Meet our team

G icon only
Susan-Swern

Susan Swern - BOARD PRESIDENT & Founder

Susan (aka Dinkerbell) envisioned the potential for Pickleball for Good Fund by combining three of her passions: promoting philanthropy, playing pickleball, and protecting our shared planet. Her professional nonprofit development career spans almost four decades. Since 2018, Susan has served as Philanthropic Partnerships Officer with Global Greengrants Fund, a leading international grassroots environmental justice funder.

Currently, Susan is a board member of Earth Gives and a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals. When not on a court, Susan adores spending time in and around Lafayette, Colorado with her furry best friend, Ruben Valentino, a Bichapoo mill dog rescue.

Cheryl-Lovell

Cheryl Lovell, PhD - FOUNDING BOARD director &
vice president

Dr. Lovell is a CEO, author, and turnaround leader who has proven successes in creating, inspiring, and leading innovative strategies allowing individuals and organizations to successfully adapt, grow, and thrive. She has held leadership roles at public and private universities, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and brings 30+ years of executive leadership.

Currently, Dr. Lovell is CEO and President of Lovell For Success providing executive coaching and independent consulting on leadership, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and public policy. She is also a Level 1 Certified Instructor through the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA).

Kim-Bastien

Kim Bastien - Founding Board director

Kim is the Co-Founder of Empower Pickleball and a passionate advocate for using sport to build inclusive, empowered communities. With a background in marketing, partnerships, and social impact, she brings over two decades of experience helping brands grow with purpose.

Through Pickleball for Good, Kim is dedicated to creating opportunities that connect people, spark joy, and make a difference—on and off the court.

Jaime-Schmidt

Jaime schmidt - FOUNDING BOARD director

Jaime is the founder of Schmidt’s Naturals, which she grew from her kitchen into a household name, lining the shelves of major retailers across 30 countries. In 2017, Schmidt’s was acquired by CPG giant Unilever. Jaime also cofounded BFF, a brand that provides access and education in emerging tech for underrepresented groups. Jaime is an investor and co-owner of Color Capital, a fund that invests in consumer products and emerging technologies.
 
After discovering pickleball in 2022, Jaime plays almost daily. She’s become an ambassador of the sport, devoting much of her time to developing her skills and introducing pickleball to others. Jaime is also an investor in Major League Pickleball (MLP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), and is part owner of the Los Angeles Mad Drops team.

tracy stegall - board Director & chair, grantmaking committee

Tracy is an education leader, consultant, and coach with experience spanning school and higher education. Through her Colorado-based firm, All-Inclusive Design, she supports leaders and organizations with leadership coaching, strategic planning, facilitation, and organizational analysis.
 
As our Grantmaking Committee Chair, Tracy brings a focus on equity, strong community partnerships, and practical systems that help people and organizations thrive. She is especially interested in how thoughtful grantmaking can expand opportunity and strengthen communities.
 
Tracy lives in Lafayette, Colorado. She doesn’t play pickleball, but she believes everyone should have access to recreation, connection, and the sense of belonging that community programs can create.

Mark Eagle - Board Director

Mark is a technology executive, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader with a passion for helping people and companies grow. He currently advises startups, helps people advance their careers, and recently fulfilled a state grant to build pipelines from education to business for job creation.

Mark served as CTO for Helping Habit, providing nonprofits with a free platform for donations and volunteerism. A certified pickleball coach and lifelong learner, he brings energy, candor, and a results-driven mindset to advancing Pickleball for Good’s mission.

Jim Fried - Board Director & Interim Treasurer

Jim is a finance professional with nearly 30 years of experience in global treasury, finance, accounting and business operations. The various positions he has held throughout his professional career give him an unusually broad base of experience in all areas of finance. Currently, Jim is Chief Financial Officer for Community Mental Health Affiliates, located in New Britain, Connecticut. Prior to CMHA, Jim has held high level finance positions in both for profit and nonprofit settings. He has also been a financial consultant for large and small companies, focusing on cash management, finance restructuring and assisting in ERP implementation. Jim serves on the Global Council of the Certified Global Investment Analyst (CGIA) Institute and is a member of the Association of Nonprofit Accountants and Finance Professionals (ANAFP).

Dan Brooks - Board Director

Dan’s career has spanned continents and disciplines—from filming dragons on remote islands for Discovery Channel at 22, to two decades in Bali as a National Geographic–published photographer documenting disappearing cultures and wildlife. He later built creative agencies, restaurants, and brands, including helping grow Vital Farms from $5M to $150M as Brand Director.

Now based in Charlotte, NC, Dan has led award-winning creative work across industries while channeling his enduring belief that sport can be transformative, particularly for marginalized or impoverished communities. A lifelong athlete and passionate advocate for access, he sees games like pickleball not just as recreation but as powerful tools for connection, resilience, and opportunity.

Dan is a member of our Marketing & Communications Committee.

Kevin Snyder - Board Director

Kevin is a passionate pickleball player who has spent his career creating and directing community programs that inspire environmental and social change. Backed by advanced degrees and decades of experience fostering partnerships across all sectors of the community, he is thrilled to be part of the Pickleball for Good movement to help bring the sport of pickleball to those who lack access and to be an inspiration for others to be more environmentally conscious both on and off the court. With a lifetime behind the lens, you can find him traveling the world to bring people’s love, joy and good work into creative focus. 

Shachi Sapre-schatz - Board Director

A passionate advocate for community and sustainability, Shachi is eager to bring her enthusiasm and professional insight to the Pickleball for Good board. With a background in technology and life sciences consulting,  Shachi offers a unique blend of strategic thinking and operational excellence. For the past two years, she has played pickleball and witnessed firsthand its powerful ability to build community and bring people together.

This personal experience, coupled with a dedication to social impact and sustainability, perfectly aligns with the mission of Pickleball for Good.  Shachi is committed to leveraging her skills to support the organization’s growth and maximize its positive influence as a member of our Marketing & Communications Committee.

Gus-Spheeris

Gus Spheeris, JD, LLM

Gus is our legal counsel guiding us through the maze of regulations and contracts overseeing our charitable activities. He has served exempt organizations for over 25 years as both in-house and outside counsel, including those with international activities, and assisted both privately held and nonprofit/tax-exempt startups.

Additionally, his practice specializes in intellectual property asset protection, commercial transactions, entity structure and financing. In addition to his JD degree, Gus holds a Master of Laws in international contracts.

JOSH THILL - IT & Web Services consultant

As our consultant extraordinaire, Josh brings more than a decade of experience in web design, digital strategy, and technology leadership. As the founder and CEO of Thrive Engine, a Denver-based web design and marketing agency, Josh has helped nonprofits, startups, and established organizations build secure, accessible, and mission-driven online platforms.

Passionate about both innovation and impact, Josh combines his technical expertise with a deep commitment to service. Beyond his professional work, he is an avid supporter of community development initiatives in Colorado and enjoys contributing his skills to causes that create lasting change.