Board Members

Chris, as CEO of Pivot Bio, is dedicated to enhancing farmer profitability and sustainability in agriculture. By championing innovative crop nutrition technologies, he aims to transform the industry’s environmental impact. With a background in agriculture investment and a focus on fostering sustainable practices, Chris brings a unique blend of industry expertise and community commitment to his roles.

Chris is an advocate for creating programs to support youth, and currently serves on the board of InnerCity Tennis as treasurer.

Mara is a Designer at iSpace Environments specializing in commercial design for workplace and hospitality clients. Previously Mara worked as a Development Manager for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in San Francisco. Mara received an undergraduate degree in Communication from Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA) and a B.F.A in Interior Architecture from Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA). She enjoys playing tennis, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Shelley is a life-long tennis player. Growing up, she played on high school teams in India and New Zealand.

Shelley studied computer science at the University of North Dakota before beginning her technology career at Microsoft. She is currently employed by the Minnesota Twins as a Technology Manager.

She is still an avid player, participating in 2 leagues and regular drilling at InnerCity Tennis each week. Shelley resides in Saint Paul with her husband Vijay.

Vicki Bachmann works with nonprofit and corporate organizations to develop strategic partnerships and lead generation initiatives that drive both business growth and social impact. As a connector and catalyst, she brings organizations and individuals together to create meaningful change and unlock new opportunities that strengthen communities.

Through her private consulting work, Vicki leverages her ability to build trusted relationships and align mission-driven goals with sustainable business strategies. She thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys working across sectors with community-focused leaders to elevate engagement and collective impact.

Vicki has served on multiple boards in leadership roles and brings a decisive, thoughtful, and highly collaborative approach to the InnerCity Tennis Board of Directors

In 1978 Nick Bollettieri, one of the most celebrated names in the history of coaching, founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, now a part of the prestigious IMG Academies. He coached eight #1 players and worked with players such as Agassi, Becker, Courier, Haas, Hingis, Kournikova, Malisse, Philippoussis, Sampras, Seles, and the Williams sisters. Nick regularly delivered motivational speeches and has published a number of books, videos, and audio CDs. His insight into the game of tennis was sought after by news organizations around the world, and Nick was a regular contributor to magazines and internet sites worldwide.

Bob Cohen, a dedicated board member at InnerCity Tennis brings with him a focus on charitable planning and insurance expertise. Co-founder of Tamar Fink Charitable Advisors, Bob has facilitated over $1 billion in charitable gifts since 1989. He specializes in rescuing lapsing insurance policies, and restoring benefits for individuals, and is an established speaker on charitable planning. Outside his professional life, Bob enjoys biking, skiing, reading, and photography. Bob and his wife, Sarah, along with their three children and two dogs, call Minnetonka, MN, home. His commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond the boardroom, reflecting his passion for community well-being.

Sam is a Joint Reconstruction Consultant for the orthopedics team at Zimmer Biomet. Prior to his role at Zimmer Biomet, Sam worked in Portfolio Services for Renters Warehouse. Sam received an undergraduate degree in History from Kalamazoo College, and was a member of the Men’s Varsity Tennis Team. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, golf, and spending time with family.

Neil is a Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel at U.S. Bank National Association, where he provides legal counsel to the Corporate Real Estate group. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University Law School and is an avid tennis player, participating in multiple leagues at the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center. Neil is committed to advancing youth opportunity and community development through tennis and brings to ICT both his passion for the sport and his professional expertise.

Rick was an attorney who, prior to his retirement, was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Metris Companies, Inc. and Green Tree Financial Corporation. Prior to that he was a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota. Rick has served as legal advisor to, and director of, numerous public companies, financial institutions, foundations and charitable organizations.

During 2018, Rick served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. The MSFA is the state agency that owns and operates U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Rick received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) and his law degree from the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA). Rick was a lifelong tennis player.

Adam is a Partner at Norwest Equity Partners. There he is responsible for developing and leading new investment opportunities as well as portfolio and fund strategy. He is also responsible for the leadership and continuous improvement of their investment operations. Prior to joining NEP, Adam was a Partner at Castanea Partners where he led the consumer services vertical strategy and previously worked at Goldman Sachs.

Dontavis is a Senior Account Manager at Microsoft, where he works with higher education institutions and academic medical centers to solve complex challenges using cloud and AI-enabled technology solutions. His work focuses on modernization, data-driven decision-making, and long-term impact.

A Charlotte, North Carolina native and graduate of Mecklenburg County Public Schools, Dontavis holds a BS in Business Administration from North Carolina State University, along with a Master’s in Information Technology and Data Science and an MBA. He is an advocate for expanding access to technology careers and discovered tennis later in life, developing a deep appreciation for the sport and its role in personal growth.

He enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and twin daughters.

A leading figure in the marketing industry, Skip started his career at Carlson Companies, ultimately becoming CEO. He left in 1991 to form his own marketing firm. He led Minneapolis-based Gage Marketing Group, which provides integrated marketing communications, promotion and direct marketing services to a number of Fortune 500 firms. In 1998, Gage Marketing Group sold its rapidly growing marketing fulfillment business in order to increase its capital base for its agency businesses. In 2008, he helped start Magnet 360. Aside from his ICT involvement, Skip was civic leader in the Twin Cities, serving actively with numerous other nonprofit organizations as well as on public company boards.

Roy is InnerCity Tennis’ Board Chair, having previously served as Chair of the Development Committee, Chair of the Organizational Development Committee, and as Board Vice Chair.

A retired lawyer with a distinguished 42-year career, Roy has been deeply involved in employment law throughout his professional life. His commitment to organizational growth is evident in his track record: in June 2016, he and three other partners established a Minneapolis office for Jones Day that became the fastest-growing in the firm’s history, expanding from four lawyers to nearly 50 during his tenure. That same instinct for building something from the ground up translates directly to his work with ICT — Roy’s legal acumen, leadership, and dedication to community development make him an invaluable voice on the board.

Roy is also an avid tennis player, with court time at InnerCity Tennis going back longer than the organization keeps electronic records of such things.

Director of Tennis and Life Camps at Gustavus since 2010, staff member since 1981; USPTA Elite Professional; Recipient of the 2019 USTA/USPTA National Award for Community Service; Artist in Residence Facilitator using music as a vehicle for dialogue on societal change; Recipient of two McKnight Fellowships in Composition and Performing. Spouse of Leandra Peak, Dad of Madeline. Favorite song: Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem”. Most admired tennis player: Naomi Osaka. Favorite Food: Special K bars from the Gustavus cafeteria. Appreciate Most in Others: Compassion and humor.

Marcia Harris brings a wealth of expertise in mediation, facilitation, and policy investigation to the InnerCity Tennis (ICT) board. With a background in law, Marcia has extensive experience in handling a range of legal matters, including sexual harassment, discrimination, employment conflicts, civil rights, business disputes, personal injury, municipal liability, housing disputes, and insurance coverage. Additionally, Marcia has worked at a civil rights agency, demonstrating her commitment to promoting equity and justice. Her unique skill set and dedication to conflict resolution make Marcia an invaluable asset to the ICT board, contributing to the organization’s mission of fostering a positive and inclusive environment through tennis.

Meet Dr. Podaly Jay, an esteemed board member of InnerCity Tennis, bringing over 24 years of experience as a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist in Minnetonka, MN. Dr. Jay is deeply committed to partnering with her patients, going beyond diagnoses to understand them as individuals. She believes in fostering long-term relationships built on trust, allowing her to identify and address potential barriers to care. Dr. Jay’s passion lies in preventive care, where she dedicates herself to educating patients on potential diseases and guiding them toward a healthy lifestyle. Driven by a genuine commitment to her patients’ well-being, Dr. Jay is affiliated with the renowned medical facilities North Memorial Health – Maple Grove Hospital and North Memorial Health – Robbinsdale Hospital. Through her role as a board member at InnerCity Tennis, Dr. Jay continues to exemplify her dedication to building meaningful partnerships and promoting health within the community.

Jennifer serves as CEO of Back to Nature Foods, a natural foods business that remakes classic cookies and crackers with all-natural ingredients. She thrives on leading organizations through turnarounds and building premium and lifestyle brands. She previously spent 26 years at General Mills, driving differential growth and profitably reinvigorating brands through strategic insights and disruptive innovation. She has deep experience as a leader, brand-builder and general manager: growing global brands, scaling emerging brands, and leading competitive $1B+ businesses both in the US and Internationally.

Jennifer started her career at Deloitte as a CPA. She received her undergraduate degree from the Boston College Carroll School of Management and her MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School.

Jennifer resides in South Minneapolis and has two adult daughters. She is a late bloomer when it comes to tennis, picking it up as an empty nester at ICT, and now competes regularly in women’s doubles leagues.

Meet Justin Lao, a dynamic board member at InnerCity Tennis and the Owner CEO of Minnesota Industrial Tooling Inc. Justin’s journey into business ownership reflects his willingness to step outside his comfort zone and embrace challenges. With a background as an E-3 AWACS pilot and aviation mishap investigator in the US Air Force, Justin brings discipline and unique perspectives to the board.

After military service, Justin excelled in roles at GE Aviation and Emerson, where he founded the Veterans Resource Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

As the head of Minnesota Industrial Tooling Inc., Justin leads a dedicated team, leveraging top-notch equipment and manufacturing space to bring innovative products to life. For parts or prototypes, Justin invites you to reach out for both manufacturing expertise and valuable advice. InnerCity Tennis benefits from Justin Lao’s diverse experiences, combining military precision, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Richard L. Lindstrom, MD is a recognized leader in corneal, cataract, refractive and laser surgery. After serving as Professor of Ophthalmology and holding the Harold G. Scheie Research Chair at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Lindstrom entered private practice in 1990. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Minnesota Eye Consultants and an attending surgeon at the Phillips Eye Institute and Minnesota Eye Center for Teaching & Research, a state of the art ophthalmic research and surgical skills educations facility.

Eric is founder and president of Industrio Marketing, a Minneapolis-based marketing and design firm that provides marketing strategy and creative development services to a variety of clients in the industrial, medical, recreational sports, and professional services industries. Prior to founding Industrio Marketing in 1998, Eric was instrumental in building a North and South American sales and distribution network for British-based Andrews Sykes, a manufacturer of large industrial pumping equipment. Eric lives in Chanhassen with his wife and sons.

John presently serves as President & CEO of UroCure, a company he co-founded. UroCure is an early-stage medical device company developing solutions to treat urinary incontinence in women. Prior to UroCure, John served in a variety of leadership roles with early-stage and commercial medical device companies including Kspine, American Medical Systems, Survivalink and GE Healthcare. John received an MM (MBA) from The Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern) and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University.

John is actively involved with Westminster Presbyterian Church. He has deep family ties to tennis: his mother coached the women’s tennis team at the Rochester Institute of Technology for 35 years and his brother was a former professional tennis player. John and his wife, Hema, live in Wayzata and have three children.

Wendy’s accomplished athletic record includes competing as a scholarship athlete for the Division 1 Women’s Tennis team and obtaining world ranking on the WTA Tour. At Northwestern University, Wendy was Academic All Big Ten and ranked in the Top 20 nationally. She also served as assistant tennis coach for both University of Wisconsin-Madison and Northwestern University. She entered the business side of sports when her former coach Nick Bollettieri recruited her to join his Sports Academy in a leadership role as well as to lead the efforts to bring his dream of a restaurant bearing the Bollettieri name to life. Today she serves as a member of the national advisory board for Positive Coaching Alliance.

In addition to her leadership roles in sports, Wendy has also pursued a professional business career. She has held several executive positions in marketing and development for the global travel and hospitality company Carlson. Wendy sits on the boards of both Carlson and The CarlsonRezidor Hotel Group. Prior to her affiliation with Carlson, she worked in finance and capital management for a private equity firm in Chicago.

Wendy currently serves as vice chair of the Bush Foundation, vice president of the Carlson Family Foundation, trustee at Northwestern University, overseer at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and is the past board chair of the Guthrie Theater.

Wendy holds a B.A. in philosophy from Northwestern University and a MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern. She lives in Minneapolis with her two children.

Pierce Norton is Director, Team Lead & Healthcare Leader at BMO Commercial Bank, where he leads a team of middle‑market commercial lenders in the upper-Midwest and provides strategic advice, succession planning, and financing solutions to privately held businesses.

Outside of his professional work, Pierce is deeply rooted in the tennis community. He grew up competing in the USTA Northern Section & MSHSL, developing a passion for the sport early in life. That path led him to compete in Division I tennis at Loyola University, where he continued to build discipline, resilience, and leadership through high‑level collegiate play.

Pierce remains an active supporter of tennis development in Minnesota and is committed to advancing InnerCity Tennis’s mission of character-building, accessible tennis, and youth empowerment.

He and his wife live in the Twin Cities with their three boys, and you can often find the entire family on or around the tennis courts.

Todd graduated from Harvard College in 1967, then joined the Peace Corps and served in Senegal, and received a Masters in Journalism in 1970. He worked in corporate community relations and later served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1979 to 1990. He served as DFL Party Chair from 1990 to 1993 and then did public affairs consulting focusing on early childhood and environmental issues. Todd served as President for Ready 4 K until its merger with Think Small in 2011. Todd has written A Review of Nuclear Energy in the United States and several articles on renewable energy. He has served on numerous boards including the Children’s Theater, Clean Water Action Coalition, League of Conservation Voters, Heartland Democracy and the Andersen Family Foundation.

Marty has an impressive background, including a Magna Cum Laude degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance, Marty has been in the investment field since 1993. His role at Heck Capital involves servicing client relationships, contributing to portfolio management strategies, and actively participating in financial associations like the Financial Planning Association of MN. Marty joined Heck Capital Advisors in 2022 and appreciates the firm’s camaraderie and family culture. For Marty, the most rewarding aspect of his position is helping clients make significant decisions, and achieving peace of mind through comprehensive financial planning and asset allocation.

Beyond his financial career, Marty has contributed to non-profit organizations, showcasing his commitment to community involvement. Alongside his wife, Brodie, and two daughters, Marty resides in Plymouth, MN. When not engaged in financial planning or board responsibilities, he enjoys attending his daughters’ sports events and pursuing his hobbies, including road and mountain biking and hockey.

Julie Peterson is an experienced consultant, project manager and account manager, most recently working for Watson Wyatt Worldwide in the Organizational Development Practice where she also held positions in Account Management and Marketing. During her time there she additionally served as an examiner for the Minnesota Council for Quality’s Performance Excellence Assessment process and as a reviewer for the Greater Twin Cities United Way as part of the open and competitive review process team. Prior to joining Watson Wyatt, she held various non-profit positions in development and marketing including at the Center For Humanitarian Outreach and Intercultural Exchange and the Minnesota Private College Council.

Julie is an active community volunteer. She has supported several local endeavors, including volunteering as a Wish Granter for Make-A-Wish Minnesota, and as Board Members of the Minnesota Valley Humane Society and the Minnetonka Early Childhood and Family Education Advisory Board. At the Blake School, she served as chair of the Parent Association (Highcroft campus ), developer and facilitator for the Racial and Gender Identity Workshop for Parents, served on the Blake Classic Gala Committee and as an Admissions Guide, in addition to leading various other campus activities for students.

She is a graduate of Hamline University (St. Paul, MN) and earned her Masters of Arts and Masters of Public Administration degrees from the University of Utah’s Middle East Center and Humphrey Institutes (Salt Lake City, UT) where she served as a Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellow. She enjoys spending time with her family, skiing, running, hiking, travel, reading and watching tennis from the courtside.

Margo is a marketing manager for HealthPartners. In her role, Margo focuses on bringing new-to-system patients into HealthPartners clinics and hospitals and oversees all marketing and communication efforts including paid/earned/owned media, content marketing, SEO/SEM, and design. Before this role, Margo was the vice president of multi-channel strategy for Evans Larson Communications. She received a B.A. in English and Communications from the University of Iowa.

When not working, Margo enjoys cooking, biking, spending time with the family, and traveling as often as possible. Her passion for tennis started with InnerCity Tennis as both a student and instructor in the summer program from grade school through high school. She continues to play today.

Ryan Pietsch serves as Vice President, Middle Market M&A with BMO. Additionally, he is an Associate at Daniel Capital Group, where he plays a pivotal role in providing analytical, strategic, and operational support for HRT, while also contributing to the firm’s capital formation and M&A endeavors. His responsibilities extend to making strategic investments on behalf of the company.

With a robust background in investment banking and capital markets, Ryan brings valuable experience from his roles at Lazard, Robert W. Baird & Co., and Dougherty & Co. In these capacities, he successfully facilitated M&A transactions and managed relationships with institutional investors and corporate finance clients.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, where he distinguished himself as the captain of the lacrosse team, securing two national championships. Currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, he continues to deepen his knowledge and expertise in business.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Ryan is an avid tennis player, frequently engaging in matches on courts near his South Minneapolis home. His diverse interests include basketball, cooking, and reading, reflecting his well-rounded approach to both work and life.

Currently, Will Prest is a Managing Partner of KWP Consulting, where he helps regulated companies launch new initiatives, develop new channel distribution, design integrated marketing and sales strategies, or develop and launch new product. He specializes in applying strategic planning to help businesses grow.

In 2005, Will co-founded Transamerica Retirement Management (TRM), a new business unit of Aegon/Transamerica, focused on delivering health, wealth, and income solutions to millions of retiring participants. From 2005 to January of 2012, he served as Chief Marketing Officer and EVP, Business Development for TRM.

From 1990 to 2005, he has served in a variety of branding, marketing and sales management roles for MetLife Financial Services, H&R Block, American Express and IDS Financial Services.

Will holds an M.B.A. from Boston University, and a B.A. in psychology from Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

Outside of the industry, Will served as an executive board member of The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport RI from 2008-2014. Will, his wife Karen, and their two boys are very active athletes and enjoy playing tennis.

Our primary founder and Chairman, Lachlan Maclachlan of Strathlachlan from Loch Fyne, Scotland, or Lach Reed to most, was a fascinating and complex individual, having grown up in Turkey in a family of educators who went on to found colleges (including Reed College) all over the world.

Lach’s college sweetheart, Martha Sweatt, became his wife and partner, working with him to develop InnerCity Tennis. Martha’s father, Harold Sweatt, co-founder of Honeywell, was instrumental in developing the early nonprofit, with a very close historical relationship to the company. Martha and Lach married on September 3, 1942 and went on to spend a full life together raising six children.

In 1952, Lachlan Reed, Harold Sweatt, Martha Sweatt Reed, Wheelock Whitney, Sewell Andrews, George Crosby, Robert DeHaven, Jack Dow, John Harrison, George Hoke, Goodrich Lowry, George Mairs, Joe Masek, Donald McNeely, George Pillsbury, George Weed, Donald Paul, Dr. Jack Pfister, William Rentschler, Justin Smith, Lucian Strong and G. Cullen Thomas founded Northwest Tennis Patrons, with a goal of empowering inner city youth with the many opportunities afforded them through the lifelong sport of tennis.

Before his death in 2007, Lach cited his co-founding of InnerCity Tennis (originally Northwest Tennis Patrons) as one of his most satisfying accomplishments.

Ryan Roddy is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in the realms of digital media and advertising. Currently serving as a Senior Strategy Consultant in Deloitte’s Customer & Marketing practice. Before that, Ryan brought his expertise to the forefront of Health Partners as a Digital Media Consultant. Ryan also held positions at Broadhead, an independent advertising agency in Minneapolis specializing in the food and agriculture industries. During his tenure, he worked on diverse and notable clients such as Cargill, Bridgestone, and the Almond Board of California, honing his skills in strategic communication and media planning.

A proud graduate of the University of Minnesota, Ryan holds degrees in Strategic Communications and Psychology. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ryan immigrated to St. Paul, MN, early in life. He attended St. Thomas Academy, where he cultivated his passion for tennis, playing from grades 7 to 12.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Ryan enjoys spending his free time on the golf course. Additionally, he humorously navigates discussions with his fiancée, Lizzy, about the perfect timing for adopting a dog, showcasing his commitment to work-life balance and personal interests.