Board of Directors
Executive Director
Kirstie Marx
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
919-215-9622
Kirstie Marx is a professional tennis instructor at Kildaire Farms Tennis Club and has been a certified PTR professional for over 20 years. Kirstie has coached tennis athletes with special needs for 11 years. Kirstie has served as Director of the Tennis Sports Development Team for Special Olympics North Carolina for 5 years. She is a member of the Special Olympics North America Tennis Development Committee. Kirstie is the Chairman of the NC USTA Adaptive Committee, and serves on the USTA Southern Pops sub- committee. Kirstie's awards from the NC USTA include the 2006 Adult/Senior Tennis Council Award and the 2009 Volunteer Service Award. She had been active in local leagues and played on a 5.0 team that won the State championships. As a teaching professional, Kirstie understands the rules and regulations of the USTA and the North Carolina Tennis Association. In addition, she understands the mechanics of teaching tennis, and the process of teaching to various levels of play. Throughout her years of teaching, Kirstie developed strong bonds with each of her athletes as she shares her love of tennis with each. Kirstie's love of the tennis game and love of these athletes is displayed in every interaction. Kirstie has a playful manner, warm smile and gentle voice that touches everyone she instructs. Kirstie's positive attitude encourages all involved with USTA tennis to reach out to these special athletes. Kirstie's passion drives ATANC. Kirstie recently received the NC 2012 Educational Merit Award and the 2012 USTA Southern Educational Merit Award.
President
Robert Edwards
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Robert has served on the Board of the Western Wake Tennis Association (WWTA) since 2006: first as VP for Community Relations and now as VP for Youth Development. In 2009, WWTA was named the Community Tennis Association of the Year by the Racquet Sports Industry. Robert created and led the PE Tennis Program that provided tennis equipment and training to schools reaching over 25,000 elementary students including those across socio-economic and capability boundaries. His work has been commended by the USTA in North Carolina: in 2008 the John Peddycord Junior Tennis Council Award and in 2009 the Educational Merit Award. Robert serves on the Schools Committee of USTA North Carolina and represents NC on the Schools Committee of USTA Southern Section. Robert is an avid tennis player, captaining a senior mixed doubles team to a state championship in 2011. Robert understands the relationships between a Community Tennis Association (CTA) and United States Tennis Association ("USTA"), the USTA Southern Section, and the USTA North Carolina Tennis. Robert is a retired aerospace engineer (PhD) with experience in research, development, graduate professorship, and international marketing. His tennis, CTA, and business experience provide a sound basis for leading the development of ATANC, an organization to serve the state of North Carolina with adaptive tennis training, programming, and events.
Secretary
Debbie Ratliff
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Debbie is a parent of a special needs athlete who has participated in and benefited from Special Olympics tennis for 6 years. Tennis enriches her son's life. Debbie appreciates the increased interest in social interactions and confidence her son displays since becoming involved with adaptive tennis. Debbie is committed to developing a program to offer opportunities for special athletes to play tennis and develop meaningful social connections. Debbie is a former Financial Analyst with IBM and a former UST A league tennis player. Debbie enjoys her volunteer work on various committees at school and church. Debbie has spent most of her life in North Carolina and is eager to support the state in implementing programs to promote tennis for all athletes.
VP Community Relations
Jessie Taliaferro
Jessie, is a former Special Education teacher interested in bringing the sport of tennis to intellectually disabled athletes. In 1999, she served as Honored Guest Co-Chair for Track & Field for the Special Olympic World Games. Since then, Jessie has served on the Raleigh Planning Commission (6 years), the Raleigh City Council (District B Representative, 4 years), the Centennial Authority (currently), and the National Planning Accreditation Board (currently). Jessie has been integrally involved with the effort to bring a new 18 court tennis facility to the Raleigh Park System, which will open at Barwell Road Park in 2014. She is an avid tennis player and has been a USTA League Captain for many years.
VP Finance
Susan Lemmons
Susan Lemmons, VP Finance joined the ATANC board to help expand tennis to the special needs population of intellectually disabled children and adults. Susan is a CPA who brings her experience both working with a non profit in the role of Finance Director and serving on other nonprofit boards. For the past fifteen years, she has been Finance Director at Wake Enterprises, Inc. A nonprofit that provides vocational and day services for intellectually challenged adults. She has also served on the People For Parks and Quail Hollow Swim and Tennis Club boards. Her entire family has been USTA league players for many years. Susan has also been a captain of many USTA teams.
Email the Board of Directors: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
