About MTEF

Paul Farah’s full-time career is as an executive automotive consultant while staying active on the MTEF Board. He is also the USTA Midwest former President. For decades, Paul Farah has consistently volunteered with the USTA on a district, sectional and national level with his sons following in his footsteps. Farah has served on the National Diversity Committee, is passionate about his Hispanic Heritage and has been steadfast in growing tennis opportunities for everyone who wishes to play.

Tim Ross is an area director property manager who is active in volunteering through USTA National, USTA Midwest and within his local district and community. He has helped organize many fundraisers for the LGBTQIA+ community for more than 20 years and raised more than $50,000 for charities throughout Detroit. He is dedicated towards organizing volunteers and fundraising efforts. Tim Ross has an eye for identifying areas no one else can, creating and implementing a plan to motivate those around him and achieve their goals.

Don Newport has served as a retired college President at five institutions across the country. With 40+ years of experience fundraising, he has raised more than one million dollars and been active in multiple foundations, both private and public, along with other non-profit groups. Newport is an active volunteer and shares his passion of philanthropy with his community.

Don Harris is a retired city treasurer and banker from a notable institution in Illinois. He still does consulting for the bank. He’s one of the foundation’s Past Presidents and actively volunteers in his community for foundations, museums and a local high school. Currently, Harris chairs MTEF’s Investment Committee and is a tremendous advocate for the foundation. He is passionate about helping others to understand that every donation benefits the foundation’s programming and the individuals it serves.

Jeff Stassen comes to the MTEF Board from the USTA Midwest Section Board. He runs and operates his own CTA and has sanctioned tennis tournaments. As chair of the Dearborn Recreation Department, Stassen has coordinated volunteers and fundraising efforts to restore a redevelopment project called Hamtramck, aimed at improving diversity and inclusion efforts in Michigan tennis. He is active on the National Committee and involved at the section and district levels as well.

Joy Albi hails from a variety of careers but most notably as an attorney and small business owner. She is an active tennis player and been a coach for her children. Her passion revolves entirely around the sport of tennis and giving back to others. Albi’s volunteerism with USTA Midwest began decades ago with her local district in Ohio and with a Community Tennis Association (CTA) there. She moved to a Delegate position and later to a USTA Midwest Board Presidency. She is the current USTA Midwest Tennis and Education Foundation (MTEF) Board President and has changed the organization from the ground up. Since Albi’s leadership began, the foundation has created two new re-occurring initiatives that, for the last two years, have increased revenue over $110,000. Albi has had the foundation’s logo rebranded, rolled out a new website and implemented a new marketing plan. She led MTEF towards re-analyzing all of its processes and created a five-year strategic plan. Her knowledge and experience of business management has brought the foundation to a whole new level.

Jim Hendrix brings a wealth of experience to MTEF’s Board. From having his MBA in banking and finance to working on gubernatorial campaigns and operating his very own racquet club, Jim Hendrix has knowledge from every walk of life. He was the President of a USTA District and a Board member of its tennis association for 18 years. He also chaired the President’s Committee, Delegates-at-large, the USTA Midwest Board and multiple National committees. Currently, Hendrix is fundraising for the foundation’s wheelchair initiatives. He was able to purchase three new wheelchairs last year alone.

Lynn is a skilled marketing strategist who excels in crafting and executing marketing plans from concept to completion. Known for her strong communication abilities, she ensures seamless collaboration and impactful results. Beyond her professional work, Lynn is a dedicated volunteer, using her fundraising expertise to support a variety of organizations. Currently, she focuses her efforts on raising awareness and funds for the Midwest Tennis and Education Foundation. A passionate tennis enthusiast, Lynn enjoys playing the game, volunteering at tennis events, and traveling to professional tournaments to support her favorite players.

Fay Peters is an attorney who brings a wealth of experience to our Board. She was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston and Minneapolis before retiring from her position as Director of Management at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. She uses her leadership to overcome divisions and negotiate towards solutions. Peters has managed more than 500 people with an annual operating budget of $90 million. She applies those skills towards MTEF fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning and budget analysis. Peters is actively engaged on various non-profit Boards in her community including serving as chair of the fundraising committee for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and legal advisor to Midwest Jamaica Corp. Peters is a former treasurer of MTEF and chair of its audit committee. She also served on the Section’s Tennis Innovations and Bylaws Committees.

Steve Hayden continues to show his ‘can do’ approach to growing the game of tennis.  He retired from the Wright Patterson AFB as a Senior Executive Service engineer directing 500 members within the intelligence community.  Devising a strategic planning process for the 3000 members of his organization provided the ‘buy-in’ to chart the pathway for current and future Department of Defense programs. He has garnered many successes for the USTA Midwest Section as a Section board vice president, teaching professional at multiple locations, chaired multiple Section committees and delegates, runs National tennis events, member of National committees…through starts as HS tennis coach and starting his own tennis club.

Curt Bender works full-time as a Senior Product Regulatory Manager within the Legal Department at Tennant Company. He applies his skills to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Rules and Regulations Committee and West Michigan Grievance committee. Bender has played wheelchair tennis since 1992 and has chaired the the Midwest and National Wheelchair committee, served as a Board Member for a local CTA, The Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (formally the Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association) and served on the ITF wheelchair committee.

Rebecca Johnson serves as the Executive Director of Todd Martin Youth Leadership (TMYL), a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter based in Lansing, Michigan. With over a decade of dedicated experience in youth development, Rebecca brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role.

Her diverse background includes teaching middle school and working as a school social worker, providing her with invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s youth. For the past seven years, Rebecca has been at the helm of TMYL, where she has successfully expanded the organization’s reach and impact in the community.

A committed volunteer, Rebecca has been actively involved with USTA Midwest for six years, serving on both the Community Tennis Association (CTA) and Grassroots committees. She currently serves as the chair of the Coaches/Providers committee.

Rebecca’s multifaceted experience in education, social work, and tennis program management uniquely positions her to foster holistic youth development through the powerful combination of sports, education, and character-building initiatives.

Jorge Brioni of the Chicago District was born in Marcos Juarez, Argentina. He worked at the University of California Irvine in 1986, and then moved with his family to Vernon Hills, Illinois in 1990. A retired pharmaceutical executive at Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie, Brioni has extensive experience in scientific research and medical affairs.

Jorge started playing tennis at 8 years old and has played tennis his entire life. Brioni has been involved with the USTA at all levels. For our Midwest Section, he has been a Delegate-At-Large and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Oversight and Review Committee. For the Chicago District, he chaired the Growth Team and for several years served on the Adult Tennis Committee. At the national level, Brioni was a member of the Sport Science Committee and led the Research Team. He is currently Secretary of the USTA Midwest Board of Directors, and member of the Board of the USTA Midwest Foundation.

Outside of the USTA, Brioni has volunteered for OMNI Youth Services in Illinois, the American Society of Experimental Pharmacology, and for the US Department of Health and Human Services. What matters most to Brioni is service to the community. When he is not volunteering, Brioni enjoys tennis, horse riding and soccer. Most importantly, Jorge Brioni loves to spend time with his family.

Tammy Simone of the Northeastern Ohio District was born in Aurora, Ohio and grew up in Mansfield. Her dad was a sheet-metal worker who started playing tennis during the ’70s boom. When Tammy Simone turned 8 years old, her parents bought her a racquet and took her to a park for lessons. After a racquet club opened up nearby, her father used some money that he’d set aside and put it towards a family membership. Simone started taking lessons and playing year-round; the court became her favorite place to be and she loved playing tennis with her dad. Simone went on to play number one singles in high school and she walked on to the University of Notre Dame’s Women’s Tennis Team. She earned a national ranking at 46 years old, finishing number three in the country, and now dedicates her time towards making tennis more accessible. One of her proudest moments was playing in a National Mother/Son tournament with her son. Tammy Simone was the President of USTA Northeastern Ohio from 2016 to 2020 and has served on several district and section committees. She is also involved in ACEing Austism’s Akron program and was President of the Solon High School Academic Boosters. Through her volunteerism with MTEF, Simone hopes to make a positive impact on peoples’ lives. She wants to make it easier for people to start tennis programming and she wants to encourage people of all ages to play. Some of Tammy Simone’s hobbies, aside from tennis, are traveling and learning and about health and wellness. She studies nutrition, strength-training and meditation. Her role models in life are her family, friends and the people she’s worked with.

David Foster’s full-time career is with Wells Fargo Advisors where he works as Vice President-Investment Officer and Financial Advisor.  Prior to his work in investments, he was a Tennis Director and Head Tennis Professional at the Genesys Athletic Club in Grand Blanc, MI.  He is currently serving as Northeastern Michigan Tennis Association District President.  He has been volunteering in the Midwest and his district for several years.  He has served as a District President, Midwest Delegate, Midwest Adult League Chair along with several committees and sub committees.  Away from Tennis he coaches his two boys Hockey Teams and enjoys golfing.