Rachel Vinson, M.S.

Rachel Vinson, M.S., is an accomplished sports and recreation professional with more than 15 years of experience leading community-focused facilities, programs, and teams. She began her career at the YMCA at just 18 years old and steadily advanced through the organization, taking on roles in youth sports, operations, membership development, and executive leadership. During her YMCA career, Rachel earned recognition as Director of the Year from the Association of YMCA Professionals for her dedication to operational excellence, team development, and community impact. She later expanded her expertise through parks and recreation leadership before bringing her experience in athletics, facility management, and community programming to The Sports Facilities Companies. As General Manager of the Burlington Pickleball Complex in Burlington, North Carolina, Rachel oversees the operations of a 17-court championship pickleball facility, managing everything from staffing and budgeting to marketing, partnerships, programming, tournaments, and daily venue performance. Since taking on the role, she has helped successfully launch the facility and establish it as a growing destination for players, families, community members, and national tournaments. While Rachel’s background is rooted broadly in sports rather than pickleball specifically, she has embraced the opportunity to learn the sport, understand its unique culture, and build programming that connects with players of all experience levels. She stays engaged with industry trends through professional networks, newsletters, and collaboration with colleagues across The Sports Facilities Companies’ growing portfolio of venues. Rachel’s leadership philosophy centers on confidence, hard work, relationships, and creating meaningful community experiences through sports. She credits much of her professional growth to mentors who encouraged her to believe in her abilities and pursue opportunities beyond what she initially thought possible. Passionate about developing people and strengthening communities, Rachel continues to focus on expanding access to sports, building partnerships, and creating memorable experiences for athletes and families. With major tournament opportunities on the horizon, she is excited to help bring increased visibility, economic impact, and continued growth to the Burlington region.