Tennis Panorama News

Stan Smith (Photo courtesy of the International Tennis Hall of Fame)

Former world No. 1 tennis player and past US Open and Wimbledon champion Stan Smith has been named president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Smith, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1987, will succeed legendary tennis player and 1970 Hall of Famer Tony Trabert, who has served as Hall of Fame president since 2001. Trabert has been named a Life Trustee of the non-profit organization, which is dedicated to preserving the rich history of tennis. The appointment of Smith as president was announced on Friday, September 9 at the Hall of Fame’s Annual Meeting in New York City. Also at the meeting, thirteen new directors were elected to the Board of Directors. Former board members Jefferson T. Barnes, who is Of Counsel at the law firm of Watts, Tice and Skowronek; Alan Hassenfeld, chairman of the executive committee of Hasbro, Inc.; Kay Koplovitz, founder of USA Network and Chairman and CEO of Koplovitz & Co. LLC; and Thomas A. James, chairman of Raymond James Financial are all returning to the board. In addition to President Stan Smith, the newly elected board members are Claudio Del Vecchio, chairman and CEO of Brooks Brothers; Guillaume de Ramel, director of FH Prince & Co.; Michael F. Goss, managing director and chief operating officer of Bain Capital, LLC; Frew McMillan, a ten-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1992; Tim Phillips, former chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club; John J. Ross II, managing partner of Fidus Partners; Todd Traina, founder of Red Rover Films; and Gene Yoon, chairman and CEO Fila Korea Ltd.

“We are pleased to welcome Stan Smith, who is not only a great champion of the game, but also a dedicated supporter of tennis to the role of president. It is also a pleasure to welcome the new directors, all of whom bring an array of talent and expertise to the organization. Their active participation will be a tremendous resource for the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum as we strive to preserve the history of tennis and inspire its future,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “Additionally, we are very pleased to name Tony Trabert a Life Trustee. Tony has done an outstanding job in the role of president for the past 10 years, and the organization has truly flourished with his guidance and leadership.”

In addition to the new members of the Board of Directors and the election of Smith as president, the following officers were re-elected: Christopher E. Clouser as chairman, Donald L. Dell as vice chairman, Barbara A. Georgescu as vice chairman, Mark L. Stenning as chief executive officer, Nancy von Auersperg as treasurer and Peggy H. Woolard as secretary.
The new members of the Board of Directors will begin their terms immediately. Each will serve the organization in various capacities ranging from oversight of the extensive museum to development of the Hall of Fame’s annual ATP World Tour tennis tournament and Hall of Fame induction programs, as well as in other important departments such as fundraising and marketing. Following are brief biographies of the new Board Members.

 

Jefferson T. Barnes is Of Counsel at the law firm of Watts, Tice and Skowronek in Flemington, N.J. He is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and past president of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. He received his J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond in 1987. He received his B.A. from Lynchburg College in 1976. Barnes previously served on the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors from 2000-2010 on the Board, during which time he was also a member of the Executive Committee and served as Museum Committee Chairman. A longtime tennis enthusiast, he was director of tennis for Sea Pines Plantation in Hilton Head Island, S.C. from 1981-1984.

Claudio Del Vecchio is the chairman and chief executive officer of Brooks Brothers Group, Inc., a premier retail and manufacturing group with a portfolio of highly specialized fashion companies composed of Brooks Brothers, Southwick and Carolee Designs. Del Vecchio is also executive director of Luxottica Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of eyewear. Del Vecchio’s career path was inspired in his childhood, when he helped his father in the Luxottica eyeglass factory in Agordo, Italy, learning virtually every area of manufacturing, from eyeglass parts to machinery parts, from manual labor to management. At the age of 24, Del Vecchio established Luxottica’s first direct distribution organization outside of Italy, in Germany. Del Vecchio came to the United States in 1982, and was instrumental in transforming Luxottica into the premier factory-direct eyewear organization in the United States. In 1990, Mr. Del Vecchio directly oversaw Luxottica’s public offering on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE – LUX). In 1995 the company acquired Lenscrafters, the largest optical retailer in the United States, and Casual Corner Group stores, a retail chain specializing in women’s clothing. Del Vecchio assumed ownership of Casual Corner Group in 1997. In early 2001, the company acquired Adrienne Vittadini and Carolee Designs. Casual Corner Group was then renamed Retail Brand Alliance, Inc., and then Retail Brand Alliance acquired Brooks Brothers. An active philanthropist, Del Vecchio has worked with such organizations as the Helen Keller Services for the Blind, the Interfaith Nutrition Network of New York, the Gift of Sight Organization, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the Friends of San Patrignano Organization. In 2010, Del Vecchio along with his wife Debra was honored by the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island in recognition of their years of support. They are both active supporters of the Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Del Vecchio currently serves on the boards of the National Retail Federation, the International Council of the Preservation Society of Newport County, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. He is an honorary fellow of the Foreign Policy Association and a member of the Center for Economic Transformation of NYC.

Guillaume de Ramel was born in France, but his family has deep roots in Newport, Rhode Island, where the Hall of Fame is located. He is a real estate investor, while also playing an active role as a director of FH Prince & Co., a family holding company. Recently he was appointed by Governor Lincoln Chafee to Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council. de Ramel earned a Master’s Degree in real estate development from Columbia University and he graduated from Hobart and William Smith College, with a Bachelor’s Degree in architectural studies. His family’s foundation, the Prince Charitable Trust, has supported numerous non-profits throughout Rhode Island. de Ramel, his wife Molly, and their two small children are avid squash and tennis players.

Michael F. Goss returned to Bain Capital in 2001 as managing director and chief financial officer after originally working at there as an investment professional from 1987-1989. He was named chief operating officer in 2005. Immediately prior to rejoining Bain Capital, Goss was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Digitas, Inc. Goss served as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and director of Playtex Products, Inc. from 1994 to 2000. Goss received an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School in 1986 and a B.S. from Kansas State University in 1981. He is member of the Board of Directors of the Private Equity Council, the Private Equity Foundation, and Tennis Channel.

Alan Hassenfeld is former chairman of the board and present chairman of the executive committee of Hasbro, Inc. a multi-billion dollar international toy company. Under his leadership, Hasbro has become a worldwide leader in children’s and family entertainment. Its brands and products are some of the most recognizable and respected throughout the world. In addition to being an impactful business leader, Hassenfeld is a dedicated philanthropist. He has been involved in hundreds of charitable and social causes as ranging from human rights of manufacturing workers in Asia to serving as chairman of the World Scholar Athlete Games. He is an active leader who is hands on in creating positive results for the many causes that supports. Hassenfeld has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife reside in Rhode Island.

Thomas A. James is chairman of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), chairman of its subsidiary, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., and for 40 years was also CEO of the company, relinquishing his role in May 2010 to successor Paul Reilly. James is the past chairman of The Financial Services Roundtable, the Securities Industry Association (now SIFMA), the Southern District of the SIA, the District 7 Business Conduct Committee of the National Association of Securities Dealers, and a past president of the Florida Security Dealers Association, as well as Raymond James Bank, FSB and Heritage Family of Funds (subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc.). James is a member of the board of Cora Health Services and has previously served on the boards of numerous public companies. James is the immediate past chairman of the Florida Council of 100 and current president of the board of trustees of The Salvador Dalί Museum. He serves on the Board of Dean’s Advisors at Harvard Business School and is the chairman of the board of the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation. In addition, James has been an active participant with United Way of Tampa Bay, as a member of the board of directors, campaign chair and as founding chairman of the organization’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society in 1987. James graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1964 and from Harvard Business School in 1966, where he was a Baker Scholar and graduated with high distinction. He also holds a J.D. from Stetson College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, and obtained his Certified Financial Planner designation in 1978.

Kay Koplovitz is the founder of USA Network, a company launched in 1977, and later expanded to introduce the Sci-Fi Channel and USA Networks International. Koplovitz served as Chairperson & CEO until the company was sold for $4.5 billion in 1998. Presently, Koplovitz is the chairman of the board of Liz Claiborne Inc., a company that designs and markets an extensive range of women’s and men’s fashion and accessories worldwide. She is a board member of CA Technology, the world’s leading independent IT management software company, as well as ION Media. She has also served on the boards of Oracle, Nabisco, Instinet and General Re. In 1998, President Clinton appointed Koplovitz to chair the National Women in Business Council. While serving in that capacity, Koplovitz co-created Springboard Enterprises which was launched in 2000 to raise venture capital for women entrepreneurs. Since its inception, Springboard Enterprises has raised over $5 billion in new capital. She is also the co-founder of Boldcap Ventures, a venture capital firm invested in early and mid-stage technology, media and health sciences companies. She is the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity.

 

One of the greatest doubles champions in tennis, Frew McMillan of South Africa, was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992. McMillan, known for his two-handed ground strokes, was a fan favorite and an exciting player to watch, as he had an extraordinary touch at the net and could create incredible angles on his volleys and returns. McMillan won three of the four majors in men’s doubles, capturing the Wimbledon title three times and the French Open and US Open titles once each. Additionally, he won a mixed doubles title at the French Open and two mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon. Since retirement, McMillan has served as a tennis commentator for news outlets including Eurosport and BBC Radio.

 

Tim Phillips served as Chairman of The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) from December 1999 through December 2010, during which time he led the organization and The Championships at Wimbledon through a pivotal period of positive growth and transition. During his tenure, Phillips championed customer value and service at The Championships, generating immense support for the Grand Slam. In 2007, he initiated equal prize money for men and women players. He oversaw the substantial modernization program across the grounds which includes Centre Court and its new retractable roof (2009), new Courts 2 (2009) and 3 (2011), enhanced facilities for players and press (Millennium Building) and the award-winning Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum (2006). Early in his chairmanship, Phillips introduced The Road to Wimbledon, with the aim of encouraging more young people to play the game. This local and national junior tennis program has been successful in introducing more than 100,000 local children to the sport to date. Prior to his role at the AELTC, Phillips had an extensive career at British Airways that spanned more than three decades, and during which he held roles including Deputy Marketing Director, Head of Logistics and Deputy Operations Director and Regional General Manager Europe. Phillips was appointed a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2007. A life-long tennis player, Phillips has been a member of AELTC since 1966. He reached the semi-finals of the Men’s Doubles in the US Championships in 1964. In 1966, he reached the second round of the Australian Championships and played in the Men’s Doubles in The Championships of the same year. As a student at Oxford, Phillips captained the tennis and squash teams, and was a member of the hockey team.

John J. Ross II, a former professional tennis player, is managing partner of Fidus Partners, a middle market merchant bank. Ross was active on the ATP World Tour from 1987-1991, achieving an ATP singles ranking in the top-100. Prior to co-founding Fidus Partners in 2005, Mr. Ross spent more than ten years advising clients on mergers and acquisitions at Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., and its successors. Ross earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University, where he was a member of the tennis team and was a three-time All-American. He also earned an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

Stan Smith is a legend of his sport, not only for the myriad tennis titles on his resume, but also for the legacy of sportsmanship and courtesy he has brought to the profession, and which he continues to exude today. Smith dominated tennis in the early 1970s, winning the U.S. Open in 1971 and Wimbledon in 1972 and attaining the No. 1 world ranking. He also won five major doubles titles. In his career he has won 39 singles titles. He also represented his country in the Davis Cup for 10 years, helping to win the coveted championship seven times. Smith has stayed active in the sport since retirement. He was the coach of the 2000 U.S. Olympic tennis team in Sydney. He served as director of coaching for the USTA Player Development Program from 1986-1994 and was the associate director of player development from 1995-1998. Smith is the co-founder and manager of the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy at Sea Pines Resort. He currently serves as Chairman of both Stan Smith Events and Stan Smith Design.

 

Todd Traina is an independent film producer and founder of Red Rover Films. Some of the feature films Traina has produced over the last 15 years include: “What Maisie Knew” with Julianne Moore; “Goats” with David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga; “Another Happy Day” starring Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Barkin, Thomas Hayden Church and Ellen Burstyn; “The Romantics” starring Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel, Malin Akerman, Candice Bergen, Adam Brody and Elijah Wood; “Morning” starring Jeanne Tripplehorn, Laura Linney, Elliott Gould and Leland Orser; “Archie’s Final Project” starring Gabriel Sunday, David Carradine, Nora Dunn, Mariel Hemingway and Joe Mantegna (produced in partnership with the suicide-prevention non-profit, Regenerate); “Blood & Bone” starring Michael Jai White and Julian Sands; “Night Train” starring Danny Glover, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski; “What We Do Is Secret,” starring Shane West and Bijou Phillips; “Stanley’s Gig,” starring William Sanderson, Marla Gibbs, and Faye Dunaway; and the popular documentary “Punk’s Not Dead.” Many of Traina’s films have played or garnered awards at top film festivals including Sundance, Berlin and SXSW. In 2007, Traina was named a “Top Ten Producer to Watch” by Daily Variety. Traina has also produced or developed a variety of other cooking and lifestyle shows. He began his career with producer Douglas Cramer at NBC Productions working on the Danielle Steel Movies of the Week. In addition to film production, he has invested in and developed real estate, owned the popular San Francisco bar/restaurant Le Club and partnered in a number of successful Hollywood restaurants. Traina is a partner in Mombo LLC, a Northern California investment company, and he manages Oakville Partners LP, a Napa Valley real estate development company. Traina serves on several boards including the San Francisco Film Society and the Vision of Hope Advisory Board, which serves and funds eight California inner city schools. He was born and raised in San Francisco and is a graduate of Connecticut College.

Gene Yoon is the chairman and chief executive officer Fila Korea Ltd., GLBH Holdings S.a.r.l., and Care Line Corp. He has been associated with the Fila brand since the early 1980′s when he served as the company’s first footwear sourcing agent in Korea. In 1991, he launched the subsidiary Fila Korea where he built a successful network of franchise retail stores. In 2005, he purchased a long-term license from SBI for Fila in Korea. Today, with more than 500 total points of distribution including 300 franchise stores, Fila ranks as one of the top sportswear brands in Korea. Prior to joining Fila Korea, Yoon spent thirteen years as a president of Line Ind. Corp. Additionally he has experience working with both Hwasung Company, Ltd., and JCPenny. Yoon holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Diplomacy from Hankook University of Foreign Studies. He also sits on the Board of Directors for Shinhan Financial Group. He has received several awards for his outstanding business management including the Korea-Europe Top Management Award from Korean Society Contemporary of European Studies, the Professional Management Award from the Korea Academy of Business Historians, and the President’s Awards on National Taxpayer’s Day in 1998 and 2007.