We Built This
Because It Didn't Exist Yet.
IT STARTED BY LISTENING.
The 16 Society didn't come from wanting to run retreats.
It began on the pickleball court.
Some of our biggest lessons as coaches didn't happen during drills and clinics, they happened after the paddles were put away.
After a clinic.
Between games.
Over coffee.
During lunch.
Those were the moments that stayed with us.
BUT PICKLEBALL IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY.
Over the years, we noticed the same themes coming up again and again.
Women wanted to improve their game.
They wanted to travel somewhere new.
They wanted to spend time with women who simply got it.
They wanted something on the calendar they could genuinely look forward to.
No matter where we coached, those same themes kept surfacing.
That's when it clicked.
WE REALIZED PICKLEBALL WAS NEVER JUST THE GAME.
It was the reason women found each other.
New friendships.
New destinations.
Better pickleball.
Memories that lasted long after the trip was over.
So we built it.
The 16 Society.
COME AS YOU ARE.
Come by yourself. Come with friends. Come because you're celebrating something.
Come because you're starting over. Come because you simply need a change of scenery.
You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to be the best player.
You don't need to know anyone when you arrive.
Just show up. We'll meet you where you are.
The Visionaries
Becki Wheeler
Founder & Coach
Sometimes the best chapters of life begin when you least expect them.
That was certainly true when my husband, Rex, and I moved to Arizona in December 2020 and I discovered pickleball for the very first time. I didn’t even know the game existed, but the courts kept calling my name. I finally asked a few friends to teach me, and the very next day, on a Sunday no less, I stepped onto the court for the first time.
What started as curiosity quickly became a passion.
Today, I’m a PPR Certified Pickleball Coach. For nearly three years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching players of all skill levels, from neighborhood courts throughout the United States to destination retreats in the Caribbean. Along the way, I’ve learned that the greatest transformations don’t begin with perfect technique. They begin with confidence.
Every player learns differently. Some need strategy. Some need confidence. Some simply need someone who can explain the game in a way that finally clicks. That’s the environment I strive to create every time I step onto the court.
Together, we’ll work on shot selection, strategy, court positioning, movement, communication, and making smarter decisions under pressure. Just as importantly, you’ll build confidence, trust your instincts, and develop the mindset that helps you become a stronger player long after the lesson is over.
If you’ve ever taken one of my clinics or shared a court with me, you’ve probably noticed I care just as much about confidence and mindset as I do about technique. There’s a reason for that.
In 2017, I held my 14-year-old daughter as she took her last breath after a rare disease took over her body in just 55 days. A loss like that changes you forever. You don’t simply move on. You learn how to move forward.
Pickleball became part of that journey. It gave me a place to quiet my mind, reconnect with people, laugh again, and rediscover purpose. That’s why coaching has never been just about teaching pickleball.
If you’re around my court very long, you’ll probably hear as much laughter as pickleballs. Life is serious enough. Around my court, you’ll find encouragement, plenty of laughter, and a relaxed atmosphere where it’s okay to make mistakes. I believe people learn best when they feel comfortable enough to try something new, laugh at themselves, and keep going.
Whether you’re picking up a paddle for the first time or looking to elevate your game, my goal is simple: to help you leave the court more confident than when you stepped onto it.
Whether we’re working on strategy, celebrating a breakthrough, or laughing over the occasional shot that didn’t quite go as planned, I hope you leave every lesson feeling better than when you arrived. A smarter player. A more confident partner. And maybe with a few sore cheeks from smiling, too.
Laura Ouellette
Founder & Coach
My pickleball journey started with a $25 paddle and a free lesson at my local senior center. I had no idea that one lesson would turn into a passion that would introduce me to an incredible community and lifelong friendships.
After retiring from a 25-year career in law enforcement in 2015, I was looking for a new challenge beyond CrossFit and coaching my daughter's sports teams. That's when pickleball became much more than a hobby.
I quickly became involved in growing the sport, first as a USA Pickleball Ambassador and now as the USA Pickleball Great Lakes Regional Specialist. Along the way, I earned my PPR Coaching Certification, helped expand my local pickleball community, advocated and fundraised for six new, dedicated outdoor courts, and developed beginner programs at my local senior center. I have had the opportunity to travel to Caribbean destinations to coach hundreds of women, and now spend most of my time regularly coaching at a local pickleball facility, mentoring players, volunteering for adaptive university programs, training school teachers to be better instructors, and competing in tournaments.
With more than 30 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and leadership, my goal is to help players understand not just how to hit a shot, but why. I believe improvement comes from purposeful practice, thoughtful feedback, and building confidence one step at a time.
When I'm not on the pickleball court, you'll usually find me traveling. I've visited all 50 states, the Caribbean and Europe.
Being able to combine my love of travel with coaching pickleball is something I never imagined, and I'm excited to share that experience with you. My hope is that you'll leave with a stronger game, greater confidence, new friends, and memories that last long after the retreat ends.