Board of Directors

Rick Buchta

Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of First Break Academy

Rick Buchta has over 20 years of player mentoring from juniors to NCAA to the professional tour. Some of his past tennis experiences include winning CIF doubles championship, playing number one singles for LMU Lions, serving on the Advisory Board of the Junior Tennis Champions Center, playing on the championship Manhattan Country Club Men’s 5.0 team, and organizing client and charitable tennis events for Jefferies Investment firm. Rick is the President, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of the First Break Academy. After nearly ten years of managing RBR Capital, Rick closed his financial firm with the intent to focus on pursuing his interest in growing First Break Academy. He builds successful partnerships, plans events and actively promotes the mission of First Break.

Pam Shriver

Pam Shriver, born on Independence Day, first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of 3. Bursting onto the national tennis stage in 1978, Shriver was billed the “Legend of Lutherville” when she reached the finals of the U.S. Open as an amateur at the age of 16 (losing to Chris Evert). During this run, Shriver made famous the revolutionary Prince racquet invented by the late Howard Head. Throughout the 1980s, she was ranked among the top 10 women’s singles players in the world, peaking at number three and winning 21 tournament titles. Meanwhile, her doubles career also flourished, winning 112 titles, including 22 Grand Slam titles, 21 in women’s doubles (20 paired with Martina Navratilova and 1 with Natasha Zvereva), seven Australian Open titles, four French Open titles, five Wimbledon titles, and five U.S. Open titles, plus one in mixed doubles with Emilio Sanchez at the 1987 French Open. While teaming with Navratilova, the two set the record of 109 consecutive match wins from April 1983 thru July 1985. This winning stretch included all four Grand Slam titles in 1984. While partnering with Zina Garrison, she captured the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal in doubles in Seoul.

A top player on the women’s tennis tour for more than 15 years and a 2002 inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Shriver also has become a valued and respected member of the sports media community. She has been a member of ESPN’s tennis broadcast team where she worked even as she continued to play on the professional tour until 1996. She has covered all four Grand Slam events.

The busy mother of three, Shriver is very active in a wide range of charities, including many in her native Baltimore, MD as well as her current hometown of Los Angeles, CA. From 1986 to 2010, Shriver hosted an annual charity tennis event in her hometown raising $4 Million for local causes including Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Baltimore Community Foundation. Pam proudly is a past president of the Women’s Tennis Association (1991-1994).

Marc Lucero

Co-Founder of First Break Academy and Program Advisor

Over the past 14 years, Marc Lucero has emerged as one of the preeminent coaches for budding stars. He worked for the USTA from 2008-2012, coaching players of all ages, from 7 year olds to professional players. In his role at the USTA, Lucero worked and assisted with America’s top young prospects like Nicole Gibbs, Ryan Harrison, Sam Querrey, and others. He also ran Regional Training Center camps around the country, working with players and coaches to identify and build relationships with future prospects.

Since then, Lucero has worked privately with professionally players Eugenie Bouchard and Alison Riske, helping both to career high rankings in their time with him, as well as top American juniors players. He is currently on the WTA circuit as the coach of Shelby Rogers, whom he helped reach a career-high rank of No.48 in the world in January of 2017. In 2016 Rogers reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, becoming the first American other than Venus and Serena Williams to reach this round since 2001. In 2017 Rogers was part of the United States Fed Cup Championship team, winning the deciding match with partner Coco Vandeweghe on the road in Belarus. Those accomplishments, along with guiding Rogers to one of her most consistently impressive years on tour, resulted in Lucero being named 2017 Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Touring Coach of the Year.

Prior to working for the USTA, Lucero was an assistant coach for the women’s team at Princeton University. He attended Boston College where he was captain of the men’s tennis team, leading the Eagles in wins in his time there. He was also a 3 time Big East Conference Academic All Star. Lucero graduated with a degree in Economics from the Carroll School of Management Honors Program.

Lucero grew up in San Diego, California, and currently resides in Manhattan Beach. When he is not on the WTA tour, and enjoys surfing, yoga and reading.

Terri Premeaux

Terri Premeaux, went to Boise State University and received a bachelor degree in Business and a minor in marketing/communications. She was recruited by Canon USA prior to graduation. She worked for both Canon USA and Xerox in sales, focusing on business development at both companies, working primarily fortune 100 companies. After retiring from a 32-year career in corporate America, she began searching for a way to give back to the community that has been so good to her and her family. Her love for mentoring our youth and for the game of tennis led her to First Break Academy (FBA). When asked to join the board, she jumped at the opportunity. The thought of helping a child further his or her athletics, academics and skills to create a better life for themselves sold Terri on FBA.

In addition to her work with First Break Academy, Terri sits on the board for The Boys and Girls Club of LA Harbor, Mychal’s Learning Place and the Neptunian Women’s Club. Her children, Kelsi and Lexi are the light of her life and she will continue to mentor them by teaching them to become philanthropic minded and active in their communities.

Dylan Holt

Dylan is currently a member of the investment team at Stanton Road Capital, a Los Angeles-based investment management firm focused on select commercial real estate and private equity strategies. Prior to Stanton Road Capital, Dylan graduated from the University of Southern California where he studied Real Estate and Business Finance. A native of the South Bay area, tennis has always been a big part of his life.
In addition to his work with First Break Academy, Dylan sits on the junior board of the Los Angeles Police Foundation as well as serving as an advisor to the USC United Students for Veterans Health, a student run non-profit that works in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the lives of veterans.

Peggy Bott

Co-Founder of First Break Academy

Peggy Bott is an experienced educator who enjoys sports. Her professional writing services include creative content, grant writing, and executive ghostwriting. As a Co-Founder of First Break Academy, she is dedicated to supporting the success of the organization.

From 2014 to 2018, Peggy led FBA as the Executive Director, overseeing planning and development of the company’s philanthropic programs and services; ultimately helping the start up organization win awards and grow funding from less than $10,000.00 to over $200,000.00. Her letter campaigns and grant writing efforts became instrumental in FBA doubling its revenue four years in a row. Peggy served FBA by creating and seeing to fruition innovative after-school and summer scholarship programs. She initiated and coordinated the inaugural LA Tennis Bash fundraiser. Peggy kick-started First Break Academy CRM and social media.

After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Peggy continued her education at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles by receiving a Masters Degree in Education. Her career began as a teacher of English in Arcadia Unified School District which led to a position as an Arcadia High School Counselor and College Advisor. During her tenure at the elite public school, Peggy launched new freshman orientation and college night events; coordinated NCAA, FAFSA, CSU/UC, SAT/ACT workshops and served on both the School Site Leadership Team and Technology Committee. She worked closely with “at risk” population and the AHS Alternative Education program.

Peggy enjoys fitness training, photography and helping others. The Bott family are regular volunteers at First Break Academy. Both of her children are tennis players who compete at the collegiate level.

Joe Chrisman

Entrepreneur; investment management, and financial technology

Managing partner of a firm which acts as a chief investment and finance officer for ultra affluent families around the globe
Cornell Graduate, Finance, Men’s Varsity Tennis

Cal Berkeley, Men’s Varsity Tennis

Resides in Hermosa Beach with wife Kelly, and three kids

Global surf traveler and accomplished rice harvester driver

Barbara Oliker

Barbara comes from the world of Human Resources, Training and Development, Recruitment and Employee Relations

20 years with the Disney Organization

Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Imagineering

Later…Multi Media Presentations and Maritz Performance Improvement Company

Account Manager on Toyota and Infiniti vehicle launches

Served on the Manhattan Country Club board for 8 years and Chaired the youth and tennis committees.

Barbara Lives in Manhattan Beach with Steve, all around great husband, son and Dad

Daughter Kady, married to Adam and live in El Segundo. Interest include, Tennis, golf, traveler, volunteer and guilty pleasure: Singing along to songs in my car!