Reine Steel

Co-Founder/ Lead Developer

I’ve poured my heart and soul into building this platform. There have been plenty of stressful days, sleepless nights, and worries over whether we had the resources to keep growing at the rate we are. But often, it’s the small moments that remind me why it’s all worth it.

One afternoon a few years ago, I was playing at the public courts with three friends. It was an off-time, and we had the place to ourselves. Eventually, I noticed a few more players gathering outside the fence. They began introducing themselves and asking, “Are you here for the PlayTime session?” I couldn’t help but smile as I overheard them.

Soon, the group started playing on the court next to us. They were all beginners and a little unsure of themselves, but within 15 minutes they were having a blast—chatting, laughing, and complimenting each other’s shots— plus a little good-natured trash talk. Everything we love about pickleball!

Thanks to PlayTime Scheduler, six new players became pickleball buddies that day. Of course, it also took a good dose of courage on their part to see a list of strangers and click “Add My Name.”

Whenever I’m sitting in my office, feeling bogged down with emails and code, I think about moments like that. They remind me that my work behind a screen has real-world impact. Making people’s lives better has always been the point.

Skye Wedlock

Sales & Marketing Manager

About four years ago, Reine and my dad, Billy, asked if I’d help out with their company — PlayTime Scheduler. At the time, I didn’t even know what pickleball was, let alone had I ever played! But Reine was so passionate about it, I couldn’t help but want to be a part of it.

I decided I’d better give pickleball a try and see what it was all about. I still remember the first time I got up the courage to actually go play. I found a session posted on PlayTime Scheduler at a local park, and there were already quite a few people signed up. I added my name and made my way to the courts.

I was SO nervous! I’d never played any kind of racquet sport before and barely even knew the rules. Luckily, everyone was so welcoming. They were happy to explain things to me and even let me retry my serve a few times. 😂

Now, four years later, I still play with a few of those OGs who helped put the love of the game into my soul. They’ve become more than just people I play pickleball with — they’re real friends, and I look forward to our play sessions every week.

PlayTime Scheduler really is a community. I feel it with the regulars I play with, but I’ve also experienced it when I travel. It’s so easy to find a game and meet other pickleball players wherever I am. And when they find out I work for PTS, I lightweight feel like a celebrity. But my favorite part is hearing from other PTS users how much they love the platform and how PlayTime Scheduler helped them find their people too.

Jessica Knowlton

Support Specialist

I was first introduced to pickleball in an old church gym with cracked wood floors and poor lighting. I was terrible. My first few attempts were lacking to say the least. My paddle sat on the shelf until a few years later when I moved with my family to California. We have no family and no friends. I didn’t know anyone. I was all by myself. One morning at school drop off, I casually mentioned that I played pickleball to another mom. This is how I found PlayTime Scheduler. I found a session at a local club and never looked back.

Pickleball to me is perfect. It’s a sport for all ages, athletic abilities, and competition levels. Where else can an 82 year old beat up on some kids in their early 20’s? But it’s so much more than that. Pickleball is my community. It’s all about the people. My best friends have been made across the net and on the court. Pickleball is connection. Pickleball found me at my loneliest and gave me a family. I love this game.

Pickleball is home. And PlayTime Scheduler is the perfect tool to continue to build my circle because anytime I add my name to a session, I know my community will only grow. Here’s to many more games, and many more family members!

Will Russell

Mobile App Developer

Three years ago I used PlayTime Scheduler to find my first pickleball game. I had been sidelined by a tennis injury and really wanted to try pickleball since it was getting so popular. I just didn’t know anyone who played or where to start.

With PlayTime, it was so easy to find games and explore courts around Portland. Before long, I was playing regularly, making friends, and became part of the local pickleball community. Now, as one of its developers, I’m glad my work can support giving others that same experience.

Chelsea NeVille

Marketing Associate

When my husband’s job relocated us to Northern California, I had one very important requirement:

“I don’t care where we move… as long as I can play pickleball!” Priorities, right?

I had started playing back home, where we had 12 courts at the time. So moving somewhere completely new came with one clear mission: Find the courts. Find my people.

Luckily, my pickleball radar kicked in fast. Within my first week, I found Rusch Park. Not long after, I discovered PlayTime Scheduler—and that’s when everything really started to come together.

As someone new to the area, PlayTime Scheduler helped me find players around my skill level, fill my calendar with games, and meet some truly amazing people. What began as a simple search for someone to play pickleball with quickly turned into something so much more:

A new community. A sense of belonging. And some lifelong friendships along the way.

I have since moved several different places and each time I’m able to find my place because sometimes, all it takes is a paddle, a court, and a few good people to make a new place feel like home.