousands of multicultural tennis professionals becoming educated and certified to teach tennis in the USA. In 1999, he became the first, and to this day the only, person to conduct courses for tennis teachers in all 50 states. During his tenure, PTR has more than quadrupled in size - from an organization of 2,500 members in 68 countries - to an organization with more than 13,300 members in 122 countries. Dan has served and continues to serve on several USTA committees. He also sits on a number of boards in the tennis industry, including: International Tennis Hall of Fame, National Public Parks Tennis Association and Tennis Industry Association. In 2000, Dan captained the USA team to an upset victory over #1 seeded Germany in the inaugural Tony Trabert Cup. In 2005, he developed a successful program aimed at increasing the number of young tennis teaching professionals in the United States -- PTR on Campus. In 2006, Dan received the prestigious Educational Merit Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. That same year, he was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

Dan has led PTR for 22 years, and PTR's membership has grown an unprecedented 22 straight years. He holds a B.S. degree in Business Management from the University of Florida.

Pat Decker
Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Pat joins PTR with a wealth of experience. Since 1995, she has owned and managed Middlebury Racquet Club in Connecticut where she has held several PTR events including the upcoming Professional Development Day on October 12th. In addition, Decker is on the Board of Directors of USTA New England and is Vice President of the Connecticut Association of Tennis Club Owners. Prior to her career in tennis, Decker spent 15 years on Wall Street. In her 10 years at Goldman Sachs and Company she was Vice President and Manager of the Tax Exempt Money Markets Desk, as well as Chief Administrator for Money Market Origination and Vice President in Commercial Paper Trading. Decker was also a Vice President in the Municipal Securities Division of CS First Boston and a Corporate Lending Officer at Chemical Bank. Pat has a B.A. in Political Science from York University in Toronto, Ontario and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Cornell University.

Julie Jilly
Vice President of Operations

Julie is responsible for coordinating special events, such as PTR WEEK, supervising PTR's staff and managing the many benefits available to PTR members. Julie is as a member of HEAD's Team Airflow. With a passion for wheelchair tennis and Special Olympics, Julie annually serves as Tournament Director for both the $15,000 PTR/ROHO Wheelchair Tennis Championships and the Special Olympics Tennis Championships. In 2006, PTR received a National Award for Adaptive Tennis. In 2005, Julie received the USTA Community Service Award for the Southern Section and the Special Olympics South Carolina's Super Hero Award. In 2004, she was recognized by RSI Magazine as the Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year. As Secretary of PTR Foundation, she administrates the grant program. Julie has been with PTR since 1985, and has a B.S. in Public Relations from Florida State University.

Iñaki Balzola
International Director

Iñaki coordinates the International Department of PTR. Iñaki's has traveled to more than 60 countries to teach PTR Workshops, resulting in having taught more than 250 PTR workshops. He represents the organization at many International ITF and ATP conferences and symposia. Born in Milan, Italy, Iñaki is able to converse with our members in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Iñaki is also the Coordinator of ACE, PTR's multicultural participation program, represents PTR on various USTA and ITF Committees, is on the Cardio Tennis Speaker Staff and is a USTA High Performance Coach. Iñaki has been with PTR since 1994, and has a B.S. in International Marketing from Western Carolina University.

Helma Cap
Merchandise Director

Any member who has purchased PTR merchandise knows Helma. She is the person to call if you have any questions regarding the items we sell. She speaks English, Dutch and a bit of German. In addition, Helma is responsible for all accounts receivable. She has recently taken on the responsibility of assisting with the coordination of workshops. Helma has been with PTR since its inception in 1976, is a National Tester and former Clinician. She has an Associate Degree in Business from the College of Boca Raton and is currently studying business at the University of South Carolina.

Peggy Edwards
Communications Director

Prior to joining PTR in 1998, Peggy spent more than 10 years as Vice President of Marketing for Majestic Athletic, an apparel manufacturer with a focus on professional team sports. She is the editor of TennisPro magazine. She also writes and disseminates information to the media and is in charge of advertising and promotional materials for PTR. A native of Pennsylvania, Peggy went to the University of Southern California and was a muralist in Santa Monica for several years.

Amanda Mitchell
IT Director

Amanda joined the PTR Staff in 2002, and was given the responsibility of coordinating the US Workshops. Since then, she has taken on the responsibilities IT Director. As IT Director, she administers and magaes all aspects of the database and web site. She was instrumental in the development of PTR's new web site and the integration of the site and database. Prior to her foray into tennis, Amanda worked as a Customer Service Representative for Terry Precision Cycling for Women in Rochester, New York. This Slippery Rock University graduate with a B.S. in Sport Management at one time served as the General Manager of the Newark Raptors, a member of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

Tonya Tobe
US Membership Coordinator

Tonya joined the PTR Headquarters staff in 2005, and is responsible for coordinating liability insurance coverage for PTR members and acts as liaison between our members and Coastal Plains Insurance. She also coordinates the Trade Show held during our International Tennis Symposium. In addition, Tonya is an Area Director for USTA South Carolina. Her territory covers the southern area of South Carolina, which includes Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper Counties. Prior to moving to South Carolina, Tonya managed an orthopedic oncology department at the Washington Hospital Center/Cancer Institute in Washington, DC, and coordinated the department's residency program.

Steve Keller
Director of Development

Steve Keller, Director of Development for PTR, is responsible for organizing, developing and conducting PTR workshops and Professional Development Courses. Steve also administrates the PTR on Campus program. Additionally, he is responsible for PTR certification and testing, and oversees the Clinicians and Testers in the United States. Steve has been a member of PTR since 1986, and has been a PTR Clinician and Tester since 1990, traveling extensively through the United States. Steve was recently the Director of Tennis for Midtown Athletic Club (TCA) in Rochester, NY. Prior to working for TCA, he was the Director of Tennis at the Van der Meer Tennis Center on Hilton Head Island. In 1996, Steve earned the USTA/PTR Public Service Award and was most recently honored with the 2008 PTR Member of the Year Award for New York.

Yza Shady
Member Services

Yza joined the staff in Spring 2008. She is responsible for assisting PTR's 13,000 members worldwide and supporting staff in the basic services of PTR. In 2007, Yza moved from New York City, where she was an actress and a member of the Professional Actors' Equity Theatre Union for 15 years. Prior to joining PTR, she taught high school at Heritage Academy on Hilton Head Island.

Myles Williams
Director of Education

Myles oversees PTR's education programs, including the development of new supplements and manuals. He is also responsible for workshop and testing content and materials. His background includes many years as a Tennis Director, as well as a former Program Director for the Tennis Club Management Program at the Technical College of the Lowcountry. Myles resides in Columbia, South Carolina, where he has a home office, and is Department Chair of Speech, Humanities & Social Sciences at Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter. He is a graduate of the University of Florida (1978) and holds a M.S. degree from Kansas State University (1982).

Louie Cap
International Clinician

Louie travels the globe conducting International PTR Day events, certification workshops & PTR testing. Louie also troubleshoots any computer issues that may arise. Louie has a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Baylor University, is a Senior Head Professional at the Van der Meer Tennis Center, a PTR Master Professional and PTR International Tester and Clinician.

Anne Krupp
Special Projects

Anne travels to Hilton Head Island from her native Ohio to work with PTR on the Symposium, Special Olympics and wheelchair events. She has been a certified PTR member since 1991, and in 1999, earned the PTR/USTA Service Award and the USTA Midwest Stanley Malless Award. In 2005, Anne was presented with the national Eve Kraft Award and in 2006, earned USTA Midwest's highest honor, the Mel Bergman Award. That year, even her hometown of Fostoria named her its Community Hero. She was selected to serve as the Assistant Coach of the Special Olympics National Team at the World Games held in Shanghai, China. In addition, Anne has been a USTA Official for 20 years and has officiated at numerous tournaments, including the 1999 (Raleigh-Durham) and 2003 (Dublin) Special Olympic World Games.

Angie van Zuylen
Graphic Design Director

Angie joined PTR in 1998, as the Graphic Design Director. She has a Master of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art & Design and received Little Rock, Arkansas' Professor of the Year while teaching graphic design. Angie is responsible for the look of TennisPro magazine. She also designs the International Tennis Symposium Program and creates advertising layouts.