USTA MID-ATLANTIC SECTION NAMES TARA FITZPATRICK-NAVARRO AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro
Reston, Va., May 16, 2014 – The United States Tennis Association Mid-Atlantic Section (USTA/MAS) announced today that it has appointed Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro as its Executive Director.
USTA/MAS is one of 17 sections of the United States Tennis Association and is committed to promoting tennis by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. USTA/MAS has been part of America’s official governing body for tennis since 1923 and serves nearly 40,000 members in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia as well as eastern and southern West Virginia. Tennis players are involved in leagues, tournaments and diverse programs sanctioned by the Section.
In her new role as Executive Director, Fitzpatrick-Navarro will be responsible for leading USTA/MAS’s dedicated team of professionals while guiding the organization to new levels of operating success, progressive visibility and prominence. She will also be responsible for promoting and growing the game of tennis in the region and building sustainable partnerships between the association and the constituency it serves.
“Joining USTA/MAS as Executive Director enables me to marry my dual passions for the recreation industry and association management into one ideal position,” said Fitzpatrick-Navarro. “USTA/MAS’s commitment to its membership and the sport of tennis provide a strong base of success and accomplishment that I look forward to building upon in my new role.”
Fitzpatrick-Navarro brings extensive experience in association management, including leadership in the areas of membership, education, research and professional development. Fitzpatrick-Navarro served for 10 years in positions of increasing responsibility at the National Recreation and Park Association, where most recently she was Vice president, Membership, Research and Professional Development. In this position, she oversaw a department of 18 full-time professional staff that was responsible for the organization’s education, certification, publications, accreditation, research, and membership engagement and development.
Prior to that, she held several other key positions in NRPA’s education and professional development divisions, including Director of Certification and Accreditation, Director of Education and Research and Chief of Knowledge and Learning. She also served as Director of Education and Training at Splash Aquatic Management and Therapeutic Recreation Manager and Director of Senior Centers for the Fairfax, Va. County Government.
“Tara’s deep experience in association management, coupled with her long and distinguished career in the field of recreation make her the perfect choice to lead USTA/MAS and help it advance its mission of promoting tennis through quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities,” said John Raker, USTA/MAS executive director search committee chair. “We’re thrilled to welcome Tara aboard.”
The search was conducted by association and non-profit search experts Vetted Solutions.
—C. Miller, USTA/Mid-Atlantic
