THE ASSOCIATION OF PICKLEBALL PLAYERS WELCOMES MORE PICKLEBALL INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO LEADERSHIP TEAM

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DeAnne “Dee” Davison, Nicole Hobson join leadership team for first and only tour fully and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball

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The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) announced a strengthening of its front office with the addition of two experienced team members to the organization’s leadership team. DeAnne “Dee” Davison will serve as the APP’s director of recreational play, while Nicole Hobson joins as the APP’s director of tournament operations.

“With a longstanding relationship with Nicole and Dee, it warms my heart to welcome them to the APP family full time,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “Both Nicole and Dee have been long-time leaders in the pickleball industry and are the ultimate ambassadors for the sport. Their addition to our team will continue to make our player experience the best in all of pickleball, especially as the APP continues to grow access to the sport for recreational players, amateurs and pros, both domestically and internationally.”

As the director of recreational play, Davison oversees all aspects of the APP’s amateur player experiences. Her prior roles include pioneering the customer experience for Pickleball Tournaments (PickleballTournaments.com) — a leading pickleball tournament management software platform — and a leadership position at the Del Webb Sun City Festival pickleball facility in Buckeye, Ariz. In the latter role, she oversaw three USA Pickleball National Championships at the facility, created the venue’s player development and instructional programs, and launched a consulting service to provide her expert insights to organizers in club and tournament management positions across the country.

“I’m thrilled to join the APP in an exciting new role that allows me to return to the grassroots level of pickleball,” said Davison. “I’ve worked with Ken Herrmann and The APP since 2020, helping to develop their tournament schedule and APP Next Gen Series. I look forward to growing the APP’s reach to recreational players searching for structured play through fun competition. Pickleball is the most unique sport, bringing people of all social and economic backgrounds together to exercise and create lifelong friendships.”

Hobson joins the APP’s leadership team as director of tournament operations with the goal of providing the best experience for APP tournament guests, namely professional and amateur players and spectators. Prior to supporting the APP in this capacity as a contractor, Hobson competed in pickleball’s early stages of professional play from 2012-2016—ranking as high as the No. 5 female player on the circuit—before transitioning to the business side of the emerging sport. She has held a variety of leadership roles, including a USA Pickleball (USAP) certified referee, USAP Ambassador, tournament director, tournament operator and coach. Hobson worked extensively with Davison as part of the Pickleball Tournaments team, now joining her in a transformative move to the APP.

“I first heard about Ken Herrmann’s vision for the APP in February 2019 and was in awe. He had a clear focus—not only for professional pickleball but for amateurs as well—to provide the best possible experience for all players and spectators,” said Hobson. “Pickleball is more than a sport; it is a family, and I am grateful to be a part of the internationally-growing pickleball family. I have been fortunate to be a contractor for the APP prior to coming on board full time, so it’s an easy transition. Now I am ‘officially’ part of the team, not just honorary. Better yet, not just a team but the APP family.”

The APP Tour heads to Houston this weekend for the 2023 APP Houston Open, before concluding its 2023 campaign with the first-ever APP U.S. Indoor Championships on Nov. 29 to Dec. 3 in Rosemont, Ill. Player registration and ticket information are available on theapp.global.