Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanelda Carey.
Tanelda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am originally from Ridgeland, MS. I played collegiate softball at Mississippi State University all four years and graduated with a degree in Business Administration majoring in Insurance, Risk Management and Financial Planning and a minor in Economics. I also have a master’s degree in Business Administration from Mississippi College.
I started Playing With Purpose Softball as a softball instructor in 2012 providing hitting, pitching, and fielding lessons in an open field. I needed a place I could call home so I started renting a softball field at Texas Avenue Park in Webster, TX with little to no clientele. I started marketing myself at the local softball fields and attending softball tournaments to get my name out there. At that time, I was working a full-time job as an underwriter at an insurance company. I did both for five years. During that time, I went from renting a softball field to renting a softball cage in Dickinson, TX. I have met a lot of wonderful people in the softball community. Some of the first people that allowed me the opportunity to work with their kids and teams are my sister, Tamara McDonald who allowed me to work with my niece, Bayshore Softball League, Cheyenne Mata, a wonderful friend Mariana Monterrubio, and Jason & Adrienne Putnal, LuAnn Hardesty and the Boetjer Family.
In 2016, my husband and I opened Playing With Purpose Sports Hitting & Training Facility located in Santa Fe, TX. Here, we are able to provide baseball and softball batting cage rentals to the public. Individuals and baseball/softball teams are able to rent batting cages. We currently have specialized softball camps during holidays and other training camps such as speed and agility and Boot Camp for adults and children. I also provide private softball hitting and fielding instruction as well at our facility. My passion is player development and progression. I love working with players on all skill levels. I enjoy being a positive influence and mentor to young athletes in our community and surrounding areas. My husband and I are both thankful for the opportunity and we are grateful for all of the support and love that has been shown over the years. We are also very grateful for the love and support from our family and friends. We are looking to bring more training into our facility. We also have a small pro shop where we sell bats, gear, and apparel. We have great things planned for Playing With Purpose Sports (PWPS) and we are looking forward to our future.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not been completely smooth but it has not been awful either. I would say that the biggest transition that was surprisingly a struggle was in 2017 when I left my full-time job to pursue softball full-time. I had time management skills in corporate America, but when you are an entrepreneur, your time management is very important. You are no longer working for someone else, you are working for yourself and how you spend your time is very important. Along with time management is balance. It was very hard in the beginning to find a work/life balance.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Playing With Purpose Sports Hitting & Training Facility – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Playing With Purpose Sports Hitting & Training Facility is a nice clean facility that has three long cages and a hitting station designed for teams to do specialized training such as tee work, speed & agility, etc. We have a baseball and softball pitching machine along with softballs, baseballs and tees available if customers that do not have any. We also have a waiting area with a television and concession snacks and drinks available for purchase. We pride ourselves in keeping our facility clean and friendly. We are very appreciative of Ms. Gloria who works at our front desk. She is friendly to our customers and is very helpful and does a great job for us at PWPS. We are also thankful for Jason Putnal and his family in all of their help in assisting with the important upkeep of our facility.
As an instructor, I am known for working with players at all skill levels. I can work with a player that has never played softball before and I can work with a collegiate player coming home for the holidays and wants to get extra work in. I set myself apart because I am more than a hitting instructor. I take time out to listen to my players and get to know them. It’s not just about coming into the cages to perfect a swing or have better fielding mechanics. It’s about encouraging, impacting, and developing players to not just be good athletes but to be nice young ladies and later, respectful young women. They are our future. I care, that’s what sets me apart and that’s what I’m most proud of.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our plans for the future are to purchase land for softball fields where we will host tournaments. Fields will also be available for team practices and will be the home of our Softball Organization, Texas Diamond Elite Softball Organization.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3727 FM 646 Rd. N
Santa Fe, TX 77510 - Website: www.pwpsports.net
- Phone: 281-972-5422
- Email: pwpscages@gmail.com
- Instagram: @pwp_sports
- Facebook: @pwpscages
Image Credit:
Photography by Jacenta
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
