meet the team
BETH BELLAMY
Beth Herr Bellamy is a Co-Founder of NPL and a former professional tennis player from Dayton, Ohio who competed for a decade on the WTA Tour, reaching a career-high ranking of #23 in the world. Beth played all of the Grand Slams multiple times and won six professional titles during her career. Beth began playing professional pickleball in 2021 and has ascended to World Number 1 in all three senior women’s ranking divisions: singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Of 58 medals total, she won 43 gold medals in the 25 tournaments played. She currently lives in Bell Canyon, CA, and plays pickleball at the Champion Pro level for the OKC Punishers.
MICHAEL CHEN
Michael Chen is a Co-Founder of NPL and also the General Partner and CEO of Chen & Associates. From 2011-2012, he was the President of NBC News' Strategic Initiatives Group and served on the Board of Directors for The Weather Channel. Prior to joining NBC News, Michael was a GE Officer and President & CEO of GE Capital's Media, Communications, and Entertainment business from 2006–2010. He currently plays Pickleball at the Champions Pro level for the Boca Raton Picklers while residing in New Canaan, CT.
RICK WITSKEN
Rick Witsken is a Co-Founder of NPL and proud founder and owner of Team Witsken in the Indianapolis area, running tennis/pickleball programming for the past 20 years. A University of Alabama alum, he was a two-time All-American and reached the No. 1 doubles ranking in the country in addition to being a world-ranked ATP player in both singles and doubles. He began his post-playing career working with his brother Todd Witsken, at the Indianapolis Tennis Center, serving as tennis director and coach of the IUPUI men’s tennis teams. In 2022 he ascended to the #1 ranked men’s Champions pro player on the APP Tour. He currently lives in Zionsville, IN, and plays pickleball at the Champion Pro level for the Indy Drivers.