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Meet Bryan Shepherd

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Shepherd.

Bryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born the son of a sharecropper… JUST KIDDING!!!!!

Let’s see… 4th of five children… oldest 74, youngest 57, ages 74, 71, 69, 60, me 57.

Two separate sets of kids two totally different upbringings.

They traveled and grew up MILITARY Oldest brother attended 6 different HIGH SCHOOLS.

Dad was advancing in the RANKS rapidly for an AFRICAN AMERICAN and then HE WASN’T.

Youngest and I were at the tail end of the travel and the beginning of a new NORMAL.

I was fairly athletic… playground legend of sorts but for basketball and football… NEVER TENNIS…

Introduced to the sport in MIDDLE Jr. High School… remember metal racquets and fences for nets and WHITE tennis balls.

BUSSED to integrate PUBLIC SCHOOLS in NORFOLK and dealt with all that entailed.

Had SKIN COLOR compared to a BURNT COOKIE by a teacher NO LESS in front of the classroom but I digress.

Took and scored favorably on a national standardized ENGINEERING test and was shipped off to HIGH SCHOOL for 9th grade to get the requisite MATH CLASSES.

Applied AND accepted to DUKE UNIVERSITY at a time when they sought after the BEST and THE BRIGHTEST to aid in their integration efforts.

A WONDER FILLED experience led to an INTERNSHIP after Sophomore year and me leaving HOME before the PARENTS were ready!!!

21 years in Information Technology at IBM, Worldspan now TRAVELPORT, Norfolk Southern and finally SunTrust.

While there a REDUCTION in FORCE gave me access to my newly developed passion, teaching TENNIS!!

I arrived at WASHINGTON PARK tennis center WIDE EYED and APPREHENSIVE.
So much history beyond those doors… I started on a Men’s team which led to a MIXED DOUBLES team which led to my first coaching opportunity. My teammates wanted to learn to play LIKE ME !!!!

Thanks, John LeBar at Duke and Femi David Yerumo in DURHAM for the excellent instruction and the drills that soon became the foundation for what would lie ahead!!!

Upon realizing I could be PAID to PLAY a GAME, certification became the next goal…

USPTR, now just PTR, offered minority participation workshops in an effort to attract more minorities into the business.

Jerome Coxton William Fulton Arthur Little Rick Davison Turhan Berne Bhola Olagbegi just to name a few locals were all instrumental in my personal development as the journey began

The late Norman Wilkerson had an academy at SUGAR CREEK Golf and TENNIS and the sage advice he offered firmly cemented the foundation. We would casually discuss EVERYTHING from the academy to running the tennis center to dress codes and interpersonal relationships and assisting others that spawned Bryan’s Racquet!!!

The moniker is a PLAY on WORDS but speaks volumes to the goods and services offered.

From INSTRUCTION to EQUIPMENT to THEMED parties to FACILITY MANAGEMENT, I have taken a little from each of my PAST LIVES and created a one-stop TENNIS SHOP!!!!

My PTR affiliation has led to a PARTNERSHIP with HEAD/PENN tennis and access to their product line as a member of their advisory staff!!!

Past Board of Directors member for the ATLANTA LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION ALTA with over 20 years of volunteer service!!! I am now a LIFETIME member!!!

Additionally, I have frequently offered lessons and equipment to fundraising activities with BEYOND THE RIBBON, Northside Hospital Tennis against Breast CANCER, SPECIAL OLYMPICS, Primrose School at FIVE FORKS to name a few!!!

My motto oncourt… learning and having FUN are not mutually exclusive!!!

We get by GIVING!!!

COME GET SOME!!!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path to success…

The one commodity most precious is time…

I regret I did not integrate MORE TIME with MINE as I made this happen!!!

I may have made them dislike TENNIS because working full time and developing this PART TIME often meant there was precious little QUALITY TIME!!!

BALANCE came but perhaps a little late…

IN LIFE, no do-overs, only do betters…

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
WE PLAY GAMES TO HAVE FUN!!!!

Created Bryan’s RACQUET to put the FUN back into tennis for so many who had found the traditional approach a grind!!!

Started with primary teams of businesswomen, who had all day been subjected to all that that entails…

Wanted a more relaxed refreshing environment where the worries of the day can be released in a positive way, thrashing a ball about and laughing at our mistakes!!!

It’s NON-STOP chatter, as I instruct, cajole, and inspire the clients to JUST BE!!!!

I learned that with adult learners, the best approach is to TAKE what you offer and ENHANCE.

I get to BUILD PROBLEM SOLVE and enjoy the LIGHT BULB POPPING when they GET IT!!

Additionally we right size racquets and recommend other equipment to make it all BETTER.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I love reading.
Finding practical applications where art imitates life!!!

After all, IT’S A GAME!!!

NOT WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOSE.

HOW YOU PLAY!!!

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9

Pricing:

  • Group sessions 12 bucks
  • Half hour sessions 25 bucks
  • Hour sessions 50 bucks
  • Team coaching 75 bucks/hr
  • Make me an offer !!!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Courtesy Chris Finnicum

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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