About Pickleball America

Jay Waldner

Founder

4th Generation Office Furniture and Service Provider and Owner-Waldner’s Business Environments, Est. 1939. Business Development Professional with ties to Corporate America throughout the US. Actively engaged in all Sports Activities. Proud Owner and Producer of 1st Backyard Pickleball Court in Stamford. Resides in Stamford, CT with his wife and three boys.

Joe Schipani

Founder

Founder Joe is a competitive racket sports player, instructor, and life-coach in multiple disciplines. He spent much of his life mentoring community and racket sport programs across Westchester and Fairfield Counties. As Founding Member for Pickleball America, Joe was an integral leader for developing our space, product partnerships, customer experience, staff recruiting/training, and marketing to players. It is Joe’s mission to raise the bar for the downtown Stamford Pickleball community by providing a professional environment, bringing diverse communities together through sports and entertainment. Joe resides in Stamford with his wife and children.

Mia Schipani

Founder · Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Real Estate Broker, Houlihan Lawrence Commercial and Business Owner of Schipani PR. 25+ Years of Hospitality, Business Development, Marketing Experience. Director for The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, Founding Director of the Fairfield County Sports Commission and Founder of Badass Women Fairfield County. Resides in Stamford, CT with her husband.

Jay Ross

Founder

Jay Ross is one of the four founders of Pickleball America Stamford. Although fairly new to pickleball, Jay is an accomplished athlete who grew up playing football, basketball, tennis, paddle and hockey as well as punting for Syracuse University. Jay is the owner of Greenwich Realty Development, a real estate development and construction company, located in Greenwich. A proud Stamford resident, he lives with his wife, Dawn, and his sons, Curtis and James.

Bret Herman

Chief Operating Officer

Attorney and life-long racquets player. Bret was ranked top 20 in the ETA in his junior tennis days and played college tennis at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently plays Division 1 FCPTL platform tennis and is a 4.5-rated pickleball player. Bret is dedicated to providing Stamford and its surrounding communities with a premier venue to play social and competitive pickleball, host first-class events, and to serve as a destination to simply have fun. He has resided in Weston, CT for the past 20 years with his wife Karen, and their 3 children, Alexa, Nicole and Jesse.

Pernille Halbro

Head Professional

Pernille Halbro has been active in the Racquets Sports Industry for the past eight years. Pernille is a tennis instructor with Stamford Greater Tennis Association (GSTA) for the City of Stamford (2016-present) and as private tennis instructor for over 50 clients. She is International Foundation of Players Academy (IFP) certified of 2 years. She has successfully been Territory Director and Instructor for Impact Pickleball for the past 2 years developing programs, hosted tournaments as running private lessons, and clinics for 3 local City Parks and Rec departments. She is passionate about bringing pickleball to the local community and is currently Vice President of the Stamford Pickleball Club. She is Founder of Pickleball Impact Zone in Stamford, CT.

Committed to the game and her teachings, Pernille takes pride in continuous education such as Engage 3 Day Camp, CPR certification and is currently taking the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) certification for instruction in Tennis and Pickleball.

Pernille Halbro believes that pickleball is more than just a game; it’s a platform for personal growth, fitness, and fun. Her coaching philosophy is centered around:

• Personalized Instruction: Pernille tailors her coaching to meet your individual needs and goals, whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an advanced player striving to refine your techniques.
• Skill Development: Pernille focuses on helping you develop essential skills, including paddle control, footwork, strategy, and game tactics.
• Positive Environment: Pernille creates a supportive and encouraging atmosphere that fosters learning, through laugh-inducing drills and games
• Fun and Fitness: Beyond skill development, Pernille emphasizes the physical and mental benefits of playing pickleball, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle

Francine Manfredi

Director of Community Relations

With over 20 years of local experience in community development, event production, compliance, marketing and communications, Francine is excited to share her passion and expertise with the Pickleball America community! Francine began her career in the legal sector, supporting some of the top civil litigators in Fairfield County. She then spent nearly the next decade with the F. D. Rich Company working closely with developers, local government, and the business community. In recent years Francine ran the thriving Health, Wellness and Safety Initiative for the Business Council of Fairfield County, working closely with thought leaders and decision makers across all sectors. Francine serves on several local Boards and Committees. She is also an active volunteer/instructor with regional emergency services groups. Passionate about communications and serving her community, she is thrilled to support the PBA community and its amazing clientele to deliver an exceptional experience.

Dawn Schneider

Court Reserve Specialist

Dawn Schneider started playing Pickleball after a knee replacement sidelined her from the tennis courts. She is still learning the ins and outs of the game but truly loves the camaraderie of the sport. She is one of the founding family members—married to Jay Ross. Dawn is proud mom to Curtis and James as well as her Bouvier, Caymus, and cat, Angel. She currently serves as the Court Reserve specialist at Pickleball America Stamford.