FOUNDER AND HEAD COACH

Alexandra de Guzman, a Charlottesville-based coach, boasts over two decades of competitive tennis experience. Originally from New Jersey, she excelled as a junior player, ranking top five in sectional singles and securing a national USTA doubles title. Transitioning to collegiate play, she competed in NCAA Division I tennis at The College of William and Mary where her team ranked as high as #8 in the nation. She graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology and minor in Art and Art History. Following graduation, she served as the Women's Assistant Tennis Coach at William and Mary before joining the esteemed Van Der Meer Tennis Academy in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Certified by the USPTA, PTR, and as a Tennis Performance Specialist, she has coached nationally-ranked juniors, and provided coaching support at the Madrid Open and French Open, working alongside a professional player on tour. She has firsthand experience in high-performance coaching environments, match preparation, and player development at the elite level and formerly worked at the prestigious Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville.

Alex spent two transformative years abroad in Spain, teaching tennis and English while refining her teaching philosophy centered on self-awareness, immersion, perspective, and empathy. Returning to the U.S., she continued to blend her passions, managing international university programs for an educational travel company. Actively involved in her community, she is a part of the USTA Mid-Atlantic Coaches Commission Task Force.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Michelle brings 25 years of experience in hospitality, operations, and business development to the APEX team. She manages the financial strategy and daily operations for Hawthorne Hospitality’s flagship restaurants— The Local, Mockingbird, and The Local Catering —along with its in-house contracting division. With a background in psychology and mathematics, Michelle also oversees HR, accounting, and long-term growth planning across the organization.

At APEX, Michelle is passionate about building community and supporting the development of young athletes, both on and off the court. A natural problem-solver and creator, she loves turning big ideas into reality. In another career, she might have been an architect or engineer—though she’s already got the project manager title (and a motorcycle license) to prove it.

She lives in Charlottesville with her wife, APEX Founder Alex de Guzman, and their three kids.

COACH AND YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Jamie-Lynn Fincham is originally from West Virginia and has been practicing yoga for over 18 years, ever since she accidentally took a breath and movement class led by a retired Navy SEAL.

She wasn’t immediately convinced to become a yogi, but with a background in boxing and soccer, she quickly recognized the importance of incorporating yoga into her workouts as a way of increasing mobility, injury prevention, and recovery.

She has carried her practice to Nantucket Island, as well as Los Angeles - where she received her 200HR YTT Certification.

Now a brand new member of the Charlottesville community, she has joined The APEX where she is excited to share the benefits of yoga and inspire others to experience how being mindful about your breath and movement can improve their sports performance and overall health. Along with teaching yoga, Jamie-Lynn is a music lover, songwriter, adventure-seeker, and an all around outdoorswoman.