Staff
Rome Tennis Center: 706.236.4490
COLT GASTON
General Manager
Colt is from Rome, Georgia. He played tennis at Rome High School before playing collegiately at Louisiana State University where he was an All-American and SEC-Indoor Doubles Champion for the Tigers. After graduating from LSU, Colt went on to play professionally where we ranked among the top 500 ATP. Colt has been working with juniors for over 15 years and has an expertise in player development. He has worked with 2 top 100 players ATP/WTA and helped over 30 kids obtain college scholarships. Colt is joining us from the University of Missouri where he was the Head Women’s Tennis Coach for the past 4 years and also helped the Tigers obtain their highest ranking in program history. Colt also helped oversee the Mizzou Tennis Complex that has over 400 members.
PENNY CLAVIJO
Pro Shop Manager
Penny and her husband moved to Rome, Georgia in 2021. Being active members of ALTA and USTA for many years, they were seeking a venue to continue playing tennis and meet people in Rome. Embracing the sense of community and welcoming spirit of our members during their tennis and pickleball play, Penny decided to join our Front Desk Team as an associate. She has worked at both the Rome Tennis Center and the Downtown Racquets Center, where she embraced the positive, close-knit community as she supported the growth of our pickleball program.
Penny is a retired school principal and completed thirty-plus successful years with Gwinnett County Public Schools prior to moving to Rome. She enjoys spending time with her family, being “Gigi”, walking/hiking, cycling, racquet sports, yoga, and reading. She has a continued desire to grow professionally, be involved and serve in her community, and support and mentor children. Her leadership skills, professionalism, positivity, and operational management skills support our values to be kind, energetic, meticulous, attentive, and focused on meaningful growth. We are happy to have her in this new role!
JIM RICHARDS
Head Tennis and Pickleball Professional
Jim Richards grew up in Oxford, England and was a top county junior before playing college tennis for the University College of Wales. Since coming to America Jim has directed tennis programs at Resorts, Regional Tennis Centers, and Country Clubs in Florida, Texas, and Georgia. In Florida Jim founded a tennis academy that produced several #1 state players along with national and ranked ITF juniors. He has also done short-term project work for professional players. Jim is a USPTA certified P1 Elite Professional, a GPTA Board Member, USPTA & GPTA speaker and has been awarded GPTA Pro of the year. He is also an article contributor for Florida Tennis, Net News, USPTA Standard, USPTA ADDvantage Magazine, and a contributing Editor for Serve It Up magazine.
CALEB MCCURRY
Lead Coach of Junior Development
RYLAN PICKENS
Collegiate Tennis Instructor
ETHAN ELLISON
Collegiate Tennis Instructor
Ethan Ellison graduated from Model High School in 2024. He will be a freshman at Berry College and will play for the Berry College men’s team in the fall of 2024. Ethan helps teach our middle school and high school prep classes along with our middle school and high school tennis camps.
STEPHEN DRAKE
Pickleball Teaching Professional
Stephen began playing pickleball in 2020 and had an instant connection with the sport. Since then, he has dedicated much of his free time to learning the techniques and tactics of pickleball in order to be competitive with a wide slate of ages and skill levels. Stephen also serves as USA Pickleball Atlantic South East Region’s ambassador.
CLUBHOUSE STAFF
JOVITA DAVE
Front Desk Lead
Jovita Dave is the Front Desk Lead at Rome Tennis Center where she oversees day-to-day front operations and ensures a smooth, welcoming experience for members and guests. She supports a wide range of services, including reservations, camps, memberships, and events, while helping maintain a clean and organized clubhouse environment. With a background in direct sales leadership, she has led high-performing teams and developed strong skills in customer service, team management, and communication. A former college athlete, she served as team captain for the throwers and earned multiple All-Conference honors. She currently holds top 3 all-time in program history at her university and is recognized for her dedication both on and off the field.
Jovita holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a Master’s in Health Administration and Management, combining her passion for people and performance in every role she takes on.
Outside of work, she enjoys mentoring young athletes and entrepreneurs, staying active, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
EDDIE BETHUNE
Maintenance Director
KYLE WILLIAMS
Front Desk Attendant
EMILY ALVARDO
Front Desk Attendant
DEBRA AULT-BUTENKO
Front Desk Attendant