Meet The Team

Executive Director

Lou has served as the Executive Director of ATANC since 2014. Lou played college tennis for Peace College and holds a degree in Recreational Administration with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation from East Carolina University. She has both PTR Adaptive Training certification and Level 1 Coach certification. In 2021, Lou received the Mary Milam Lifetime Achievement Award. She won the USTA North Carolina Educational Merit Award given by Karen and Buster Brown in 2019 and the NC Tennis Adaptive Award in 2017. Lou is a member of the NC Tennis Adaptive Committee and the Southern Tennis Adaptive Committee. In 2022, Lou was selected to serve on the USTA National Adaptive Committee. Under Lou’s leadership, ATANC has expanded to serve over 600 athletes at 30 locations across the state and hosts seven annual tennis tournaments. Abilities Tennis was named the 2019 USTA North Carolina and USTA Southern Community Tennis Association of the Year. At the 2018 US Open, Abilities Tennis was honored with the USTA's National Adaptive Tennis Community Service Award. In 2019, Lou took 25 Abilities athletes to perform a demonstration in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open before the Djokovic/Londero match. It was a highlight of Lou’s life to share that moment with our Abilities athletes.

Lou Welch

Communications Director

Nancy joined ATANC in 2022 as the Communications Director. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism, Nancy combines her passion for tennis, connecting people, and communications to amplify the voice of ATANC. Nancy’s diverse background includes managing publications for an independent school, supporting an award-winning author, and directing marketing materials for a fundraising consulting firm. After raising her two sons, Nancy returned to work at their school, St. Christopher’s in Richmond, VA, as a teacher in the middle school afterschool program. In 2021, Nancy and her husband, Durk, returned to their beloved home state of North Carolina, and she soon joined the ATANC staff. Nancy and Durk say a highlight of their week is volunteering with Abilities Tennis at the Wilmington location.

Nancy Steed

Abilities Tennis Coaches Across NC

  • Mike Cahall, Apex

  • Wayne Forrester, Asheville

  • Amy Dover, Belmont

  • Bob Cause, Brunswick County

  • Jim Parker, Brunswick County

  • Reid Kinlaw, Cary

  • Rich Green, Chapel Hill

  • Marta Gomez-Jordana, Charlotte/Mint Hill

  • Dawn Kitner, Clayton

  • Perry Chapman, Concord & Mooresville

  • Carl Laird, Durham

  • Vatrice Williams, Fayetteville

  • Chad Johnson, Fayetteville

  • Jessica Rigney, Fuquay-Varina

  • Tony Mule, Greensboro

  • Jinni Hoggard, Greensboro

  • Ron Williams, Hendersonville

  • Hani Nassar, Hickory

  • Allison Hudson, Outer Banks

  • Cindy Perry, Outer Banks

  • Steve Musgrove, Pinehurst

  • Kristen Gruber, Raleigh

  • John Richardson, Raleigh

  • Albie Brice, Rocky Mount

  • David Marquina, Wake Forest

  • Rumi Kakareka, Waynesville

  • Mark Ray, Wilmington

  • Elizabeth Tassone, Wilmington

  • Lee Underwood, Wilson

  • Greg Adkins, Wilson

  • Charles Hunsucker, Winston-Salem/Mt. Jubiliee

  • Justin Hunsucker, Winston-Salem/Mt. Jubilee

  • Kevin Kranis, Winston-Salem/Clemmons

  • David Livengood, Winston-Salem/Clemmons