After supporting the personal development of thousands of Miami Kids for over 40 years we are still alive and well. Today, First Serve Miami is making a difference in lives of Miami’s inner city and financially challenged kids from 5 to 18 years old.
First Serve Miami’s Adopt-A-Player, and Community Partners Programs are currently reaching over 400 participants per month at our signature locations. We operate successfully out of Ashe-Buchholz Tennis Center at Moore Park, Bryan Park, and MDCPS schools, but also utilize other venues and parks to teach our kids tennis and lifelong skills.
However, our efforts would not happen without the dedication of a quality staff, support of our board, and contributions from so many organizations and individuals, such as The Garner Foundation, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Kirk Landon Foundation, Biscayne Tennis Inc., The Heat Foundation, Papa Johns, Herman Abbott Family Foundation, USTA Florida, Saiontz-Miller Family Foundation, The Batchelor Foundation, IMG/Miami Open, and individuals like Mary Joe Fernandez, Venus and Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Cliff Drysdale, Nick Bollettieri, Ray Lewis, Jon Beason pledge their time and/or financial support to us. And because of the abovementioned sponsors and others First Serve Miami continues to make a differences in the lives of our kids.
We sincerely thank everyone who supports us. Without you there would be no First Serve Miami. As we move ahead we will continue to use our five (5) core values of caring, learning, servicing, accepting, and having fun to bridge the learning gap that so many young people experience we are focused and driven to have our kids achieve success one by one.
REMEMBER BUILDING TODAY’S YOUTH TO BECOME FUTURE CHAMPIONS IN EDUCATION, ATHLETICS, WORK & LIFE
– James A. Champion, Chairman of the Board
James A. Champion is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Champion Services Group, Inc. (CSG), a Human Resources and Management Consulting Firm. Mr. Champion is an “out of the box” forward-thinking Executive professional with more than forty years of hands-on experience in Human Resources, Employee Relations, Organization Development and Strategic Management processes. He received a B.S. Degree in Education from Alabama A&M University. Mr. Champion also earned a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Miami, and has also completed an advanced Master’s level curriculum in Labor Relations at Rutgers University. Mr. Champion is certified by the American Management Association (AMA) in the training of adults. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Civil and Family Mediator, Qualified Arbitrator.
Prior to establishing CSG, Mr. Champion held executive Human Resources positions at Ryder System, Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., United States Department of Labor and Chase Manhattan Bank. Demonstrating a solid professional and personal track record with these organizations, Mr. Champion developed, established and maintained many corporate programs and initiatives, such as Leadership Skills Development; Compensation and Benefits; Performance Management; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Effective Communication; Teambuilding; Change Management; Conflict Resolution; Organization Development; and Strategic Planning Processes to their natural conclusion.
Mr. Champion is a community leader. First Serve Miami, a Not-for-Profit organization designed to help youth from undeserved communities achieve life success through tennis and education. He is also a board member of Jackson Health Foundation and First Serve Miami, Inc. He is also involved with Society for Human Resources Management, Association of Affirmative Action Professionals, Black Chamber of Commerce, and Equal Employment Advisory Council.
Although today he may be considered a successful African-American corporate executive, that was not always the case. Growing up in Harlem, New York in the late fifties in a poor family environment, he and his siblings became wards of New York State. They were put in a home for children and cared for by professional administrators, teachers, and counselors. During the five (5) years he spent at Hillcrest Center for Children, Mr. Edward Washington served as one of James’ counselors. Mr. Washington was James’ mentor, advisor and surrogate father who made a significant impact in his life. Mr. Washington gave James hope, confidence and most importantly, the love he needed. Mr. Washington’s guidance and support helped James to be the man he is today. So, thank you Mr. Washington, for taking me under your wing, which has allowed me to fly and soar to success!
Alicia R. Carter, MD is a board-certified sports medicine, board-certified physiatrist (physical medicine), and an interventional spine doctor & regenerative medicine specialist. She has long been a Top Doctor and a highly regarded clinical sports medicine specialist. Her areas of interest include back and spine pain, muscle, and joint injections, PRP, and cell-based therapies.
Bruce Koniver is a well-respected veteran who has an outstanding record in securing and negotiating leases for some of the country’s leading retailers. He was with Saks Fifth Avenue for 14 years in senior management positions in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Palm Springs and Washington, DC. Bruce’s dynamic and positive philosophy has earned him a solid reputation in the retail/real estate community.
J.C. Campuzano is a Director and Senior Private Banker for Citi Private Bank based in the Miami, Florida office. His responsibilities include serving as the primary point of contact to ultra-high net worth and institutional clients.
Ricky Warman owns and operates 32 Papa John’s stores in Miami. He started buying stores in 2003 after he sold his two Schlotzsky’s Deli restaurants. He is the president of the Papa John’s advertising co-op in South Florida and manages a $2.5 million annual advertising budget.
John Uribe, M.D., is a dual Board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida.
Edward Rubinoff, the firm’s managing partner, was born in Brooklyn and moved to Miami Beach at age 10. He captained the Miami Beach High School tennis team, and after winning the National Scholastic singles and doubles titles in 1952, he received a full scholarship to the University of Miami.
University of Miami alumnus (BBA), Married to Jeanne, sons Alec and James. Tennis enthusiast, RPTC
BOD and member for 33 years
Tracy M.J. Colden assumed the role of Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Playa Hotels & Resorts in January, 2020 and has more than three decades of experience in the hospitality and lodging industry.
Robert is a current member and past Chairman of the Entrepreneur Board at the Herbert Business School at the University of Miami (2015 to Present).
Larry has over 40 years international sales, marketing and general management experience covering six continents working for companies like General Mills, Nabisco, Tefal (Groupe SEB), Baptist Health South Florida and CCA Industries. Larry has lived in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina and the US.
Corinne and her husband became members of Royal Palm Tennis Club in 2008, when her husband returned to playing tennis after a 15-year break, and Corinne began her own tennis journey. She graduated from the University of Miami in 1993 with a BBA in Marketing & Management, followed by an MBA with a certificate in Health Care Administration in 1994. In 1997, Corinne earned her Juris Doctorate.
Prior to coaching Eric Hechtman grew up in Miami, FL where he was a top ranked junior. He was #1 in the State of Florida in the B18s and achieved a ranking of #2 in the country in the Boys 16s.
First Serve Miami is a 501c3 not-for-profit, charitable organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. FSM does not employ a professional solicitor. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 800.435.7352 within the State. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State, Registration #0295*
Prior to coaching Eric Hechtman grew up in Miami, FL where he was a top ranked junior. He was #1 in the State of Florida in the B18s and achieved a ranking of #2 in the country in the Boys 16s. He stayed local and played at the University of Miami where captained the team for 3 out of 4 seasons and is still currently the all-time leader in wins.
Eric moved on to coaching after college. He has been the Director of Tennis at Royal Palm Tennis Club in Miami, FL and has coached numerous juniors to the elite levels of College Tennis, while also still playing some himself and achieving the #1 ranking in the Men’s Open. He also won numerous accolades such as: USPTA coach of the year and is currently a WTA PTR Tour certified coach.
In 2019 Eric started coaching Venus Williams. During his tenure with her he coached and major tournaments such as: The US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open, French Open, Indian Wells, Miami, The Italian Open, Madrid Open, China Open, and many more professional events.
In 2022 Eric coach Serena Williams and Venus Williams. This year was Serena’s last professional year and was a very memorable US Open event.
In 2023 Eric Coached Venus Williams to start the year down under. Then he coached Genie Bouchard for 5 months as the two had some good success during clay season. During the US Open he started to coach Peyton Stearns who is an upcoming American that won the NCAA Championships in Singles and Doubles. During the US Open Peyton had a strong run into the Round of 16. He led her to her career high of #43.
In 2024 Eric coached Peyton Stearns and Robin Montgomery, he lead Robin to a career high of #105. He also won USPTA touring coach of the year.
Bruce Koniver is a well-respected veteran who has an outstanding record in securing and negotiating leases for some of the country’s leading retailers. He was with Saks Fifth Avenue for 14 years in senior management positions in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Palm Springs and Washington, DC. Bruce’s dynamic and positive philosophy has earned him a solid reputation in the retail/real estate community.
Bruce has exclusively represented several prominent retailers on an exclusive basis nationally and regionally including Montblanc, Alfred Dunhill, Louis Vuitton, Pucci, Willliams-Sonoma brands, Wolford, Harmont & Blaine and Tesla. He currently represents Allbirds, Adidas, Shake Shack, Rivian, Lyft, Sportsaction, Rosenbaum Gallery, Chevre Miami, SportClips, 511 Tactical, and Heyday.
He has been responsible for leasing 4.5 million square feet of space representing large developers nationally, some of the centers include Old Hyde Park Village, Avenue East Cobb, Forum on Peachtree Parkway, Avalon, Forum at Carlsbad, Sunnyvale Town Center, World Golf Village and The Avenue at Palos Verdes. He is actively leasing Fenton, a mixed-use project in Cary, NC owned by Hines.
Bruce continues to be a moderator, panelist at numerous industry events and is a First Serve Miami board member. His biggest passions in life are his family, tennis, being a wine enthusiast, and European / muscle cars.
JC is an avid tennis player and fan. He is a former CPA with over 30 years of investment experience and deep roots in the South Florida community, including being a former Board member of the United Way of Miami-Dade. JC is the founder and principal of Wisdom Capital, LLC, a firm advising ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices and institutions.
Prior to that, JC was a Director and Senior Private Banker at Citi Private Bank. He was also a Managing Director at Northern Trust, where he formed the Foundation & Endowment team for the Southeast region. He later led the international group catering primarily to Latin American clients and spearheaded the Global Family Office Group’s entry into South Florida and Latin America. JC has been a portfolio manager and also held senior positions at Invesco, UBS and a Miami based private equity firm.
JC earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his undergraduate degree in Accounting, with honors from the University of Miami.
Ricky Warman is an accomplished restaurateur with over 26 years of expertise in the restaurant franchising industry. Known for his keen business acumen and commitment to operational excellence, Ricky has successfully built and managed a diverse portfolio of franchise establishments, positioning himself as a leader in the competitive food service sector.
Ricky owns and operates 93 Papa John’s Pizza locations, offering high-quality, fresh ingredients and exceptional customer service. His portfolio also includes 16 Panera Bread cafes, where he brings to life the concept of “food as it should be” through artisan breads, clean ingredients, and warm, welcoming environments. Expanding into fast-growing and bold dining concepts, Ricky owns a Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise, delivering crave-worthy Nashville-style hot chicken. Additionally, he owns and operates four Twin Peaks lodges, providing a sports-bar-meets-mountain-lodge experience with scratch-made food and an energetic atmosphere.
Beyond his professional achievements, Ricky has a deep passion for tennis, which he enjoys as a way to stay active and unwind. Most importantly, Ricky has been happily married for 34 years and finds joy in spending time with his accomplished twin daughters, their husbands, and his cherished new granddaughter. Family is at the heart of his life, providing constant inspiration and fulfillment.
Ricky’s extensive experience, hands-on leadership, and passion for hospitality, combined with his love for family and personal pursuits, make him a dynamic and well-rounded leader in the franchising world.
John Uribe, M.D., is a dual Board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery and minimally invasive surgical procedures for degenerative conditions of the knee, shoulder and elbow.
Dr. Uribe is the team physician for the Florida Panthers hockey team and the Miami Dolphins football team. He is chairman of the department of orthopedics for Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and is a founding member of the UHZ Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Uribe was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and served as chief of orthopedics at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.
His research interests include minimally invasive resurfacing techniques of the knee and shoulder, as well as ligament and tendon restoration. A member of multiple professional organizations and societies, he is well-published and lectures extensively in the U.S. and abroad.
Edward Rubinoff, the firm’s managing partner, was born in Brooklyn, and moved to Miami Beach at age 10. He captained the Miami Beach High School tennis team, and after winning the National Scholastic singles and doubles titles in 1952, he received a full scholarship to the University of Miami. As a Hurricane, Mr. Rubinoff was undefeated and captained the nation’s top-ranked team.
After several tours on the international tennis circuit, where he was ranked No. 3 in the world in mixed doubles, he enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law. Upon graduating in 1966, he joined forces with Arno Kutner. They remain partners to this day. In the 1980s, Mr. Rubinoff shifted his practice to plaintiff’s work, where he found he was more comfortable representing injured people than insurance companies and corporate defendants. In 1992, he and Mr. Kutner founded the firm now known as Kutner Rubinoff & Moss, representing injured people only.
Mr. Rubinoff is a member of the board of the Attorneys Information Exchange Network, which pools resources representing clients in complex cases. He is a member of the Million-Dollar Advocates Forum, whose membership is restricted to lawyers who have received million-dollar-plus verdicts and settlements. He is listed among the region’s top lawyers in the South Florida Legal Guide.
Mr. Rubinoff is a member and former president of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, a member of the Florida Tennis Hall of Fame, and is the Chairman of the Board of the Greater Miami Tennis Foundation, whose mission is bringing tennis to economically and socially disadvantaged youngsters in Miami-Dade County.
Mr. Rubinoff is married to wife, Ann, and is a proud father to Robert and Laura.
Ms. Colden has served as our Executive Vice President and General Counsel since January 2020. Ms. Colden has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality and lodging industry. Prior to joining Playa, Ms. Colden was a principal in the Law Offices of Tracy M. J. Colden. Ms. Colden also served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Highland Hospitality Corporation, a lodging and hospitality REIT, from 2003 through 2007 and as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Crestline Capital Corporation from December 1998 through December 2003. Ms. Colden was an Assistant General Counsel at Host Marriott Corporation (now Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.) from 1996 through 1998. Ms. Colden began her career in 1988 at Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells US LLP). Ms. Colden serves on the board of directors of National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI).
Ms. Colden received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Ms. Colden is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and is a member of the District of Columbia, Florida and Michigan (emeritus status) bars.
Larry has over 40 years international sales, marketing and general management experience covering six continents working for companies like General Mills, Nabisco, Tefal (Groupe SEB), Baptist Health South Florida and CCA Industries. Larry has lived in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina and the US.
Most recently Larry has been supporting the international and domestic expansion of numerous consumer goods’ companies. He has collaborated with companies selling everything from toothpaste, skin care, hair care and nail care to champagne, cognac, gin, vodka and energy drinks.
While Larry has been on the First Serve Miami board for approximately 9 years, he has also served on other not-for-profit boards:
Larry did his undergraduate studies at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and has two Masters degrees (MBA and MIM) from Thunderbird International School of Management (AZ) and ESADE (Barcelona, Spain).
Corinne and her husband became members of Royal Palm Tennis Club in 2008, when her husband returned to playing tennis after a 15-year break, and Corinne began her own tennis journey. She graduated from the University of Miami in 1993 with a BBA in Marketing & Management, followed by an MBA with a certificate in Health Care Administration in 1994. In 1997, Corinne earned her Juris Doctorate.
Corinne’s professional career includes serving as President & CEO of KMSM, Inc., a retail consulting firm, and as an Associate Buyer at NewsLink Group, where she was involved in all aspects of the buying process for fashion apparel and accessories at Miami International Airport. She was also the Principal at Cedar Title, a full-service real estate title agency.
In leadership, Corinne served as President of Royal Palm Tennis Club in 2016 and was a Board Member from 2013-2017. She is currently serving another term on the Royal Palm Board. She has also been deeply involved in her community, having chaired and participated in various committees for organizations such as Beaux Arts for the Lowe Art Museum at UM, Ransom Everglades Schools, St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School Parents Association, and the Junior League of Miami.
Corinne is honored to be nominated for the Board of Directors of First Serve of Miami. She is passionate about tennis and hopes to contribute by assisting with fundraising efforts and supporting the organization’s mission, all while sharing her love for the sport with others.
Prior to coaching Eric Hechtman grew up in Miami, FL where he was a top ranked junior. He was #1 in the State of Florida in the B18s and achieved a ranking of #2 in the country in the Boys 16s. He stayed local and played at the University of Miami where captained the team for 3 out of 4 seasons and is still currently the all-time leader in wins.
Eric moved on to coaching after college. He has been the Director of Tennis at Royal Palm Tennis Club in Miami, FL and has coached numerous juniors to the elite levels of College Tennis, while also still playing some himself and achieving the #1 ranking in the Men’s Open. He also won numerous accolades such as: USPTA coach of the year and is currently a WTA PTR Tour certified coach.
In 2019 Eric started coaching Venus Williams. During his tenure with her he coached and major tournaments such as: The US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open, French Open, Indian Wells, Miami, The Italian Open, Madrid Open, China Open, and many more professional events.
In 2022 Eric coach Serena Williams and Venus Williams. This year was Serena’s last professional year and was a very memorable US Open event.
In 2023 Eric Coached Venus Williams to start the year down under. Then he coached Genie Bouchard for 5 months as the two had some good success during clay season. During the US Open he started to coach Peyton Stearns who is an upcoming American that won the NCAA Championships in Singles and Doubles. During the US Open Peyton had a strong run into the Round of 16. He led her to her career high of #43.
In 2024 Eric coached Peyton Stearns and Robin Montgomery, he lead Robin to a career high of #105. He also won USPTA touring coach of the year.
