Meet the Captains
COO & Dink Daddy
Jon Lester
As an operations and logistics coordinator, Jon has built and restructured both small and large-scale companies. He is a founding member of NUP, helping the company get it's sh*t together in its early days of chaos. Whether on the courts, in the office, or at the bar, Jon does everything with passion.
Super Saver
Jessica Holtzman
Jessica is our resident savings-finder and event planner. She's the Indiana Jones of New Orleans’ vibrant social scene: going to the deepest pits of the internet and across her web of connections to build NUP’s presence in the community. Jessica easily builds our community engagement events even on a shoestring budget, always with NUP’s mission in mind.
Pickle Princess
Dani Levie
Dani grew up playing tennis, which makes her a cocky pickleball player with a serve that will rock your world. For NUP, she contributes as an event planner and tournament and league organizer. Off the courts, you can find Dani reading, knitting, baking, or enjoying a PSL. Professionally, she has been an educator and is starting a career in the legal field. Your grandma would love her.
King of the Court
Nick Savino
Nick is a full time nerd with a part time pickleball obsession. For NUP, he contributes to our on-the-court programming, such as tournaments and leagues, as well as our behind-the-scenes operations. As a physics PhD student, he spends most of his time studying quantum physics in a laser lab (we haven't determined if his intent is good or evil yet). Nick works hard everyday to provide for his house plants.
Alum Captain
Mary Rose Walker
Mary Rose is a professional brand strategist, project manager, and community builder. As the glue that holds NUP together (and by far the most skilled player–sorry Bryson), she can be found teaching newbies, designing our merchandise, or remembering each member's name. Without her, this whole thing would fall apart...and she likes to remind everyone regularly.
Alum Captain
Bryson Blue
Bryson defies gravity on and off the court. As a member of the cruelty-free, Ringling Brothers, and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Bryson knows a thing or two about entertaining a crowd. His gentle approach to teaching athleticism has turned the Pickleball world on its head, LITERALLY, by bringing many members of his acrobatics team to the sport of pickleball.
Alum Captain
Brian Jarreau
Brian is a founding NUP Captain and an award-winning wedding, portrait, and commercial photographer. His images helped put NUP on the map in its early days. Although he now lives in New Zealand, he supports us from afar by editing video for our social media channels and sending pictures from the beach that make us very jealous.