Skechers is an American shoe company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, founded by CEO Robert Greenberg and his son Michael in 1992 right after Robert left LA Gear, which he had founded in 1983. Michael was a distributor for Doc Martens. Importing knock-off Doc Martens boots ended in a legal battle between Skechers and Doc Martins. Skechers' early products were utility-style boots and skate shoes; the company has since diversified to include thousands of athletic, casual and dress styles for men, women, and children.
The USA Pickleball Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) was established in 2005 to further the advancement of the sport on a national level. As the official governing body of pickleball in the United States, USA Pickleball promotes the growth of pickleball by maintaining the rules, setting player ratings, advancing the sport through its national network of 2,000+ ambassadors, and sanctioning tournaments. Since 2013, USA Pickleball has grown 1,000% in its membership to 45,000.