OUR BOARD: Executive

MEL PHILLIPS, JR., M.S.W.
(Founder and President)

Mel Phillips, Jr., founded West Suburban Tennis Patrons, Inc. in 1990. Mel attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, becoming a York H.S. Sectional Finalist and IHSA State Singles Qualifier. After graduation, he went to Howard University and Chicago St. University on tennis scholarships. Mel became a NAIA District 20 Doubles Champion and National Tournament Qualifier while at Chicago St. and graduated with B.A. from the university. Then, he earned Professional Tennis Registry and United States Professional Tennis Association certifications.

Mel is formerly the director of tennis at Schaumburg Park District (Schaumburg Tennis Plus) Clock Tower Racquet Club as well as a former head pro at Rockford Boylan Tennis Center and Oak Park Tennis Center. He has served the United States Tennis Association (USTA) as a national committee member (NJTL), schools program clinician, community development trainer, speaker or panelist at regional and national workshops and conventions. In 1997, USA Weekend Magazine designated Mel as one of the “Top 10 Most Caring Coaches”. He was featured in the "Someone You Should Know" report on WLS Channel 7. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from Chicago State University in 2009. Mel grew up in Maywood and now resides in Broadview.

MARY JO SCHULER, Ph. D.
(Vice President)

Mary Jo Schuler has been an avid tennis player and fan for about 18 years. Tennis lessons with Mel and a desire to inspire youth led her to include WSTP in her philanthropic work.

Mary Jo grew up in Oak Park and graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School. Then, she earned a B.A. in Psychology at Kent State University as a Division I Scholarship Athlete. She went on to receive a M.S. in Education (College Student Personnel) from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Education (Higher Education Administration) from Saint Louis University.

Mary Jo has made her mark in helping local communities by holding several key positions at Triton College, including Dean of Students. Also, she founded Final Finish Properties, Inc. in 2005 and became co-founder of the Good Heart, Work Smart Foundation in 2006. She's been involved in several building expansion projects, such as her Oak Park home, which has been designated as a historical landmark, and the Marion St. Cheese Market in Oak Park. Currently, Mary Jo is a committee member for Aspire Children’s Services' Annual Black Tie Benefit. Also, she serves on the board of directors for the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation. She received the 2006 "Volunteer of the Year" award at the Chicago Tennis Patrons' "Evening of Champions" ceremony.

RELJA POPOVIC, Ph.D.
(Treasurer)

Relja Popovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia. He came to the United States at the age of 17 to complete high school and was offered a tennis scholarship to Jefferson College in Missouri. He earned his Associates of Arts degree from Jefferson College and was an All-American in tennis in 1998. That same year, Relja received the ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award. Relja moved on to Cameron University, again on a tennis scholarship, where he received his Bachelors of Science in 2001. Relja entered the doctoral program at the Loyola University Chicago in the fall of 2001, from which he graduated with a Ph.D. in molecular biology. Currently, Relja performes biomedical research at the Northwestern University in Chicago. He lives in La Grange Park with his wife Jennie and son Luka.

ANN CHEN
(Secretary)

Ann Chen is a lifelong tennis player and fan as well as a former WSTP volunteer instructor. She is currently senior counsel for trademarks at the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. She was previously a litigation associate at the Chicago law firms of Kirkland & Ellis and Goldberg Kohn, where she specialized in intellectual property, employment and labor, and general commercial litigation. Ann grew up in Palatine, Illinois, and currently lives in Chicago. She graduated from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, where she was co-captain of the girls' varsity tennis team. Then, she went to Yale University and earned a B.A. in political science while playing intramural tennis. She went on to receive a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. In her spare time, Ann enjoys improving her tennis game and traveling.

KESHA GREEN, M.B.A.
(Communications Director)

Kesha Green learned how to play tennis through WSTP, starting in 1990. A year later, she was one of 32 nationally-selected students to attend a week-long USTA/NJTL tennis camp at Indiana University in Bloomington. Under the constant tutelage of Mel Phillips, Sonny Kierulf, and Pete Kierulf, she became the #1 singles and doubles player on the Proviso East Tennis Team.

Kesha graduated from Proviso East ranked third in her class and received a four-year Aileen S. Andrews scholarship for college. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as a student in the honors program, receiving a B.S. degree in News/Editorial Journalism. Then, she was accepted to UIUC's joint-degree graduate school program, from which she received a M.S. degree in News/Editorial Journalism and a M.B.A. degree in Print and Media Management. During her time at UIUC, Kesha was the general manager for WBML 89.3 CABLE FM, a student-run urban-contemporary radio station/workshop. She was a promotions intern at WVAZ 102.7 FM (V-103) Chicago, online editor intern at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, writer and webmaster for the UIUC MBA's Sixth Street Journal, equities reporter for Reuters News (Global Wire Service, Chicago), and writer for the UIUC News Bureau. Also, she has worked for two professors as a researcher and freelanced for Chicago Parent Magazine.

Currently, Kesha is the webmaster/editorial assistant for the Active Trader Magazine Group and vice-president of Common Roots Initiative. As WSTP Communications Director, she has created the web site, co-designed the newsletter with her sister Yolanda, written press releases, and developed other marketing materials.