About
PB1965's Mission
PB1965 was founded by people who fell in love with the sport of pickleball from the moment we picked up a paddle. We are not a company run by accountants and MBA’s, but a business that understands the needs and wants of our players because we all play!
Our goal is simple; to provide fashionable, efficient, and affordable apparel for those that play this great sport and provide exemplary customer service with lightning fast delivery to our customers.
MEET THE TEAM
Randy Sussman
Randy grew up in Boston Massachusetts where he attended Cushing Academy and Emerson College. After graduating from college, Randy went to work at his family restaurant, Bookbinders Seafood House in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1989, Randy began his first entrepreneurial endeavor, Randy’s Tickets, a New York City based full-service ticket brokerage firm selling premium tickets to concerts, sporting events, and theatre domestically and internationally.
Randy’s pickleball career began shortly after moving to Marco Island, Florida in the spring of 2016. While attending the U.S. Open in Naples, he had the revelation that he had to play this game! Moments later he was at the closest merchandise tent buying his first paddle and has been playing non-stop ever since, even earning himself the privilege of learning from a few of the best players in the country. It was no surprise that pickleball became more than a sport to Randy. Gaining many friends and acquaintances through his time on the court, Randy has created his own pickleball family-celebrating and traveling together regularly, even enjoying pickleball vacations together! The sport has become a lifestyle.
In 2017, Randy began to ask “Why isn’t there a pickleball only brand of apparel that fits and looks great?” It was then the he dreamt up PB1965. That dream has now become a reality. PB1965 now provides the best products to pickleball players around the world. Randy currently resides in Naples, Florida and enjoys going to the beach, jet skiing, horseback riding, attending concerts, and sporting events.
Kyle Yates
Kyle’s passion for pickleball began with his uncle, Mike Welter, while he was in high school. As an avid tennis player, his transition to pickleball was quick and effortless. In 2014, Kyle played in his first USAPA National tournament and took gold the very first day in the men’s doubles 19+.
Two years later, he won the grand slam of men’s pro doubles by winning the US Open, Tournament of Champions, and the USAPA Nationals all in 2016. Since then, he has won six US Open pro doubles titles, two TOC pro doubles titles, and two USAPA Nationals pro doubles titles, among others. In 2018, he was named the WPF world #1 ranked doubles player.
2019 has proven to be a very successful year for Kyle, earning gold across the globe. His medal count includes gold in men’s and mixed doubles at the Florida Grand Slam, US Open, Beer City Open and the French Open. He also captured gold medals in men’s doubles at the SoCal Classic, Vail Open and Tournament of Champions. Additionally, gold in men’s singles and mixed doubles at the Spanish Open and a mixed doubles gold at the Chicago Open as well as meddled in the US National Tournament in both singles and doubles.
While playing pickleball in Fort Myers, Florida, Kyle was introduced to Randy Sussman. They bonded over their love of the sport and their dream of providing top quality apparel for pickleball enthusiasts and athletes alike. It was then that Kyle joined forces with PB1965 and has assisted in making Randy's dream a reality.
Eva Welsher
Eva Welsher comes to the PB1965 Pickleball family with an extensive racquet background. She was a top junior tennis player in the country and played D1 tennis for Northwestern University. After college , she traveled the country competing and excelling at the top level in Paddle Tennis before finding pickleball.
She started her pickleball journey 3 1/2 years ago when she became an empty nester. Eva is currently the #1 Senior woman’s Doubles and Mixed Player in the World.
Eva and her husband , Geoff, originally from Michigan , are new snowbirds to Naples , Florida. They have two wonderful sons, Mac and Geoffrey and a precious daughter in law , Paige.
She started her pickleball journey 3 1/2 years ago when she became an empty nester. Eva is currently the #1 Senior woman’s Doubles and Mixed Player in the World.
Eva and her husband , Geoff, originally from Michigan , are new snowbirds to Naples , Florida. They have two wonderful sons, Mac and Geoffrey and a precious daughter in law , Paige.