OWNER | CEO
AMY PAZAHANICK, PTR, PPR & PPTR
Amy is the CEO of Agape Tennis Academy, which manages public tennis centers in Fountain Valley, California, Oxnard, California, and Atlanta, Georgia. The organization provides programming to over 15,000 tennis and pickleball players annually. She currently manages a staff of over 125 tennis and pickleball coaches, administrative professionals, and business managers. Agape’s management style, processes, and systemized to approach allows the organization to continue to scale.
Amy is certified by the USTA in Sports Science and High-Performance Player Development. She is certified in Tennis by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), Pickleball by the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR), and platform tennis by the Professional Platform Tennis Registry (PPTR).
Amy is a coach, author, change expert and serial entrepreneur. Her personal and professional transformation systems show us how to infuse entrepreneurship with purpose, passion, and perseverance to create businesses that are bigger than the bottom line and positively impact communities.
Most recently in California, Agape and Amy were recognized by the United States Congress, the California Legislature Assembly, and the County of Orange as one of Fountain Valley’s finest leaders, in recognition of her small business’ contributions to the U.S. economy. Most recently in Georgia in 2020 and 2021, Agape Tennis Academy received the Best of Decatur Award. This award is given to local companies in different categories that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
In 2019, Amy was honored as the PTR Georgia Member of the Year and Tennis Media Group named Agape Tennis Academy Organization of the Year. Agape Tennis Academy was selected as the GPTA’s (Georgia Professional Tennis Association) Program of the Year in 2018. In 2017, Amy was voted Tennis Director of the Year and Agape Tennis Academy was named 10 and Under Program of the Year by the GPTA. In 2016, Agape Tennis Academy was voted Community Outreach Program of the Year by the GPTA.
Amy currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and in San Clemente, California with her two cats Zuki and Paix. She enjoys traveling, reading, business, living life to the fullest, all things outdoors, tennis, pickleball, golf, hiking, biking, surfing, and being in the ocean.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
ANNIE FREEMAN
Annie Freeman brings an interesting decades-old mix of tennis experience and hospitality to her role as Chief Operating Officer for Agape Tennis Academy. She started playing tennis at the age of seven and has continued playing ever since. Annie was the captain of her Marist School team that won the National Championship for Tennis.
After studying engineering at Marquette University, for more than 25 years she combined her work as a popular sports bar employee with managing, merchandising and systems for Serious Tennis and Berkeley Hills Country Club. In addition to her challenging work with the expanding Agape Tennis Academy, Annie and her husband also help homeowners clear their houses of clutter and organize estate sales. They now live in Duluth with their daughter, Maddux, and fur baby, Lilly.
Director of Business DEVELOPMENT
LAUREN PAZAHANICK
Lauren Pazahanick grew up just outside of Atlanta and spent the majority of her time playing soccer for the club team, State team, and Olympic Development team. She went on to compete at the Division 1 level for the Samford Bulldogs in Birmingham and was nationally ranked. She also enjoyed volunteer coaching for a kids’ soccer program in the city, and at camps in Ukraine during the summers. She followed her passion to serve and moved to Kenya for 3 years after college to work for a non-profit organization. She coordinated youth centered conferences and seminars, organized the organization’s short-term mission trips to Kenya, and managed the budgets. While in Kenya, she acquired her Masters in Leadership Development and Non-Profit Management.
In returning to the States, she decided to pursue her love for fitness and coaching. She became a trainer and Branch Manager at two locations for Iron Tribe Fitness in Atlanta. Lauren is very extroverted and was able to exercise her interpersonal skills in the gym and use her passion for excel spreadsheets and program development.
Her competitive spirit led her to pick up the incredible sport of tennis. She spent some time coaching strength and conditioning for young tennis athletes. She loves the sport and its ability to reach so many lives, of all ages, in every community.
Lauren resides in the heart of Atlanta with her wife, Amy, daughter, Graham, and their two cats Zuki and Paix. She loves to travel, surf, hike, dance and explore.
Human Resources & Training and Development Director
GINA WOODS
Gina Woods stands as a beacon of leadership with over thirty years of experience in steering teams towards excellence. She is goal-oriented and motivated with exceptional experience in all management facets, including streamlining daily operational activities, personal and professional development, coaching, on-boarding, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.
Gina’s journey is marked by a steadfast commitment to quality and an unwavering dedication to the personal and professional development of her staff. Her expertise in conducting interviews, onboarding and performance evaluations is unparalleled, bringing to the table a depth of knowledge that only years of experience can provide. Crafting comprehensive training programs that welcome new talent and nurture their growth through a continuous learning initiative that is not just a program but a promise to each team member that their development is paramount.
The flagship of Gina’s belief structure are the Agape Core Values and Beliefs, where her goal is to cultivate a culture where these are lived daily, setting a standard that goes beyond the aspirational to become the norm.
DIRECTOR OF BRANDING
NATHA PASHA
With a camera in one hand and a strategy in the other, Pasha brings a creative edge and community-driven heart to Agape Tennis Academy. She is a seasoned content creator, visual storyteller, and social media pro with a sharp eye for authenticity and impact. As the twin sister of pro tennis player Nathan Pasha, she’s no stranger to the court and brings that same energy to building a brand that rallies players, families, and fans alike.
DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE
CHRIS FREEMAN
Chris Freeman was born and raised in Norcross, Georgia. Growing up, he played soccer and swam competitively year round. He graduated from Norcross High School, where he played baseball and football. He studied political science at Georgia Southern University and Georgia State. He had his own landscaping company for many years called Green Monster Landscaping, but he is a jack of all trades. His favorite hobby by far is listening to music. His vast knowledge of songs and artists and his uncanny ability to remember lyrics from almost every song he hears are astounding. He has traveled around the southeast following his favorite band, Pearl Jam. He enjoys just about every sport there is, but his favorite would be baseball. He has been married to Annie Freeman for almost 19 years and has a 16-year-old daughter named Maddux (who was named after former Braves pitcher). Chris brings his knowledge of landscape, maintenance, and attention to detail to Agape, as Director of Maintenance for all Georgia locations and office assistant at two locations.
DIRECTOR OF DAILY OPERATIONS
CECILIA BADILO
Cecilia Badillo, born and raised in Argentina, made Atlanta her home just 4.5 years ago. Professionally, she began her journey as a registered dietitian before transitioning into the corporate world. She has years of experience in business management and customer service.
Cecilia’s connection to the tennis world runs deep through her youngest son’s passion for the sport. This familiarity offers her unique insights into the dynamics of the tennis community and is how she came to know Agape.
Despite her busy schedule, Cecilia finds balance in family life with her three children: Milu, Lucas, and Juan, alongside her supportive husband, Gustavo, and their adorable mini Maltese, Mei.
Cecilia is also an avid volleyball player. Her love for the sport began at the age of 9, continued through college, and now she shares the court with her daughter, keeping the passion alive across generations.