HTA has named Emily Schaefer as its new executive director. She succeeds Cheryl Hultquist, who has volunteered and worked for the nonprofit organization for more than 40 years.
Douglas Pritchett, president of the HTA board of directors, said, “We were happily surprised by the amount of interest in the position, receiving applications from across the State of Texas and the United States from many well-qualified applicants, each offering their own unique experience and skill sets.
“After interviewing the top candidates, a selection committee of former HTA presidents offered Emily the position, and she accepted,” he noted.
“While we are sad to see Cheryl leave, we are confident that Emily will carry on her example of excellence, involvement at all levels and love for the game,” he added.
Hultquist began her association with HTA as a volunteer in 1979, became assistant executive director in 1983 and executive director in 2007.
Schaefer, who recently retired from the City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department after 22 years as its director of tennis, brings a lifetime of tennis involvement to the association, which promotes tennis in the greater Houston area. She has been a teaching professional, collegiate coach, a competitive player, USTA Texas president and volunteer and USTA volunteer, currently serving as a director at large for the USTA national board for 2021-2022. She has received many service recognition awards and has won several competitive national events.
“When the position of executive director came open,” Schaefer said, “I knew it was something that interested me. In my lifetime, only two amazing women have held the position—Harriett Hulbert and Cheryl Hultquist. To follow in their footsteps is meaningful, and I plan to work very hard.
“I am looking forward to using the knowledge I gained from my position with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department as well as my earlier experience to better envision future success for the Houston Tennis Association,” she continued.
“Houston has such a rich tennis history, and it would be wonderful to revisit a time like the 1970s when tennis was all the rage. Over the past year and a half, many new players have taken up the game. This is the city to do it in—from free NJTL programs in neighborhood parks and schools to the highest performance level at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships at River Oaks Country Club. Houston tennis has it all,” she declared.
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