June 16, 2021
Kings County Tennis League, Inc. (KCTL), a sports-based youth development non-profit that serves children in and around six New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments in Central Brooklyn, today announced the appointment of Nora Ryan as its new Executive Director. Ms. Ryan succeeds Dave Webley, who joined the organization as a volunteer before becoming its first Executive Director, and who will continue consulting with KCTL as Executive Advisor.
Charged with driving the next chapter of growth outlined in KCTL’s strategic plan, Ryan is a senior corporate executive who has transitioned to the non-profit sector, bringing experience building new ventures and leading collaborative partnerships to support community service and social impact. She has directed entertainment, sports and health education services as EVP/Chief of Staff for premium network EPIX, Founding CEO of Sundance Channel and head of marketing and business development at Showtime and AMC Networks. Honored by Variety Magazine on its Power of Women New York list, Nora is passionate about building NYC communities and a champion of the positive power of sports on childhood development. She has an MBA in marketing and finance from Columbia University, where she serves on the Hermes Society and Fundraising Advisory Council.
“Nora is a seasoned management professional who brings years of experience, forging strong strategic partnerships and growing multiple programming enterprises,” said Karen Levine, KCTL Board Chair. “She is the ideal leader for this next phase of KCTL's development, as we work to scale our programs, and extend and deepen our impact on our young people and our communities.”
As Executive Director, Ms. Ryan will work with the community, as well as KCTL’s board and staff, to expand the reach and range of youth development programs, growing enrollment of students who reside in NYCHA properties and increasing the availability of play and enrichment opportunities for the children with the greatest need.
“KCTL is a truly innovative organization that brings tennis right to the doorstep of children who wouldn’t otherwise have access," Ms. Ryan said. "With admiration and appreciation for what KCTL has already accomplished, I am thrilled to join and work with this extraordinary community to offer more opportunities for our youth to learn from play and enrich the lives of under-resourced children living in Brooklyn in the years ahead."
About KCTL
Kings County Tennis League (KCTL) combines tennis and education to spark the potential ofchildren living in and around Brooklyn public housing. Founded in 2010, KCTL provides free,year-round tennis-centered programs to more than 300 children living in and around six NYCHAdevelopments; the children in each housing development form a “tennis club” (e.g. Marcy TennisClub), which comprise the Kings County Tennis League. By creating courts on underused playspaces in NYCHA developments, and bringing our staff, volunteers, equipment and programsdirectly to where our students reside, KCTL eliminates the physical and financial barriers totennis. A thoughtfully-designed pathway and an ensemble of caring and authentic staff andvolunteers help KCTL cultivate safe spaces for children to play, learn and develop the social and emotional learning capacities that youth need to succeed.