The Minds and Muscle Behind Gladiator Tennis

Meet the Colosseum Crew

Meet the team dedicated to making Gladiator Tennis thrive, here to champion your tennis journey.

Chief Executive Officer

Meet J Schwan

J is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience building and scaling companies in both private and public markets. Passionate about growing the sport of tennis, he's leveraging technology to modernize the game. As CEO of Gladiator Tennis, he's focused on creating an engaging and sustainable league centered on community, affordability, and flexibility.

Founder and League Commissioner

Meet Steve Hess

Steve, founder and League Coordinator of Gladiator Tennis, turned his passion for affordable tennis into a thriving league. Post-college, he found organized tennis options too expensive, so he created Gladiator Tennis in 2007, starting with 50 men. Under his leadership, the league has grown to 2,500 players over 17 years. The key to its success is its affordability and flexible match scheduling, making it easy for players to get back in the game. Steve’s organizational skills have kept the league running smoothly, continuously attracting new players. Gladiator Tennis is a testament to his vision, dedication, and the power of grassroots initiatives.

"The beauty of tennis is that it brings people together."

Roger Federer

Chief Operating Officer

Meet Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah loves people, tech, and their intersection. He's passionate about process automation, custom solutions, and customer experiences. He's worked at global giants but thrives at Gladiator. His desk is more command center than office, and he's fine with that. Outside work, find him at his sons' sports events, sipping whiskey with friends, or at a Dave Matthews concert.

Chief Product Officer

Meet Chris Neilsen

Chris is passionate about building digital experiences that enhance people's enjoyment of outdoor activities. With a background in developing and launching successful digital products in the "Rec Tech" space, he is excited to apply his expertise to Gladiator's mission of making tennis more accessible and enjoyable for all.

"I think everyone should have the chance to play tennis."

Bllie Jean King

Engineer

Meet Daniel MulÉ

Daniel is a seasoned full-stack developer with over 10 years of experience in the technology sector. Throughout his career, he has built and optimized REST APIs, developed scalable web applications, and contributed to the full lifecycle of software development. Passionate about integrating new technologies, he focuses on secure authentication, performance optimization, and seamless user experiences. As a tech enthusiast, he is committed to building innovative and efficient digital solutions.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

Arthur Ashe

Head of Marketing

Meet Madeline Strand

Madeline is a storyteller at heart and a strategist by trade. With a background in brand marketing, digital campaigns, and community engagement, she knows how to turn ideas into action and audiences into die-hard fans. Whether she’s building global campaigns or crafting the perfect email, she’s all about making connections that matter. At Gladiator Tennis, Madeline is on a mission to grow the sport by making it more accessible, more engaging, and—most importantly—more fun. If there's a creative way to get players excited, she’ll find it.

"I just love being on the court. I love competing."

Serena Williams

customer experience designer

Meet Morgan Sweet

As a CX design strategist, Morgan is passionate about understanding user needs and creating experiences that truly connect with people. She started in visual merchandising, where she developed a love for crafting meaningful customer interactions. That passion led her to UX, where she’s spent 11 years honing strategy, design, and digital experiences. Morgan co-founded (sh)UX to help businesses create intuitive solutions and is excited to bring that expertise to Gladiator Tennis, co-creating the player experience with our players.

Customer Experience Designer

Meet Jessica Hiltrop

As one of two CX designers for Gladiator Tennis, Jessica thrives on tackling new user experience challenges and creating solutions that truly serve players. As one of the founders of (sh)UX, a user experience agency, Jessica has honed expertise in strategy, design, and delivering seamless interactions. That same level of passion and precision is brought to Gladiator Tennis, ensuring every player's journey is as engaging as their time on the court. More about Jessica's professional experience can be found at shux-studio.com.

"I’m not afraid of anyone, but sometimes I’m afraid of myself."

Justine Henin

Market Analyst

Meet Lynsy Dimarco

Lynsy Dimarco is a recent graduate of Missouri State University, where she earned her degree in Marketing and Professional Sales. Passionate about connecting with others, Lynsy thrives on meeting new people and building lasting relationships. As a Market Analyst, she will be responsible for all market research projects and community outreach.