Rachael James

Background

About Rachael James

Rachael James is a professional pickleball player, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist who blends competitive drive with business expertise. With a background in semi-professional tennis and collegiate competition, she played tennis for UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. She later obtained a degree in Sport Management from Western Carolina University (WCU). Beyond the court, Rachael is a leading entrepreneur in the pickleball space. She is the founder of Destination Pickleball, a high-end pickleball travel and event company that partners with courts in Cancun, including a 5-star pickleball resort, to host premier playing experiences. With a long-term vision of becoming a one-stop shop for all things pickleball, Destination Pickleball offers opportunities for players of all levels to immerse themselves in the sport. She also founded Pckl.pro, a platform designed to empower athletes and coaches by offering comprehensive player statistics, tournament details, and SEO optimization. Pckl.pro allows users to create personalized pages within two weeks to showcase their official stats, competitive history, and achievements. Players can highlight their skills, maintain a visible tournament calendar, and attract attention from fans, sponsors, and recruiters. Additionally, the platform enables athletes to promote and sell products or services with no service fees, while professional photos and SEO-optimized blog posts enhance visibility and credibility. With monthly updates to player stats, ratings, rankings, and match history, Pckl.pro ensures that profiles remain fresh, competitive, and engaging. Rachael also works as a Lifecycle Marketing Manager at UDX (Usability Dynamics), a company specializing in digital infrastructure, AI-driven automation, and software solutions for businesses. At UDX, she focuses on optimizing customer acquisition and retention strategies, leading email marketing automation, and executing data-driven campaigns that drive growth and engagement. Her role includes aligning marketing, sales, and product teams to enhance efficiency, refining SEO and PPC strategies, and utilizing automation to improve overall marketing performance. Previously, Rachael founded Bull City Tennis, a community-focused tennis and pickleball organization. Her unique ability to merge sports, business, and technology continues to shape both the pickleball industry and her success as an athlete and entrepreneur.