The RPO Team

A visionary leader whose dynamic career bridges corporate leadership, elite sports management, and high-performance coaching, Connor Nguyen began his racket sports journey as a Division I tennis athlete at the University of Kansas. He went on to coach tennis professionals competing at the highest levels including WTA players ranked in the world’s top 50. Over the past 15 years, Connor has been a transformative force behind sports innovation and achievement across Vietnam and Asia. His entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation and leadership of pioneering organizations such as the Saigon Heat—Vietnam’s first professional basketball team; the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA)—the country’s national pro league; and the Vietnam University Games (VUG)—a collegiate competition platform modeled after the NCAA. He also played a pivotal role in guiding Vietnam’s National Basketball Team Program to historic multi-medal finishes at the Southeast Asian Games, setting new standards for national success on the international stage. Now, Connor returns to his racket sport roots with fresh energy and a new obsession: Pickleball. He founded the 002 Pickleball Club and earned distinction as an IPTPA Master Teaching Professional. Drawing from decades of success in coaching and organizational leadership, he now serves as the Managing Director of RPO Asia Pacific, focused on building a world-class educational platform to empower coaches and elevate Pickleball’s rapid growth across the region.

Collin Johns is one of the world’s top pickleball professionals, with 35 PPA men’s doubles titles and three consecutive seasons (2022–2024) as part of the #1 doubles team alongside his brother, Ben Johns. A former ATP tennis player and high-performance coach, Collin transitioned full-time to pickleball in 2022 and is now recognized as both a leading competitor and one of the sport’s most respected coaches. Beyond competing, he co-founded several education and consulting ventures—including Racket Pro, Johns Design & Consulting, and Pickleball 360—while serving as a JOOLA-signed pro and the first Global Brand Ambassador for Dill Dinkers. He resides in Austin, Texas, where he continues to advance the sport through competition, coaching, and global development efforts.

West Shaw has been at the forefront of pickleball facility development and coach advancement. He has served as CEO of Picklemall and COO of Johns Design and Consulting, and currently manages Heleus Holdings—the parent company of StackEleven Marketing, 150+, RPO, and JDC. Through these roles, he has helped launch more than 14 pickleball facilities across the U.S. and internationally. Before entering the pickleball space, West spent over a decade in the golf industry, where he founded multiple golf brands that successfully completed the full business cycle, including acquisition.

Josh Jenkins specializes in coach development and mentorship programs at RPO. With years of experience in both playing and coaching pickleball, Josh understands the unique challenges that coaches face at every level of their development. His role involves working directly with new and experienced coaches to help them refine their skills and advance their careers. Josh develops and delivers specialized training programs that focus on practical coaching techniques and effective communication strategies. Josh's mentorship approach has helped hundreds of coaches build confidence and develop their own unique coaching styles while maintaining RPO's high standards of excellence.

An essential force behind RPO Asia Pacific’s rapid expansion, Stella has been instrumental in the organization's launch. Her dedication and partnership management excellence have been central to establishing RPO APAC’s foundational presence and driving its mission to elevate racket sports education across the region. Working closely with Managing Director Connor Nguyen, Stella is key to cultivating and managing the strategic alliances that fuel RPO APAC's growth. Her primary focus is on forging high-impact partnerships to expand the educational platform's reach across 48 countries in the Asia Pacific. This work encompasses critical partnerships in education, business development, and community engagement, ensuring RPO delivers world-class resources to coaches. Stella’s expertise lies in transforming strategic goals into tangible results through effective partner management and relationship building. She is driven by a commitment to foster a vibrant, interconnected racket sports community, positioning her as a vital engine for RPO Asia Pacific’s continued success and the exciting rise of Pickleball throughout the continent.