The power behind the pickle pals – is in the juice! The particular style and experience of old friends, siblings and a new friend, is the magic formula for the creation of an exciting and timely sports destination venue, Pickleball America.
Pickleball America arrives right on time to feed the hunger of those already addicted to the game and well prepared to introduce those curious to learn. Here’s a game for children, seniors and everyone in-between. So many great ideas never get lifted off the page, unless there is a driving force behind it. Pickleball America is driven by four dynamic friends and their ability to meet the challenges with a solid foundation of respect for what each brings to the table, openness, creativity, experience and a whole lot of humor.
The Birth of an Idea
Meet Jay Waldner, 4th Generation Family-Owned Furniture Dealer, of Waldner’s. Jay is a dreamer and a doer. He had a vision for a destination sports facility for many years. It began with baseball and hockey and last year morphed into a Pickleball paradise.
It was then that he discussed his idea with lifelong friend and collaborator, Mia Schipani.
The Breathe of an Idea
Mia Schipani wears many hats one of which is as a Broker for Houlihan Lawrence. She saw the value of Jay’s vision and began looking for available locations. Mia is also a connector, networker and enjoys meeting people and then connecting and networking some more. She’s smart, sharp, detailed and driven.
The Braun of an Idea
Enter Joe Schipani the racquet sports connoisseur and brother of Mia. Joe was a highly competitive tennis star in high school and college. He developed into an accomplished trainer creating and implementing programs for area schools, clubs and organizations. For Joe, sport is brain and body in sync. His programs inspire students to grasp the soul of a sport.
Joe joined Jay and Mia in the search for an ideal location as the project continued to evolve in scope. While networking at a real estate event, Mia met Jay Ross, with Greenwich Realty Development. Her intuition prompted a mention of the pickle project.
The Building of an Idea
Jay Ross is an experienced developer who also shares a passion for sports. His wife, a former tennis player, discovered pickleball while rehabbing from surgery. Joe was intrigued and met with Jay Waldner. You would think that the two would discuss pickleball but you’d be wrong. They discussed everything but, including Zamboni’s.
Each team member has a strong vertical strength and they tend to their bucket. They all have input. They are all wildly creative. At the end of the day, you must let people do what they do best. When asked, what was the secret to their success, a resounding response, RESPECT.
They are driven and can sometimes feel disappointed when others are unable to meet their level of intensity. With that passion, they see opportunities and potential beyond the basic business plan.
Joe lights up talking about education and teaching. Sport is the great leveler of playing fields. Confidence, teamwork and health benefits are gifts to be savored.
Mia’s focus for giving back centers on Women/Girls and Health/Wellness issues. The pickle project easily leans into the health and wellness aspect. But her vision to contribute something unique to women is the creation of Badass Women of Fairfield County. Pickleball America will feature a media broadcasting booth so stay tuned for the Badass Women podcast.
Jay Ross, the quiet giant, favors his attention on mental health issues. He and his wife, Dawn, are active with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Sports are a balm for mental health and Jay will be connecting his enthusiasm for both through Pickleball America to identify ways to give back to the community.
And Jay Waldner, the dreamer, the visionary who simply supports fun. He’s a solid idea guy but with a spark that ignites something exceptional in others. He’s the pied piper. He’s responsible, reliable and diligent. He’s also a big kid. He’s so willing to give of himself, it’s infectious. His grandfather(s) influenced him greatly in what is now a 4th generation business that started in 1939. Working with family and friends is engrained in his DNA.
Best advice from his grandfather is, “Let everybody around you be more important than yourself.”
“Let everybody around you be more important than yourself.”