Staff

Jerome Jones

Executive Director

Jerome Jones is a highly motivated tennis industry veteran with 30 years of experience. He has leveraged his diverse professional background and career as a world-ranked professional tennis player to cultivate authentic, long-term relationships with key industry partners. His hallmark qualities include unparalleled integrity, a relentless work ethic, a powerful network, and excellent follow-through.

Jerome recently served as a District Sales Manager for HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports where he was continually a top producer and winner of the coveted DSM of the year award.  Jones’s experience includes managing the Arthur Ashe Safe Passage Foundation Program in Los Angeles, and he has served in sales and promotions with Prince Manufacturing Group. Jones also worked in Program Administration and Development for the USTA National office during the governing bodies successful plan for growth initiative.

During his playing days, Jones was an All-American in singles and doubles at Pepperdine University and won the 1984 NCAA Doubles title with Kelly Jones.

Monique Turner

Director of Education and Enrichment

Monique M. Turner is currently a part-time lecturer in the Psychology Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She has taught group dynamics and advanced research methods/statistics: she loves stats! Monique received her B.A. in 2010 and her M.A in 2016 from California State University, Dominguez Hills: during that time she has worked on numerous research projects and has led multiple presentations internationally and locally. Monique is currently working on her dissertation in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University which focuses on education empowerment amongst classified ethnic minority groups. Monique also has clinical training of 4 years plus in the area mental health and optimal well-being.

Brendon Harden

Teaching Professional

Coach Brendan started playing tennis at the Safe Passage Tennis Program located at Dignity Health Sports park at the age of 10. He improved his game to the point he made the varsity tennis team as a freshman at Lakewood High and led the team all four years. He now plays for Cerritos College and is looking forward to seeing how far his tennis takes him. Coach Brendan is PTR certified and enjoys coaching and giving hitting lessons.

Isabelle was born and raised in Los Angeles.  She started playing tennis at 8 years old and quickly fell in love with the sport. She grew up playing and competing all over southern California. In high school, she played all four years on the Varsity team at Chadwick School. After Chadwick, she attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts. There she played at the #2 singles spot and in between the #1 and #2 doubles spots throughout her career, finally finishing her senior year at the #1 singles and doubles spot. Isabelle graduated from Wheaton in May 2020 and she is happy to be back home in Los Angeles. Isabelle is so excited to be a part of the First Break Academy staff and looks forward to not only coaching, but mentoring the students.