SOUTHERN OREGON PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION

DeAnn Winter

President

DeAnn has lived in Medford for over 25 years and loves living in the Rogue Valley. She and her husband, Todd have 3 adult children. Playing pickleball for the past several years has been a perfect fit to match her competitive nature, desire to be outdoors, keeping active, and meeting new people. When DeAnn isn’t playing pickleball, she spends her time running the non-profit –Thrive Food Collective, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

   

Chelsea Broesder

Treasurer

Chelsea has been a resident of Central Point since 1999. It took 20 years to enroll in the city's Park & Recreation Class, Introduction to Pickleball. Since that time, the phrase “Zero, Zero, Two” has become a favorite of hers. She enjoys play throughout the community and has developed new friendships and a love of this infectious sport.

Amie Mills

TBD

Amie grew up in Central California and moved to Southern Oregon when she and her husband got married in 1991. Several decades later and a move or two out of state, they enthusiastically made their way back “home” to Southern Oregon in 2014. With four passionately active kids, it was always a personal and family priority to be out moving and grooving whenever possible. From her early years of water polo, swimming, baseball, and soccer...married and family life added mountain biking, trail running, rock climbing, and SUPboarding to the list...that was before the deep addiction of PICKLEBALL found its way into dominating their lives on Memorial Day, 2021.

Her husband, Scott, is her favorite person to play pickleball with, and they can be found out on the courts just about every day of every week. The community and good friends she’s made on the courts in Southern Oregon have been stellar.

Scott Mills

TBD

Scott grew up a nomad, moving all over the west coast - from the Southern Oregon Coast to the New Mexico desert to SoCal beaches. As a kid and teenager, he enjoyed playing baseball, football, swimming, golf, and soccer. He later picked up skiing, surfing, mountain biking, and SUPBoarding along the way. After getting married in 1991, Scott started his teaching career at South Medford High School. Soon after, he and Amie started a family. 4 kids and several moves later, Scott and Amie found themselves back in Southern Oregon where they discovered pickleball. The rest, as they say, is history.

George Morgan

Webmaster and Misc.

George is a recent transplant to the Rogue Valley from Silicon Valley where he lived for 30+ years. He worked for Apple, Netscape, Sun Microsystems, and eventually ended up at Stanford University. His sport activities, included 5.0 club team tennis, ultimate leagues, coed adult soccer, and finally pickleball. He also coached and refereed youth soccer.

He tried pickleball in mid-2019 and was immediately hooked, learning to love drilling, social play, and entering tournaments. He has since played in over 30 tournaments in five states. He played in Nationals in 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

Nani Nakamatsu

Activities and Social Events

In 2018 Nani and Ross Nakamatsu moved to Southern Oregon to be close to their kids and grandchildren. They have three daughters and six grandchildren. Both Nani and Ross are retired after having fulfilling careers in the Bay Area. However the fun is just beginning for them as they explore all that Southern Oregon has to offer. Pickleball being one of them! Nani was introduced to pickleball by Nancy D. who invited her to come and see what it was all about. Intrigued by the game, Nani completed the "Learn to Play Pickleball" class in Central Point. After that Nani was hooked! How could you not love a sport that offers fun competition, but also being a very social game you can meet so many wonderful people. So get out on the court, Pickle On, and make some lasting friendships!

Eric Georgeon

Social Events and Activities

Eric was born in San Diego, California, where he grew up surfing, playing professional racquetball and taught Karate as a 4th degree black belt. He moved to Southern Oregon 33 years ago and worked as a Peripheral Vascular Technologist and owned a business with his wife, Debbie. They have three adult sons and three grandchildren. They both enjoy pickleball, surfing, golfing and working in the yard. They came across pickleball three years ago and enjoy playing with awesome people and friends, it has been a wonderful addition to their lives. He can frequently be heard saying, "So Get Out and Play! See you on the courts!"

Southern Oregon Pickleball Foundation

DeAnn Winter - President (see above)

Chelsea Broesder - Treasurer (see above)

TBD Recruiting - Secretary

Retired Board Members

Cheryl Nye

Secretary

Cheryl and her husband Bob moved to Medford in 2017 to be closer to their 5 children and 8 grandchildren. They are so happy to be back on the west coast where they enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking and, of course, pickleball! Cheryl has become an addict of this great sport and is blessed by the many close friendships she has made out on the courts. She looks forward to serving on the board and promoting the sport of pickleball throughout our community. 

Norman Eisenberg

Marketing & Business Development

Norman retired from the board June, 2022

Played competitive tennis for many years, highlight was playing men’s doubles at nationals. He moved to the Rogue Valley in 2005. Sold my consulting company after 34 years in 2014. My wife, Susan and I are enjoying the retired life. I was introduced to pickleball in November 2016 and have loved playing ever since.

Cori Frank

Youth Development

Cori moved to Ashland after retiring from Sonora CA. My husband John and I were introduced to Pickleball by a couple in Camarillo CA who have their own court. We were instantly hooked! In Ashland we were fortunate to have Marty Burns provide our first real lesson, welcoming and fun. Our values include volunteering and striving to improve life for our community. In my career I have actively pursued fund raising activities as well as Grant writing. I am currently a member of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), ASAC (Ashland Senior Advisory Committee), volunteer for Seniors at Home, Lunch Buddy program (thru Soroptomists), and taught the first Pickleball clinic for Youth at Ashland YMCA. I will be teaching Pickleball thru OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) in May 2022.

PAUL JONES

Foundation Board Member

Paul retired from the Foundation board in June, 2022

Paul was born and raised in the rolling hills of north Georgia, attended and graduated from "the Harvard of the South" (Emory U. in Atlanta), and then traveled by motorcycle to Denver where he pursued a brief law enforcement "career."  Then it was off to law school in Portland and a subsequent 25 years living in the area. Needing a "change of scenery," he moved to Ashland in 2008 and soon thereafter took up pickleball starting with one of Marty's Beginner Clinics at the YMCA.