2025 League Coordinators of the Year
By Gina Clance, Net News Assistant Editor
Each year, ALTA honors several volunteers who have stood out in their respective leagues. We could not promote tennis and serve our members without our army of volunteers! They are truly what keeps ALTA going! Meet your 2025 Coordinators of the Year!
Paige Hodges
Mixed Doubles League
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
“What truly sets Paige apart is her proactive approach to problem-solving and her unparalleled communication skills,” said Mixed Doubles League Vice President Nicole Jennings. “She is always quick to respond to questions, resolve issues, and to ensure that everyone feels heard and valued. Her ability to motivate and inspire others is truly remarkable. She leads by example and encourages a spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship both on and off the court. Her contributions have not only positively impacted the league but have also continued to inspire and make a lasting impact on the ALTA community.”
“My favorite thing about being an ALTA volunteer is the incredible people I’ve met along the way, from fellow volunteers and ALTA leaders to our amazing members,” Hodges said. “City Finals is truly the best day of the season for a coordinator. There’s nothing like seeing the excitement on players’ faces, whether they are making their first City Finals appearance or returning for another. The energy, the team spirit, the matching outfits, and the friendly competition all capture what makes ALTA so special. We have the best members, and I feel so lucky to meet and get to know so many of them through this role.”
Maryellen Stockton
Junior Leagues
Hometown: Oneonta, Alabama
“Maryellen has been a positive asset to our group of Junior coordinators,” said Junior Leagues Vice President Kim Freeman. “She has a very good rapport with the team managers and comes with a lot of knowledge and experience since she has managed her son’s teams for many years. Her overall, Beth Harris, indicated that she handles parent and team manager problems with grace and understanding and recently received and read a manager text at 4:30 a.m.! During City Finals, she steps up and goes above and beyond and always approaches our long days with a lot of enthusiasm.”
Helping other team managers is what motivated Stockton to join ALTA’s volunteers. “I’ve managed my son’s junior team several times and have captained my Sunday women’s team, so ALTA has been a big part of both my family and community life,” she said. “I enjoyed managing my son’s team and wanted to continue supporting the Junior program by helping parent managers throughout the season.”
Joan Appelbaum
Senior Leagues
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
“Joan has been a volunteer for ALTA for 24 years. She has held every position available, including employee — Chairman, President, First VP, Thursday Women VP, Overall, Coordinator for Sunday, Thursday Women, Senior Mixed, Senior Women, Captain, Co-captain, and so on,” according to Senior Leagues Vice President Seth Appelbaum. “Her knowledge and love for ALTA — from the rules to the history — is matched by few. Her passion is amazing. She is always available to answer questions for team captains and other volunteers. As the VP these past two years, she made my job much easier and almost stress-free.”
Appelbaum believes ALTA’s benefits go above and beyond. “ALTA provides an opportunity for competition at levels that everyone can enjoy,” she said. “ALTA brings people together for fun, exercise, and camaraderie that lasts beyond the tennis court. All good things for a happy, healthy life!”
Traci Baskin
Sunday Women’s League
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
“I am pleased to nominate Traci Baskin for Coordinator of the Year. She has been a Coordinator for our League for three years,” said Sunday Women’s League Vice President Diane Royston. “She has excelled in her role as the coordinator for the ALTA Sunday Women’s teams, demonstrating exceptional responsiveness and commitment throughout the season. Her captains know they can count on her for timely communication and reliable guidance, and she consistently ensures that the levels for which she is responsible run smoothly. She demonstrates deep knowledge of the ALTA rules, which is evident in the way she confidently addresses issues and supports her captains. In addition to commitment and knowledge, Traci is delightful to work with, always approachable, and maintains a positive attitude when dealing with demanding captains.”
“When Loretta Phillips encouraged me to volunteer for ALTA, I was deeply touched and genuinely excited,” Baskin said. “Tennis isn’t just a sport for me; it’s an extreme passion and a way to build meaningful connections in my community. Taking on the role of coordinator has given me the chance to support other captains and players and give back to the game that means so much to me. It is a privilege to help our league grow and to carry on the mission that Loretta cared so deeply about. I know she would have been proud of this achievement!”
Joan Marcinko
Senior Day Leagues
Hometown: Greensburg, Pennsylvania
“Many people know this person because she has been a fixture in ALTA for many years,” said Senior Day Leagues Vice President Rusty Jones. “I have had the pleasure of volunteering alongside her multiple times in my ALTA career. She is definitely a ‘volunteer’s volunteer’ because she teaches by example and when dealing with the membership, she listens and then is generally spot on with her knowledge of the rules and the penalties associated with whatever the violation is.”
“I’ve lived in Atlanta for over 40 years,” Marcinko said. “When my middle daughter, Jamae, was on the ALTA Challenge Ladder in the late 1990’s, I felt like I had to ‘pay back’ for the opportunities she had playing on the ladder. I was a ladder manager, overall, then VP. After the ladder, I took on the job as VP of tournaments. I’ve also served as VP of Special Programs (twice) and was recently the VP of the Senior Day League, my favorite! Over 25 years, I’ve loved being an ALTA volunteer!”
Stephen Taylor
Pickleball League
Hometown: Redondo Beach, California
“When looking to add additional coordinators for pickleball this year, we reached out to past league captains and Stephen quickly raised his hand,” Pickleball League Vice President Greg McAfee said. “Since joining as a pickleball volunteer this spring, Stephen has filled any need the league needed whether covering other levels at City Finals or simply answering the many questions our teams had for him. Stephen will undoubtedly continue to help the league grow through his knowledge and leadership.”
Taylor has played ALTA tennis since the 1980s and knows how far the league’s reputation has traveled. “ALTA has provided an identity to our city that extends well beyond our local borders,” he said. “I have traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and whenever I talk to someone who loves tennis it seems they have always heard of Atlanta’s ALTA tennis league. It is well recognized and respected for its quality of play as well as the size of the league. ALTA has given our community a place to play, meet new people and develop lifelong friendships, not to mention the ability to brag about our coveted bag tags.”
Suzanne Anderson
Thursday Women’s League
Hometown: Hamilton, Ohio
“Suzanne has been an integral part of the ALTA community since 2003, volunteering her time and talents in a variety of roles,” according to Thursday Women’s League Vice President Siobhan Schaeffer. “She is known for her reliability and willingness to help, often stepping up to assist wherever she’s needed, embodying the true spirit of volunteerism that defines ALTA. Her dedication, professionalism, and positive attitude have made a lasting impact on countless players and coordinators alike. Suzanne’s dependability and commitment have earned her the respect and appreciation of fellow players and coordinators alike.”
After moving to the Atlanta area in 1998, Anderson fell in love with playing tennis. “I started by captaining my team and becoming a score keeper when ALTA had them back in the day,” she said. “My coordinator told me that I should be a coordinator, so I signed up and became one in 2003. ALTA brings the community together in shared experiences, meeting people from all over the city, and enjoying great activities.”
Parker Wilson
Men’s League
Hometown: Temple, Georgia
“Parker Wilson, though a relatively new coordinator for the men’s league, is the clear choice for the Men’s League Coordinator of the Year,” Men’s League Vice President Drew Meyer said. “His impact on the organization has been nothing short of massive. His passion for tennis and dedication to improving the ALTA experience for our members is not only noticed but deeply appreciated. Parker’s proactive approach and enthusiasm have reinvigorated the league, creating a more engaging and enjoyable environment for everyone. He consistently goes above and beyond, demonstrating a remarkable commitment that extends far beyond his few seasons of service. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding contributions.”
“ALTA gives us a great reason to get out of the house on the weekends and enjoy time with friends,” said Wilson. “It keeps us active while also introducing us to people we might have never met otherwise. Some of my closest friendships were formed through ALTA, and the memories we’ve made together go far beyond the court. It’s amazing how ALTA can bring neighborhoods together and make a big city feel a little smaller!”
