Staff

Katrina Adams started playing tennis at age 6 in a Chicago parks program. At 16, she was a two-time Illinois High School Association singles champion. Recruited by Northwestern University, she earned the NCAA doubles title there in 1987 and was twice voted All-American. In 1988 she joined the WTA Tour, retiring in 1999 with 20 career doubles titles. Ms. Adams was a USTA national coach 1999-2002, helping to develop some of the nation's top tennis players. She is currently an analyst for the Tennis Channel and a Co-Host CBS Sports Network.

In 2005, Ms. Adams, a USPTA and PTR certified teaching professional, joined HJTEP and has grown the enrollment to over 1,000 participants and increased the operating budget to $1million+. She served as the Chair and President of the USTA 2015-2018 and as the Vice President of the International Tennis Federation(ITF), 2015-2023.

Ms. Spigner, a graduate of HJTEP, is a head coach of entry-level programs for our youngest players. She is a PTR-certified teaching professional with more than 10 years of experience in coaching. She attended South Carolina State University on a 4-year tennis scholarship. Simone was promoted to Manager of Tennis Programming in 2021.

Ms. Campbell joined HJTEP in 2018. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Seton Hall University with a double minor in Child Psychology and Education. She brings certifications that specialize in Early Intervention and Special Education with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis. Renee’s role is integral for HJTEP’s parental involvement.

Ms. Hamilton initially came to HJTEP in June 2022 as a Development Consultant.  Prior to founding her consulting LLC in 2020, Lynda was the Operations Manager for Hon. David Dinkins at Columbia University-SIPA, where she oversaw all aspects of the mayor’s ecclectic duties as a professor of Urban Policy and elder statesman of New York City government. Over the course of her career, Lynda has contributed to various entrepreneurial launches, worked in the corporate nexus of the National Football League as Manager of their $10 million nonprofit NFL Charities; as the inaugural Community Partner Engagement Manager at the Center for Smart StreetScapes (CS3) at Columbia University; within the nonprofit sector as Office & Online Content Manager for City Parks Foundation; and served as Research Consultant for CUNY’s Center for Urban Education Policy. Lynda maintains active involvement with various civic organizations and philanthropic activities, including as founding Advisory Board member of City Limits - an independent, investigative journalism outlet serving the five boroughs of New York.  Lynda excels at problem-solving and especially enjoys collaborating with a focus on community needs and youth development. Ms. Hamilton earned a degree in Social Psychology at New York University and is a proud resident of Harlem USA. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lrhamilton/

Mr. Holmes is a graduate of HJTEP and currently serves as Interim Director of High Performance. He attended and played tennis at Boston College, is a PTR-certified teaching professional, and has nearly a decade of experience coaching top nationally ranked junior players.

Mr. Knox joined HJTEP in 2020. After a standout high school varsity basketball career, he received a scholarship to play at Bethune Cookman and earned his NASM certification for professional training.

Ms. Balleste grew up playing tennis in Harlem and earned an Associate Degree from Manhattan Community College. She previously coached tennis for HJTEP while her three daughters learned to play in the program - two earned tennis college scholarships. Quacey rejoined in 2022 and still provides tennis instruction.

Ededi Adjagbodjou started working in the HJTEP classroom in January 2024. As Education Manager, she supports the overall operations of the classroom and works individually with students across age groups. She graduated from Columbia University in 2024 with a B.A. in Medical Humanities and Biology. In addition to working at HJTEP, she has completed various undergraduate medical research projects, supported the management of a Columbia education department, and worked with kids of all ages in medical and educational settings.

Lilienne Shore Kilgore-Brown started at HJTEP in 2024, where she provides individualized support in academics for students in all age groups. She is a recent graduate of Columbia University with a degree in English & Comparative Literature and Hispanic Studies. Prior to HJTEP, Lilienne has spent years in nonprofits working with youth of all ages to develop a wide variety of skills, including with Moscow, ID's Palouse Pathways, where she helps high school students improve their writing and prepare for college; Brooklyn's The Brave House, where she taught English to young, immigrant, Spanish-speaking women in NYC; and various organizations in Eastern Washington State, where she has taught life and social skills to classrooms of all ages. 

Cristian Ramos is an HJTEP Alumni and current varsity student-athlete at Fordham University. As a devoted young man to academics, Cristian finds the time to travel to Harlem daily to work with HJTEP students to ensure that they are working hard in their studies, elevating their opportunities to earn a college scholarship, just like he did, on and off the tennis court.

Sofie Shen is an HJTEP Alumna and current student-athlete at Vassar College, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Studio Art. At HJTEP, she offers tutoring sessions with homeschooled athletes and helps in the classroom. Before returning to HJTEP, she coached in various settings, most recently at the Brearley School and Vassar College while on leave.