“The Horse’s Mouth with Tom McManus” is a unique talk show offering opinions and facts that come straight from the source. No gossip, no hearsay, no agendas; just topics straight from the Horse’s Mouth! His guests include top of the line, high profile figures in sports, news, entertainment, business and leaders in the community. He will tackle the hard subjects in society over a beer and laughs. Today our host, Tom McManus spoke with Laura Gainor and Coach Mark Duffner.
Laura Gainor
Founder & CEO at Pickleball In The Sun and Mahjong in the Sun
Website Address: www.pickleballinthesun.com
Short company description:
Pickleball in the Sun is a marketing agency and lifestyle brand built around the power of sport, community, and experiential storytelling. We connect brands, destinations, and audiences through pickleball activations, content, and partnerships that showcase the sport as more than a game — it’s a lifestyle.
Building on that foundation, I recently launched Mahjong in the Sun, which brings that same community-driven, experiential approach to the rapidly growing game of mahjong. Together, the two brands create a unique “courts to tables” lifestyle — where it’s pickleball in the morning and mahjong in the afternoon — offering brands, resorts, and organizations new ways to connect people through both active and social play.
How do you define success?
I don’t define success by money. For me, success is impact, relationships, and the ability to create something that brings people together.
Over the past several years, I’ve been proud to help bring pickleball into the media and marketing spotlight — and now I’m seeing that same early momentum with mahjong. When you start to recognize those “signals” of growth and can help shape how a community forms around it, that’s incredibly rewarding.
Success also means being trusted — when brands, organizations, and communities continue to reach out to collaborate and bring ideas to life.
And most importantly, success means my family is part of the journey. Whether it’s on the court, at the table, or even in moments like this on your show — being able to share these experiences together is what matters most to me.
What lessons from sports have you applied to your personal life and career?
Pickleball taught me the power of community and connection — and Mahjong in the Sun has reinforced that in a different but equally meaningful way.
Both games are incredibly social. Pickleball brings people together through movement and competition, while mahjong brings people together around a table using strategy, focus, and conversation. Together, they create a full-circle experience — active and social, physical and mental.
After moving to Florida, pickleball helped me build both a close group of friends and a professional network. Now with mahjong, I’m seeing that same magic happen again — new friendships forming quickly, multi-generational connections, and people showing up consistently just to be part of something.
The biggest lesson is that opportunities don’t always come from where you expect — they come from showing up, being consistent, and creating spaces where people feel connected.
What strategies do you use to improve your performance?
One of my biggest strategies is staying curious and adaptable. I’m always looking at what’s emerging — whether that was pickleball years ago or now mahjong — and asking how I can be early, thoughtful, and intentional in building something meaningful around it.
I also lean into tools like AI to extend my capabilities. It’s like having an extra team member that helps me move faster, refine ideas, and execute at a higher level.
But beyond tools, it really comes down to listening — to communities, to trends, and to the people I’m working with. That’s how I continue to evolve both brands and create experiences that resonate.
Can You Discuss a Time When You Had to Work with a Team to Achieve a Goal?
A great example is executing large-scale experiential activations with brands like Smirnoff and Gainbridge, where we introduced pickleball to new audiences at major events like the Super Bowl, SXSW, and Formula 1 Miami.
These projects required collaboration across multiple teams — creative, production, brand strategy, and athlete partnerships. My role was to ensure pickleball was integrated authentically while aligning with each brand’s goals.
Now, I’m bringing that same collaborative approach into Mahjong in the Sun — working with venues, charities, and brands to create events that are just as engaging, but in a different way.
For example, today in the studio, I’ll be teaching Tom McManus how to play mahjong — which is a perfect example of how quickly this game creates connection. That’s exactly why it works so well for corporate retreats, team building, and charity events like what we’re planning with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.
At the end of the day, whether it’s on the court or at the table, it’s all about creating shared experiences — and that’s what great teamwork is all about.
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