Our Team
Adminstrative
Tina Hoerenz
Head of Finance, HR
Tina Hoerenz
Originally from Berlin, Germany, Tina moved to the US at age 8. With a backyard facing the woods, she literally climbed everything: trees, boulders, rock walls, onto the roof of her house, you name it, she was on it.
After finishing up her education in New York, Berlin, and Paris, she jumped into a career in public relations, marketing, information technology, and graphic design for a major not-for-profit organization in New York City. After several years of daily commutes to the noisy hustle and bustle of NYC, however, it was time for a change: Tina is now Administrative Manager for Pine Brook Fitness, home of The Rock Club, The New Rochelle Racquet Club and The Studios.
Valerie Ferrara
Chief Operating Officer, HR
Valerie Ferrara
Val has been the Chief Operating Officer of The Clubs at Pine Brook Fitness since early 2014. She joined the team from Philadelphia, PA, where she managed a health club with over 4,000 members.
When she is not overseeing construction projects or touring prospective members to the Clubs, Val enjoys daily long drives, her 2 cats, and chasing after her 2 young sons and taking in the sights of the northern Hudson Valley.
She has been enjoying playing tennis at NRRC since 2015 and loves the weekly clinics and Blitz, as well as smashing volleys that the pros can’t get! She also is an Airbnb Superhost and a Notary Public—and always has her stamp on her if you need signature-related assistance!
Val looks forward to meeting you on or off the courts, and if you need anything, she can be found in the middle office to the right of the Front Desk.
Charlie Chait
General Manager
Charlie Chait
Charlie has been involved with tennis since she was around 10 years old, playing in the street in front of her house and finding any available place possible to play with her sisters. As a summer job, she helped the top Pro in Hawaii, teach all ages the love of her sport. An Apparel Designer by trade, she has worked in Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and NYC designing swimwear, children’s wear and bridal gowns. Her hiatus from tennis lasted quite a while, but her love for the sport brought her back after starting a family.
Charlie soon began running Men’s and Women’s Playing Leagues at her neighborhood club. This soon turned into a full-time job. At Rye Racquet Club, she became the Office Manager for 5 years. All the while getting back her game, she managed to make it all the way to Nationals. Coming to NRRC in 2009 as Office Manager, Charlie has worked in all parts of the Club including teaching Summer Camp. All the while, spreading her passion for the sport and working on her game, in 2014 she took over as General Manager of NRRC.
Maureen Neary
Front Desk Supervisor
Maureen Neary
Maureen was born and raised in New Rochelle and began working as a front desk employee at the New Rochelle Racquet Club in 2013, before the Studios was even a thought. She went to school at Iona College for Speech Pathology but took a break from school and continued to work at the front desk part time which later switched to full time. Maureen left the club for a short period of time, during which she began a family. She attempted to work elsewhere but something pulled her back to Pine Brook Fitness where she is now the front desk supervisor.
While Maureen does not play tennis, she still loves her work family and customers at Pine Brook Fitness. When she is not at the front desk, she is taking care of her daughter, taking care of her daughter, or taking care of her daughter. Maureen loves all things food and music. The band Nirvana, and Harry Potter are also a few of her favorite things.
Paul Cesario
Marketing Director
Paul Cesario
Paul was born and raised in NY and joined the team in 2016. He brings many years of marketing and entrepreneurial experience to the club, having previously run two businesses of his own, a professional recording studio and teaching practice. He has worked in the marketing department for NJ Transit and a variety of tech startups in NYC. He is an avid lover of all things tech, whether it is the latest gadget or new marketing software. He holds an B.A in Music from SUNY Purchase and an MBA in Marketing from CUNY Baruch.
Paul is an avid lover of fitness and understands the importance a healthy and active lifestyles plays in ones overall well being. He is a lover of the outdoors, enjoys traveling, cooking, playing his guitar and drums, and investing in the stock market.
One of his life long goals is to hike the Appalachian Trail in its entirety, ME to GA, all 2200 miles of it. When he's not at the club, you can find him exercising, reading, working on his car, teaching music lessons, and taking care of his ten year old american bombay cat, Lucy.
Belissa Velasquez
Social Media Director
Paul Cesario
Director
Adam Homan
Director of Adult Programs
Adam Homan
Jean-Benoit (JB) Belin
Director of Junior Programs
Jean-Benoit (JB) Belin
Born in France, JB was a nationally ranked French junior player. During his collegiate career, he played for New Mexico University and was the captain of the men's team, receiving doubles All-RMAC first team honors. His team reached the top 20 in the national in Division II.
As a coach, JB coached Swedish junior players in Tennis Europe Tournaments in Sweden and Denmark. From 2013-17, he coached at Mount Vernon Tennis Center where he trained junior players in international tournaments such as the Orange Bowl and ITF Tournaments. In 2017, he also was the Women's Volunteer Assistant Coach at Columbia University.
From 2014-2017, JB coached top ranked juniors at Zonals, 12s, and 14s Intersectionals and National team Competitions.
In 2019, he completed an internship at Harvard University in strength and conditioning and also received his strength and conditioning (CSCS). Additionally, he is certified in USPTA and USTA High Performance.
Master Pro
Kachinga Sinkala
Tennis Professional
Kachinga Sinkala
Kachinga Sinkala was born and raised in Mufulira, Zambia where he started playing tennis at the age of 9. As a junior tennis player in Zambia, Kachinga competed on the National and ITF Junior Circuit and obtained a ranking as high as number one in the country. After graduating from the junior rankings, Kachinga joined the Zambia Davis Cup. He also went on to compete ITF men's satellite and ATP tournaments and consequently gained enough points to be ranked in the world.
Kachinga moved to United States and was immediately awarded a tennis scholarship at Huntington University where he played #1 singles and doubles. In his first year Huntington University, Kachinga was ranked number 18 in the conference.
Since moving to the United States in 2002, Kachinga has taught at many different tennis clubs and facilities. He has taught at Joel Ross tennis camp in Kent, CT for two summers. He also coached at Tennis Rhode Island for several years. Most recently, he taught at the Kela Simunyola Tennis Academy in NY where he was an instrumental part of building a top level junior program.
Kachinga hold a ITF level 2 coaching certificate as well as a Olympic attendance coaching workshop certificate.
Andre Sinclair
Junior Tournaments Director, Director of Men's Development
Andre Sinclair
Andre Sinclair has been a professional Tennis Coach since 1997. A native of Jamaica, he first fell in love with tennis when he was 16 years old and later pursued a career as a coach. Sinclair enjoys working with youth as they develop a love for and expertise at tennis.
“It gives me a chance to teach them something new or even about themselves, and at the same time I learn from them,” he says,”because every child is different. I love working with kids and with the hope of them getting into college and even going professional.”
He is a Role Model, Group Leader and Activity Specialist at the Co-op City Tennis Club, where he previously served as the Acting Site Director and Tennis Coach. Sinclair also serves at the coach of The Ursuline School Varsity Tennis Team, which won the NY State Public High School Athletic Association State Championship in 2013.
He has won – twice – as Coach of the Year by the Westchester Journal News in 2013 and 2013.
In his current role, he taught Christian Waldron, who recently won the Mayor’s Cup, and Brandon Torres, the recent winner of NYJTL’s Arthur Ashe Essay Contest and who is no ranked No.1 in the Eastern 12 and Under category.
He says tennis is more that about perfecting skill on the court.
“It teaches children and youth how to develop good sportsmanship skills, how to listen and follow rules, and at the same time how to be creative both on the court and in their lives,” he says. Accordingly, he regularly imparts life lessons.
“Regardless of whether they want to pursue tennis or something else in life, they must remember that it’s not about practice making perfect,” he says. “It’s perfect practice makes perfect, and if they are on the tennis court, they should play but also play smart.”
Jonathan Compres
Tennis Professional
Jonathan Compres
Jonathan was born and raised in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At an early age tennis became Jonathan’s passion, inspired by his father who is, to this day, a local club player and avid tennis fanatic.
Jonathan was known for his drive and passion for the sport which resulted in years of hard work and dedication. This led to a top 5 National ranking in the Dominican Republic and he realized competing at a world-class level was his goal. This path led Jonathan to Queens, New York, Cardozo High School, a top national tennis team. As a junior player in the States, Jonathan reached the top 10 in the USTA Eastern section and played the national circuit in the U.S.
After graduation, he entered Rockland Community College where he competed in a National competition, marking the school’s first time ever participating at this level. Jonathan received the award of “Player to Watch” that same year. Based on his extraordinary results while at Rockland Community College, he received an NCAA scholarship to play tennis from Post University, Waterbury, Connecticut. Jonathan reached the top position on the team and was soon named team captain.
Performing as an exemplary student-athlete, Jonathan received a Bachelors’s degree in Business Administration and Finance. From 2019-20 Jonathan began training for the Futures ATP circuit but due to the pandemic interrupting the tournament circuit in March 2020, he shifted his focus towards coaching privately in upstate New York.
Albert Tetteh
Tennis Professional
Albert Tetteh
Albert Tetteh is a High Performance Coach with 22 years of teaching experience. He has the expertise to develop players of all ages and abilities. His passion for the game of tennis is Infectious and comes through on the Court.
He was born in West Africa, Ghana to be precise and his playing days were in the continent of Africa.
He was mentored to drift off into coaching at an early age by his Coach because of his affection for the sport. He studied Business Management at Accra Polytechnic before he moved to the United States of America.
He came to the United States to develop his coaching career and became a certified PTR high performance coach.
He had the privilege to work under Liezel Huber, two- times US open doubles champion.
Ryan Ginley and Kris Hrisjovulos at Intensity Academy- Westport CT and a lot of Division 1 Players came through their Academy.
He’s also worked with Jayadeva Devashetty, former national coach for the United States Tennis Association at Caryleeds Tennis Center and many more high profile coaches.
He has developed a lot of students to play division 1 tennis. And his motto for teaching is:
Perfect techniques and footwork (Stances). Learn the proper grip to each stroke. And an Introduction to the proper swings paves way to all strokes which helps to develop self rally and partner rally.
Juilan Brown
Tennis Professional
Julian Brown
Julian grew up in Queens NY where he excelled as a junior. Reaching sectional and national rankings, he went on to play at St. Bonaventure University.
Julian has coached in Long Island and New York City for the last 20 years, and had countless players make their school teams along with establishing players to achieve rankings.
Julian will bring his passion and love for the game to make sure everyone has the best experience on court every lesson🎾
Senior Pro
Juan Pablo Herrera
Tennis Professional
Juan Pablo Herrara
Juan Pablo, better known as JP, started to play tennis at the age of 4 in Arequipa, Peru. He competed in tournaments at the age of 12, which drove him to be among the top players in his country in U16 and U18. After high school he wanted to pursue tennis at a competitive level. JP committed to Lindenwood University in St Louis, Missouri with a tennis scholarship.
After pursuing his major in international business and marketing, he moved to New York City. He has been competing in UTR tournaments and became PTR certified to continue his professional coaching career.
JP’s first coaching experience was in 2019 in Massachusetts, and that was the moment he realized he not only loved playing but teaching as well. He has been teaching tennis for the last 4 years in Massachusetts, Missouri, and New York. He is excited for this new journey and to become a part of the family at the New Rochelle Raquet Club.
Paulo Chiapponi
Tennis Professional
Paulo Chiapponi
Daniel Scopp
Men's Programs, Playing Leagues and USTA Teams Coordinator
Daniel Scopp
Daniel started playing tennis at the age of 6 at New Rochelle Racquet Club. He fell in love with the sport and continued training at NRRC through high school. He competed in USTA tournaments and became the captain of his varsity tennis team during senior year.
While studying for a degree in political science at Quinnipiac University, Daniel got his first experience coaching at a tennis camp in Scarsdale, NY. This is where he developed a new passion for teaching the game to others that gave him so much joy growing up. After graduating college he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in coaching and became certified by the USPTA.
Since 2015 Daniel has worked for the town of Mamaroneck and Scarsdale tennis programs. He has also been the Lead Coach for TGA Premier Sports in Southern Westchester where he has run after school tennis clubs and camps.
Daniel is very excited to be back as a coach in the place where he was first introduced to tennis. It’s a great opportunity for him to help make great memories for his students at NRRC the way his coaches once did for him.
William Matthew
Tennis Professional
William Matthews
William has over 25 years of quality teaching experience on the tennis court. He has completed the course at Dennis Van Der Meer Tennis Academy and USTA’s level 1 Sport Science course. Prior to coming to the New Rochelle Racquet Club in 2000, William has worked with nationally ranked juniors in his native country of Antigua. He was also the Tennis Director of two of the local exclusive resorts on the island; William has also taught at the Bronxville Field Club for 7 years. His love of teaching the fundamentals of tennis is what he enjoys the most.
Staff Pro
Dwayne Smtih
Tennis Professional
Dwayne Smith
Dwayne started playing tennis at the age of 10.
His tennis journey began in the bronx where the tennis courts was just 10 minutes away from his house. Dwayne also fell in love with the sport and competed in USTA tournaments.
Teaching Tennis is something Dwayne is very passionate about. His happiness comes from helping students become better tennis players.
Being a coach at NRRC helps Dwayne give back to the sport that gave so much to him
Dwayne also loves to cook in his spare time. When he's not teaching teaching, he's in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Ask him about his delicious chimichurri london broil.
Fernanda Poblete
Tennis Professional / Junior Programs Coordinator
Fernanda Poblete
Originally from Valdivia, Chile, Fernanda was a division II player at
Lindenwood University from 2018 to 2022 thanks to tennis and academic
scholarship, reaching the number one position in singles and doubles.
In her college years, she was a 2020-21 – ITA Scholar-Athlete, GLVC
Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar honoree, and Awarded
Athlete of The Year: Recognition of achievement in the development of
improved athletic performance through strength and conditioning
excellence.
Fernanda graduated with a degree in Literature with an
emphasis in creative writing and a minor in History, gaining entry to
the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society and Alpha Chi National
College Honor Society. Moreover, Fernanda will begin an online
master's degree in writing at Johns Hopkins University in Spring 2024.