Meet Elise Ivy | CEO and Co-Founder of ROKNE Pickleball

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elise Ivy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elise, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Although everyone defines success differently I truly believe that the most important factor behind the success of ROKNE pickleball is the balance we have between co-founders.

My business partner happens to be my brother and we also happen to be complete opposites. I believe that having a natural division of labors and such vastly different talents is exactly what has served us so well in business.

We are opposites in almost every way – I’m an extrovert, he’s an introvert. I enjoy taking bigger risks, he’s more calculated. I move fast, he moves slow and controlled. I like forward facing events, he likes the behind the scenes work. I love being out on the courts with the people, he likes to work behind the scenes. I could go on. However, the kicker is not just that we’re different, it’s that we’re different and we recognize and respect each other’s talents. We support the other to have the freedom to do what they need to do and we trust each other implicitly.

The only trait I can think of that we 100% share is that of our moral and ethical standards and belief in long, honest, respectful relationships.
This unwavering belief system is at the root of every decision we make and this allows our differences to be a strength versus a hindrance.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My bio pretty much sums up my background which is vastly different than anyone else in the pickleball space. I’ve never been one to follow the crowd or stay too long in one place. So, to me it makes perfect sense to jump from TV to sporting goods. To others, this may be mind-bending.

Elise Ivy is a well-rounded media professional with 20 years of experience and exceptional strength in on-camera hosting/reporting, digital content creation, and brand story telling.

During her seven years as a QVC on camera host, she combined her natural warmth, quick wit, and studious nature to become a respected authority in beauty, fashion, fitness and accessories sales.

With over 7,000 hours of live television hosting experience, strategizing, and executing more than 65 brand launches, and creating, producing, and hosting her own beauty show, ‘Get Ready Gorgeous with Elise,’ she became highly adept at presenting compelling, monetizable content. While at QVC Elise was inspired by the idea of product development and entrepreneurship.
After starting to play pickleball she discovered an opportunity in the market and she and her brother teamed up to create ROKNE pickleball, a pickleball paddle company that combines equal parts cutting edge technology with aspirational aesthetic.

Now as an entrepreneur and freelance producer / host, Elise prides herself on being a highly innovative thinker who can combine multiple forms of media, example: television, podcasting and social digital video formats to simultaneously drive engagement, monetary conversions, and brand awareness.

She possesses a natural curiosity, general excitement for life and is energized by creating strong connections with people whether that’s in person on the pickleball court or through a camera lens.

ROKNE pickleball is in it’s third year of business and partly because of Elise’s media background we have been able to gain an incredible amount of brand exposure.
When ROKNE launched in 2021 the pickleball industry was very different. There were only a handful of brands in the game. ROKNE was the first brand to make a major splash in bringing brand aesthetic to the forefront. We set out to create a paddle line that combined cutting edge technology and aspirational aesthetic that was USAPA approved for tournament play. Within four months of launching, Saks Fifth Avenue took notice of the ROKNE aesthetic and listed ROKNE as their first pickleball brand online.

Soon after, many new doors opened and ROKNE was booming. We became the exclusive pickleball retailer on CBS Mornings Deals and aired on the morning show numerous times gaining massive national exposure. Big box stores such as Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra started selling ROKNE in store. Dicks Sporting Goods launched ROKNE online and many others followed suit.

Celebrities jumped on board and ROKNE secured an endorsement deal from NFL Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Ronde Barber.

All of this excitement and press was only possible because of the paddle research and development work happening behind the scenes. In 2021 ROKNE successfully launched with one paddle – The Curve Classic (still a best seller today) but with the consultation of engineers and material experts, today, ROKNE has expanded it’s paddle line to include four paddle tiers: 1. A sub $100 line of paddles for the recreational player, beginner, and kids 2. An advanced series of paddles with elevated materials for the intermediate to pro player 3. A line of six paddles that are fully made, manufactured, assembled and shipped in the United States 4. A highly innovative and advanced patent pending competition paddle with the ability to customize the paddle weight. These tiers range from $49-$299 and offer a variety of different materials and benefits all of which can be found at: www.roknepickleball.com.

Of course we are deeply proud of these achievements in our 2.5 years in business, but what we are most energized by is the fact that pickleball is able to give back to the community. Every day we feel grateful to be involved in a sport that’s inclusive regardless of age, financial status or physical ability. It’s important for us to be involved in our local communities and charitable organizations such as Breakthru Miami and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
We purposefully create quality paddles starting at $49 so that budget will not be the barrier of entry to pickleball.

With the upward trajectory of pickleball’s popularity the growth of ROKNE doesn’t seem to be slowing down. As pickleball grows, ROKNE grows and the positive impact on the community can grow. It’s a beautiful feeling to be a part of such a positive movement in Miami and around the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Favorite spots – anywhere with an ocean view. I love seeing the sunset from the bay side. My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner at The Mondrian just as the sun set and it was gorgeous, so that’s become a favorite view of mine.

If we can be on the water – even better!

You can often times find my husband and I trying out new restaurants. I love ambiance, he loves good food, so the Miami restaurant scene works for us.

Coral Gables is one of my favorite parts of town. We will often workout at Lifetime in the mornings, head off to work and then meet up for pickleball (or happy hour) with friends.

Of course I love being on the the pickleball courts – I play all over the city, so it’s hard to choose my favorite courts, but here are some of them:
Riviera Prep School
Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus
Coral Pine Park – Pinecrest
Lifetime – The Falls
Miami Beach Golf Course
My friend’s backyard 🙂

There’s so many more to try. The beauty of court hopping is getting to meet new friends all over the city.

And then sometimes, we love to just be home and enjoy all the wildlife in our backyard canal.

Miami is by far my favorite place I’ve ever lived. What’s not to love?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m motivated and inspired every single day by my husband, Jasiel Jimenez (JJ). He immigrated to Miami from Cuba in the year 2000 at the age of 23 with nothing to his name. However, what he did bring was a dream and an undeniable work ethic. Through hard work, grit, determination and perseverance he is now the Owner and President of J Construction LLC, a thriving luxury construction company in Miami. He has successfully created both residential and commercial divisions within the J Construction umbrella.

What I love most about his story is his perseverance. His ability to see the bigger picture and the goal of being a United States business owner. Within his industry, he has a deep respect from his subcontractors because he himself started as a laborer and over 20 years worked his way up to owning J Construction. He is the embodiment of the American Dream and every day that I see him head off to work, I’m energized and inspired.

His work ethic is bar none the best, and his zest for life equals that. His deep respect for his clients and employees is demonstrated every day through his patience and attention to detail. He seizes opportunity with grace and gratitude and he is the inspiration behind me starting my business and believing that I could succeed.

Website: https://www.roknepickleball.com

Instagram: @roknepickleball @Elise.Ivy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/98356110/admin/feed/posts/

Twitter: @roknepickleball

Facebook: @roknepickleball

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClvtjDGSv19Mcgb28Z7rL9Q

Other: Tik Tok @Roknepickleball Pinterest: @roknepickleball

Image Credits
For my Headshot – Please credit MICO

Carey Schumacher took a couple of the other photos – (the guy and the girl in the white hats)

The photo of the 4 girls – Please credit Pickleball in the Sun