Ginny Gilder

Chief Pickleball Strategist

Olympic medalist in rowing, road cyclist, speedy skier, Seattle Storm co-owner, known for her killer overhead slam. Mom to Sierra and Mom-in-Law to Kyle.

A goal without a plan is only a dream. No one knows this more than Ginny, who is the strategic mind in the background, ensuring that The Palms operates and grows in a manner that supports the health and happiness of our members and guests.

Sierra Keeler

Creative Director

Dual threat designer/artist and Division I athlete, migrating her wicked tennis forehand to the pickleball court. Additional title: Kyle’s wife.

After applying her creative mind to the interior design of The Palms’ social and amenity spaces, Sierra turned her keen eye to merchandise and member experiences. Love that Palms’ trucker hat? Need that cute Dink Local sweatshirt in your closet? It’s all about Sierra style!

Kyle Schraeder

The Palms General Manager

Evolved from a focus on a tennis ball (Division I athlete, pro, coach, program director and manager) to a passionate pursuit of the pickleball. Also known as Sierra’s husband.

Previously a pro and Junior Program Director at both Seattle Tennis Club and Tennis Center Sandpoint, Kyle brings his deep knowledge of programming, coaching and yes, FUN, to The Palms. While you might find Kyle in his office just off the lobby, you are more likely to see him walking the courts, ensuring that all of our members and guests are having an exceptional experience.

Gina Phillips

Director of Operations

Operational maven, multi-talented creator, children’s book author (about poo!), community builder, national level ultimate frisbee player, thrift-shop find upcycler. Known for her deadly dinks. Not related but happy to be part of The Palms family.

As an early leader at WeWork, Gina served in the role of VP & General Manager, successfully launching and managing a portfolio of 31 locations across the Northwest US and Canada. Ultimately, she took on greater responsibility as WeWork’s Global Head of Member Experience. At The Palms, you’ll find Gina, well, everywhere. From ensuring that the building is functioning as it should, to developing opportunities for happy member memories to crunching numbers on the side, she’s a master of The Palms experience.

Ian McPherson

Director of Pickleball

With a diverse career spanning over two decades in IT and a profound passion for sports, Ian brings a unique blend of technical expertise and athletic experience to The Palms. Growing up in the Midwest, Ian was actively involved in tennis, baseball, and volleyball, setting the stage for a lifelong engagement with sports.

After earning a degree in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Ian embarked on a successful career in IT, serving as a Project Manager and Systems Process Engineer. This career path led to over 20 years of experience in the corporate world before a significant transition to open a Bed & Breakfast in Spain. This venture was not only a personal milestone but also an opportunity to explore new horizons. During this period, Ian pursued a Master’s in Sports Management, reflecting a deepening commitment to the business of sports.

Upon returning to the US, Ian discovered a new passion: pickleball. With over 40 years of experience in tennis, the transition to Pickleball was both natural and exhilarating. Ian has been actively involved in the pickleball community for over 10 years competing at the Senior Pro level and working as a Program Director, Instructor, and Tournament Organizer/Manager.

Outside of Pickleball, Ian enjoys cycling, skiing, hiking, marathons, HIIT, reading, music, and travel, reflecting a well-rounded and active lifestyle. His latest obsession is Hyrox. He competed in his first race in June in New York City.

Michael Enright

Performance Coach

Michael Enright is a professional pickleball player and coach based in Seattle, Washington. Playing and coaching the sport since 2008, he has built an active and enduring career in the Pacific Northwest pickleball community having earned more than 100 medals across professional and 5.0-level events nationwide, with results spanning local tournaments as well as marquee national circuits including the APP Tour, PPA Tour, US Open Pickleball Championships, and USA Pickleball National Championships.

He currently serves as a team captain in the Washington Cup, and competes with Seattle Tsunami in the National Pickleball League. He remains actively competing in tournaments. As a coach, Michael has built lesson plans and winning strategies for players at every level, from beginners to touring professionals. He has served as a director with Nike Sports Camps’ pickleball program and has taught pickleball clinics from Maui to Washington DC. He loves helping grow the sport at every stage of play.

AJ Jansuy

Coach

With more than 17 years of combined experience in competitive singles and doubles tournament play, clinics, and private coaching, AJ brings a deep passion for pickleball and a player-first approach to every lesson.

AJ is recognized as the #1 SuperCoach in Seattle, WA on the TeachMeTo app, reflecting his commitment to delivering high-quality, personalized instruction.

Whether you’re picking up a paddle for the first time or looking to elevate your competitive game, AJ meets players where they are and builds a coaching experience around their individual goals. His instruction focuses on developing sound fundamentals, refining technique, building consistency, and learning smarter strategies that translate into greater confidence and success on the court.

When he’s not on the court, AJ can usually be found chasing fresh powder, e-foiling, or spending time with his wife and their energetic pup, Revel.

David Bao

Coach

David discovered pickleball in 2022 and quickly fell in love with the game, progressing from “beer leagues” to competing in 5.0 local and national events. Coming from a competitive table-tennis background, he brings sharp hand skills, court awareness, and a passion for continual improvement to every lesson.

David’s coaching style is personalized and adaptable, tailored to each player’s individual strengths and weaknesses. He focuses on establishing strong foundational skills and core principles that help players execute every shot with greater consistency and confidence.

As a self-described paddle nerd, David is always happy to talk equipment and help players find the paddle that best suits their game.

Whether you are brand new to pickleball or looking to sharpen your competitive play, David is excited to share his passion for the game and welcome new players into the sport and its community.

Steve Johnson

Coach

Steve is an RSPA Certified Professional Pickleball Coach who brings over 40 years of sports industry, competition and coaching expertise to The Palms. Steve has a diverse competitive and instructional background spanning tennis, volleyball, skiing, snowboarding, cycling, and inline skating. Since 2023, he’s been dedicated to pickleball instruction, performing clinics and individualized instruction from Seattle, to Bend, Eugene, Palm Springs, and now here at Pickle At the Palms.

Steve is passionate about driving constant improvement in every player. His coaching style is fun, analytical and personalized. Closely studying a student’s unique biomechanics, he focuses on refining foundational swing mechanics, posture, and footwork. Steve loves to welcome new players to the sport and help higher level players polish their competitive play. His motto is “play with a smile,” and he usually can be seen living that guiding principle.

When he isn’t coaching Steve tests/reviews and provides technical product feedback to sporting goods companies including pickleball brands like Ronbus, Joysent, & Speedup. Off the court Steve is likely climbing, surfing, or planning his next “Travel and Teach” pickleball adventure.

Colby Holcomb

Coach

A Pacific Northwest native, Colby has been competing in pickleball for five years and coaching for three, helping players of all levels sharpen their game and play with confidence. He has earned more than 25 tournament medals at the 4.5-5.0 level, including gold in both Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles at Seattle Metro, and has been selected to the WA Cup in each of its three years.

Drawing on his background as a college and semi-professional basketball player and his experience as a father, Colby builds every lesson around patience, encouragement, and fun. For beginners, including kids and teens, he breaks the game into simple, confidence-building steps that make it easy to celebrate small wins and develop strong fundamentals. For competitive players pursuing their next medal, he specializes in tournament play coaching and strategy, helping them sharpen their skills and stay composed under pressure. Whether it’s a first friendly game or a first tournament final, Colby meets every player where they are and helps them grow.

Away from the court, Colby enjoys the outdoors with his wife and son, coaching and playing sports together within their West Seattle community.

Hung Tran

Coach

Hung made the transition from badminton to pickleball during COVID. A friend, who didn’t care for the experience of playing badminton in a “stuffy, smelly, old, hot gym” convinced Hung and his wife to try pickleball. As a big fan of the learning process, Hung jumped in and became quickly addicted to pickleball.

In the past 3 years, Hung has coached a wide assortment of friends, family and people looking to learn, bringing more and more people into the sport he loves. With a focus on building strong foundations, Hung likes to break complex shots into simple steps so students can easily understand movements while learning more quickly. His background teaching skiing to pre-teens is likely at the core of his coaching style: patient and detailed.

Lynn Slaughter

Coach

A lifelong tennis player and USPTR certified tennis instructor, Lynn has seen the bright side and has fully made the shift to pickleball. She’s currently working on attaining her Pickleball Coaching certification and we expect that with her background, she’ll be done in no time!

Lynn has been a tennis coach at Amy Yee Tennis Center, for Edmonds Parks, at a private club in Mountlake Terrace and for the Girls’ and Boys’ tennis teams at Woodinville High School including summer camps.

A lifelong coach, before she discovered racquet sports, Lynn taught sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Her coaching style is personal and patient, and she loves teaching and watching athletes grow their skills. She constantly strives to improve both her own game and her coaching expertise.
When not on the courts, Lynn leverages her education at both UW and Seattle U in Criminal Justice with her work as a criminal defense investigator and eyewitness expert.