Our Team

Laura Fedock

Associate Director

laura@urbantennis.org

Laura joined the SPUT team in December of 2015 after managing student services, programs, events and marketing communications at the diverse Minneapolis Community and Technical College. A Des Moines, Iowa native, she played tennis for Hoover High School and attended the University of Iowa—a proud Hawkeye. She spent her early summers teaching tennis to youth and adults and managing a city park site for the Des Moines Tennis Association. She also taught youth tennis for the University of Iowa’s Upward Bound Program and played on a USTA Women’s Team Tennis team for several years in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Iowa. Before moving to Minnesota, Laura promoted the achievements of K-12 students at Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland as Director of Public Affairs. Laura lives with husband, Bill, and son, Andrew, in Burnsville.

Marta Royaal

Program Director

marta@urbantennis.org

Marta joined SPUT in March of 2023 after spending the last 4 years helping youth and young adults at Tree Trust learn employment readiness and social emotional skills. She has been working with youth for the past 15 years in various settings, including 5 years as the head girls basketball coach and 10 years as the track & field throws coach at Central High School. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2008 with a degree in Sociology after playing Division 1 college basketball. She then worked at an organization in Boston called Tenacity, which taught tennis, literacy, and life skills to middle school youth across the city. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s degree in Social Work, and spent the next 5 years working and coaching at Central. Marta is very passionate about youth development and helping kids reach their full potential and feels like she has come full circle working at SPUT after working for Tenacity right out of college. Marta lives with her wife Toni and their 3 kids in St. Paul.

Bayley Ehlinger

Marketing Director

bayley@urbantennis.org

Bayley brings a unique blend of creative expertise and youth development experience to his role as Marketing Director at Saint Paul Urban Tennis. Since joining SPUT in February 2023, he has combined his passion for digital storytelling with his commitment to empowering young people. A graduate of St. Cloud State University with degrees in English and Filmmaking, Bayley's career path reflects his diverse interests. His journey in youth development began in his hometown of Avon, MN, where he worked in summer programs for children. This commitment continued through college as he worked in group homes for young adults, and later as a paraprofessional in K-12 schools. His creative talents led him into digital marketing, first as a writer and then as a designer, before finding his ideal role at SPUT where he could merge his marketing expertise with his dedication to youth development. As Marketing Director, Bayley focuses on expanding SPUT's community outreach, enhancing its digital presence, and showcasing the organization's impactful work. Outside of the office, you'll find him mountain biking at Battle Creek, scaling walls at Vertical Endeavors, or enjoying a game of pickleball at Eastview Rec.

Vilai Vang

Tennis Director

vilai@urbantennis.org

As Tennis Director at Saint Paul Urban Tennis, Vilai Vang's connection to the organization spans nearly two decades, beginning when his high school tennis coach Koua Yang introduced him to SPUT's summer coaching program. What started as a summer job combining his love of tennis with extra income evolved into a lifelong commitment to youth development through sport. A former graduate of Harding High School, Vilai studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He spent seven successful years as a Technical Analyst at Affinity Plus before choosing to pursue his true passion: tennis and youth development. His transition from IT to tennis instruction reflects his deep commitment to making a difference in young people's lives. "What draws me to SPUT is our focus on youth development," Vilai explains. "While tennis is our platform, our true mission is equipping young people with life and leadership skills that will serve them well beyond the court."

Cha Lee Yang

Eastview Manager

chalee@urbantennis.org

As Eastview Recreation Manager, Cha Lee Yang brings both educational expertise and community leadership experience to Saint Paul Urban Tennis. A 2022 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in Psychological Science, Cha Lee first connected with SPUT as a summer youth program coach before stepping into his current role. His path to SPUT reflects a commitment to community service and youth development. Prior to joining the organization full-time, Cha Lee managed the Thursday Farmers Market in Brooklyn Center, where he expanded traditional produce offerings to include food trucks, local businesses, and non-profit organizations. He also contributed to his family's farming business, building valuable organizational and leadership skills. "I love that I get to work with students ranging from elementary to high school," says Cha Lee of his role at SPUT. "Serving in this position, I not only can impact the lives of youth, but they impact me as well." When he's not on the court or working with young athletes, Cha Lee enjoys spending time with friends, playing volleyball, and running.

Tom Boulay

Program Specialist

tom@urbantennis.org

Tom Boulay inadvertently began working with SPUT in 2008 when he volunteered to help out at one of the 3-hour winter practices that Song Thao, SPUT’s former Executive Director, was working all by himself. Since then, Tom has been a champion for SPUT’s winter tennis program and dedicates himself to the kids every year. Tom grew up in Edina, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in Secondary Education. Tom has served as a USPTA Teaching Tennis Professional, coached the Stillwater Girls Tennis team since 2010, and been a foundational member of SPUT. He owns his own promotions company, Thunderbird Marketing, which sells branded merchandise to corporations and non-profit organizations. Tom has been instrumental in starting the Warrior Leadership Academy back in 2013 and creating Discover U, the beginning of SPUT’s Leadership/Life Skills Mentorship program. He strives to build world-class tennis and leadership programs for SPUT, saying that his primary goal is to help SPUT’s exceptional young people become successful in their lives.