CPC Board Elections 2026

Hi everyone! I’m Leigh Halkerston, and I’m excited to run for President of Crabby Pickleball.

I’ve spent the past 26 years working in IT project management, where I’ve learned the importance of leadership, organization, teamwork, communication, and—probably most importantly—how to keep things moving when there are a lot of balls in the air!

I’m originally from Annapolis, and for the past 10 years, I’ve been proud to call the Eastern Shore of Maryland home. When I’m not working or playing pickleball, I’m busy enjoying life with my husband, two kids, my parents (who also play pickleball), family and friends.

I truly love pickleball—not just for the game, but for the people. One of my favorite things about pickleball is the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, laugh, compete, and be part of a great community. I’ve met so many wonderful people through this sport, and that’s what makes Crabby Pickleball so special to me.

If elected President, I want to help grow our club, build an even stronger community, create more opportunities for members to connect, and make sure Crabby Pickleball continues to be welcoming and fun for players of all levels.

I’m ready to put my experience, energy, and love of pickleball to work for our club. I’d be honored to have your support and the opportunity to serve as your President.

Let’s keep growing, playing, laughing, and building an amazing Crabby Pickleball community together!

A few years ago, a tennis friend invited me to a pickleball clinic at the Edge. It was fun… but it was January so I didn’t look to play more. Two months later, the company I worked for as a part-time bookkeeper closed, and I had more free time. So, I went to Mowbray to check out open play. The rest is history. I filled my newly found free-time by playing pickleball – some days both in the morning and in the evening. Needless to say, I was hooked. The amount of time I spent at the courts that summer prompted my husband to ask me if I planned to find another job. My reply…”I really like pickleball, so I think I’m retired.”

Prior to my retirement and pursuit of pickleball fun, I received a Masters of Public Administration and then worked as a legislative analyst for the Maryland State Highway Administration for 7 years. I became a stay-at-home mom when our second son was born.

That is when my volunteer work really began. Here are some of my volunteer roles over the past 24 years:

- Sunday school teacher
- Church treasurer
- T-ball coach
- Club Soccer Team Manager
- Mooresville Food Bank delivery coordinator
- Special Olympics
- USTA Team Captain
- PTA Secretary/VP Elementary School
- PTA Treasurer Middle School/High School
- Assistant High School Tennis Coach
- Project Linus
- QA County Backpack Program

All of these roles have given me a lot of experience working with different groups and people. Each role has helped me to be very organized which is vital for the Secretary position.

While I am “retired” from a paying job, I enjoy volunteering in the community and am always looking for new opportunities. Serving as secretary of the Crabby Pickleball Club would allow me to help build on what the club founders have started. I would like to help foster open communication between the board and its’ members. I love pickleball because people of all ages and skill levels can play. Pickleball is a wonderful way to bring the community together, and I would like to help the club with that mission.

My husband and I moved to Maryland one year ago to be closer to our adult children and grandchildren. Our previous home was in Kalamazoo, MI for 31 years. There we enjoyed water sports, hiking, and biking in the state. It was a difficult decision to leave our close friends and rich pickleball community behind. Pickleball eased this transition in Maryland, and I am thankful for Crabby Pickleball Club.

Approximately 6 years ago, I decided to learn about the sport of pickleball, starting with a beginner lesson at West Hills Athletic Club in Kalamazoo, MI. I enjoyed the sport; therefore, I participated in open play, lessons, and ladder league at the club. Through these activities, I met many other players, which led to countless pick-up games at the club and local outdoor courts. This sport has given me many new deep friendships.

Computer Technician: I worked for 2 large public school systems in the Kalamazoo area as IT building coordinator for 20 years. My last position was at Portage Northern High School with over 100 staff members and 1300 students. As the first responder to IT issues in the building, I evaluated issues with TV, telephones, PA, computers, Chromebooks, projectors, and WiFi. My success in this position was based on liking to help people and fixing things. If I couldn't resolve it, I escalated the issue to the appropriate IT staff and monitored its resolution.

Civil Engineering Tech: In Florida and California, I worked as an engineering tech for large civil engineering projects. My last position in California was for the City of Sacramento, where I led the public works design team in the transition from traditional drafting to AutoCAD. My success in this career was strong analytical thinking, people skills, and learning on the job.

Education: Two years at Louisiana State University

I have lived in Maryland my whole life and on the Eastern Shore since 1988. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in forestry from West Virginia University and worked as a forester with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service for over 40 years. I retired from DNR in 2022.

I’ve been playing pickleball since 2019. I was part of the group that remembers when Mowbray had three tennis courts that we taped pickleball lines over, set up our own nets, then worked with the county to paint permanent lines, and then create the courts we enjoy today. The good old days?

I have been a Member-at-Large for CPC since its inception in 2022, serving on the technical committee.

I am also a Certified Pickleball Instructor through PPR.

My other interests include craft beer, t-shirt designs, and travel. My side gigs include being the beer purveyor for a local package-good shop on Kent Island, writing the Maryland column for a regional craft beer publication for since 2019 (Mid-Atlantic Brewery News), and my personal beer blog (Maryland Beer Journal & Atlas).

I have been married to Denise for 37 years and we have two married children and two grandsons.