Brian Smallwood has been actively involved in developing grassroots programs for overs 25 years in Cleveland. He is the Tennis Director of Center Court Tennis Club,Brian created and formed the Inner City Tennis Clinics in 2009 and served as Executive Director for 10 years.
Under his leadership, ICTC received the USTA Midwest Section NJTL of the Year award twice. Brian has also served as the Vice President for USPTA Northeastern Section and won the 2017 NEOTA Volunteer of the Year Award. Brian's was honored with the 2024 Diversity Award by the USPTA, recognizing him impactful contributions, dedication and passion for growing the game.
Nancy Sobecks, MD., has practiced as an Internal Medicine physician for 20+ years. Tennis has been a passion of hers since she started playing over 10 years ago. After becoming owner of Center Court Tennis Club in 2019, she partnered with the Cleveland Diocese to start CYO tennis in Northeast Ohio. She looks forward to expanding the outreach of the sport to an even more diverse group of people through THRiVE. She won the 2021 USPTA Midwest Division National Star Award for expanding diversity in tennis.
Dr. Cheryl Chase is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Independence, Ohio. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of various conditions impacting children and young adults. She also serves as an adjunct professor at several local colleges. Dr. Chase was a collegiate athlete in the 1990's, but wasn't introduced to tennis until well into adulthood, when she immediately fell in love with the game. She is thrilled to combine her professional knowledge with her passion for the game in order to bring tennis to those who might otherwise not have a chance to play. In addition to her practice, she is also an accomplished speaker at the local and national levels.
Megan currently works as a Finance Director for the JM Smucker Company. She graduated from the University of Akron, where she played varsity volleyball for 4 years and majored in Accounting. She has a lifelong passion for athletics and is excited to continue her tennis journey through THRiVE!
Indu is a native of Brecksville and grew up playing tennis. She attained her BA in Finance and Economics from John Carroll University and attained her masters from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been in the private wealth financial industry for the last 25 years with Morgan Stanley as a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Investment Management Analyst. Indu is an active volunteer in Cleveland's Indian community, as well as THRiVE's Adaptive Tennis program.
Larry is an Akron, Ohio native. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police and Criminal Investigator. After his Honorable Discharge, Larry earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University in Business and Criminal Justice. He continued to work in the law enforcement field as a Federal Agent with multiple agencies until his retirement.
Larry suffered a spinal abscess causing him to be an incomplete quadriplegic, where he learned to enjoy the
games of tennis and pickleball from a wheelchair. Larry now serves as a THRIVE Board Member promoting
the Adaptive and Wheelchair Program, as well as serving on the Veterans Board of the Paralyzed Veterans
of America, Buckeye Chapter.
Delaney Brown is a recent graduate of Cleveland State University, earning her BS in Biology. She grew up playing tennis and still loves to get out on the court to play pickleball and tennis. She has experience volunteering with several organizations that serve people with special needs. Delaney is also an active volunteer with THRiVE's Adaptive Tennis program.
Vicky Kuczynski serves as the Marketing Coordinator for Center Court Tennis Club. She earned her BBA from Cleveland State University. She has a passion for volunteerism and has been involved with organizations such Hands On Northeast Ohio, Medworks, the Cleveland Foodbank, as well as actively volunteering in the school PTO. Vicky is an avid tennis player and enjoys sharing her love of the game through her work with THRiVE.
Tom Kuttler is a Retired Special Education teacher and School Counselor; and has earned Teaching licenses in Physical Education/Health. He has a passion for Tennis which began in High School and has been re-energized since joining Peak Tennis (Center Court) in 2018. Tom's background is based in working with elementary age students with Special Needs. He brings his experiences in collecting and utilizing tools to help learners of all ages achieve success and enjoy tennis. Tom has taught Tennis in Summer Sports Camps from Adirondack, NY to local community and Club programs. He is an active volunteer coach with THRiVE's Adaptive, Parkinson's and Home School programs. He enjoys sharing his tennis knowledge and experiences on YouTube and plays tennis on various USTA teams.
Tracy is a retired RN with a master’s degree in exercise science and over 34 years of experience in healthcare. She is passionate about the power of diet and exercise to improve health, especially for those with chronic diseases like Parkinson’s. After years of competing in sports, including Division 1 volleyball, marathons and triathlons, she sees these experiences as building a strong foundation of muscle memory. Research shows that moving often and challenging yourself are crucial for managing Parkinson’s Disease. As a member of Thrive, Tracy is excited to use her unique blend of experience and enthusiasm to support and encourage others with Parkinson's
Brian Smallwood, Executive Director
Nancy Sobecks, MD, President
Cheryl Chase, Ph.D. Vice President
Megan Rodriguez, Treasurer
Indu Velayudhan, Secretary
Larry Bostic
Delaney Brown
Victoria Kuczynski
Tom Kuttler
Tracy Rodriguez
Mary Vanucci