Richard Tanaka, AIA, ASID

Rick’s unique talents and skills will support Kingdom Franchisees by assisting them to design their clubs to look great, maximize functionality in their space, and to be on brand.

Rick Tanaka has over forty-five years of experience in the architectural profession including education, training, and professional practice. For the past twenty-five years, he has specialized in interior design and architecture. 

Among other projects, Rick participated in the design of hotels, offices, retail spaces, health clubs, recreational facilities, and restaurants projects from initial concept through design development and construction documents.

Bachelor of Science in Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards- NCARB Certificate Holder.

National Council Interior Design Qualification Certificate Holder.

Richard Tanaka, AIA, ASID

Ace Rodrigues

Founder and CEO

When asked how he came up with the concept of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace likes to say, “On a windy, dirty court while standing in the sun waiting to play on January 9, 2021, I said out loud, ‘There has to be a better way.’ And then God threw this lightning bolt of a mission into my heart that has lit my brain on fire, and it’s been blazing ever since.”  

And the pickleball world has been better for it. Ace’s past experiences founding companies, scaling growth, and creating support networks, primarily in the financial services and energy efficiency sectors, serves him well in setting the go-forward vision to build Pickleball Kingdom.   

Having developed and coined numerous concepts and phrases that are now industry standards, Ace’s innovative approach continues to craft the path for not only the Kingdom brand, but the greater indoor pickleball industry itself. The creation of “Pickleball Paddle Battle,” a competition reality show is one such example of Ace’s leading-edge thinking.  

Originally from Hawaii, Ace has been married to Tracy for over 30 years and they have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Ace and Tracy love sports, movies, and eating out. 

What motivates him? “I’m the most blessed man on the planet. So, my drive is to create Kings and Queens of Kingdoms, which are our franchisees, first throughout America, then throughout the world.”