The USTA Southern California Section is proud to announce that two staff members were honored this month by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) for their outstanding service and accomplishments. Recipients were Cari Buck, who was recognized as Southern California Professional of the Year, and District 2 (San Fernando Valley) Pro of the Year Kevin Finkelberg.

A USPTA certified pro for more than twenty years, Cari Buck is the current Director of Marketing and Communications at USTA Southern California. She is also the presiding USPTA National Board Vice President and former Board President for the USPTA Southern California Division.

The USPTA Southern California Professional of the Year recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions.

Kevin Finkelberg has been a USPTA member since 2016 and staff member with USTA since 2015. With the TGA Premier Tennis organization, Kevin coaches 10-and-under players while managing more than 35 schools and over 20 coaches through TGA’s after school programming. He also mentored five TGA coaches as they earned USPTA certifications.

District Pro of the Year awards recognize outstanding achievement from pros in each of the six Southern California districts.

Other award recipients honored by the USPTA were: Pro of the Year in District 1 Tracie Currie, Julio Rivera (District 3), Ken Shoji (District 4), Joe Abrams (District 5), Mitch Bridge (District 6), Simon Paek (Diversity Award), LeGeorge Mauldin (STARS), and Robin Shelton (Manager of the Year, SeaCliff Country Club). Steve Johnson, Sr. was remembered with the Pete Brown Memorial/Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards banquet was held in Huntington Beach on May 5. To learn more about the USPTA, visit www.uspta.com.