USTA Eastern’s Michelle Blake Wilson to be Honored by Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson
Michelle Blake Wilson, managing director of marketing and communications for USTA Eastern, will be honored on June 29 as a Rising Star by New York State Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson at the Senator’s Annual Notable Women Awards Breakfast. Blake Wilson is being honored for her work in expanding tennis opportunities for young girls, and for promoting tennis as a vehicle for health and success throughout their lives. Blake is one of four women being honored at the Senator’s Annual Breakfast, which recognizes women for their dedication to racial, social, and economic justice. The other women are Christina T. Hall, an attorney who provides legal services in criminal, family, personal injury, police brutality, product liability and landlord-tenant law; Ranju Batra, president of the Association of Indians in America—New York Chapter (AIA-NY); and Clarener Moultrie, assistant dean at Columbia University School of Social Work.
“Michelle has shown outstanding commitment and dedication to helping young girls in our community grow through tennis,” said Sen. Hassell-Thompson, who represents the 36th Senatorial District (parts of the Bronx and Mount Vernon). “Whether it’s forging new partnerships with youth organizations, or creating opportunities for young girls to meet female athletes and sports executives, Michelle has helped our youngest rising stars realize the huge impact that sports can have on their lives.”
Blake Wilson is currently managing director of marketing and communications for USTA Eastern. The Section encompasses all of New York State, Northern New Jersey and Greenwich, Connecticut, and is one of 17 geographic sections of the United States Tennis Association, the governing body of tennis in the United States. During her tenure at USTA Eastern, Michelle has developed partnerships with major organizations, including local USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning centers, which provide afterschool tennis and education kids throughout the section. Michelle has also helped organize special events for young girls, including tennis clinics with tennis legend Stefanie Graf and Swiss watchmaker Longines, and Girls Night Out, a special panel discussion for top-ranked girls in the section with former Tennis Champion Mary Joe Fernandez, Olympic Skating Silver Medalist Nancy Kerrigan, Women’s Tennis Association Chairman and CEO Stacy Allaster, and World Team Tennis CEO and Commissioner Ilana Kloss.
Before joining USTA Eastern, Michelle developed marketing concepts for major brands, including Victoria’s Secret, Flora Nikrooz Lingerie and Bloomingdales. Michelle received her MBA from Columbia Business School and her BS from Hampton University. She is on the Board of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, and a member of Women in Sports and Events (W.I.S.E.) and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
