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This month we will send a farewell and our best wishes to Melissa Schlecht who is retiring from the American Darters Association (ADA). Melissa & family have been with the ADA since November 1993.
She has worked with the ADA for the past seventeen years as an ADA Representative out of the Caseyville Illinois area. She joined the ADA as a business opportunity with her sister and partner, Jennifer Horvath in 1993. Throughout the years Melissa and Jennifer took turns running their leagues while raising their families. Melissa said, “We started out together and then Jennifer took over while I had my children and I stepped in when she had hers”. Jennifer continued to help but Melissa was more involved the last 6 years of her LO position.
What started as 8 teams in their original three counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe IL soon grew into 180 teams which represents the largest team count to date for the American Darters Association. Melissa received ADA Rep of the Year award for her excellent management skills. She also held a position on the ADA Cricket Neutralizer Committee since 2008.
Along with her ADA Franchise, Melissa is the owner of The Dart Shop in Caseyville Illinois. The Dart Shop was headquarters for her franchise. She ran all operations of the dart leagues out of this location. It was a good location for her Division Representatives (DR) to drop off and pick up league packets and sell supplies needed for the dart leagues. WL Fort is one of the ADA’s Division Reps for the Caseyville area. He was a previous DR in ADA Rep Kevin Graham’s area of Joliet IL until he moved to Caseyville in 2006. He said, “Even when members would get excited or worked up over an issue, Melissa always tried to be fair with her all of members and make sure their league experience was a positive one.”
When word got out that Melissa was retiring from the ADA, Wendy Gipson’s phone did not stop ringing. She had to call and find out for herself if the rumors were true that Melissa was really retiring. Wendy is not only Melissa’s good friend but she also worked at The Dart Shop and as a DR for Jennifer and Melissa over the years. “We met when I became a dart member in 2000. Melissa is a fabulous, awesome person. Not only is she professional but also a friend to all her members.”
A former Division Representative for Melissa, Craig Carr is taking over the area from Melissa and becoming the area’s new ADA Rep. “We are confident that Craig will pick up right where Melissa drops off with the leagues” says, ADA’s Vice President Karl Remick. “Craig has been a friend of Melissa’s and worked closely with her over the years” he adds.
Melissa plans on spending more time with her husband, Jim and daughter Hailey, 15 son Garrett, 17. She plans on keeping busy without having the management responsibilities of the ADA in her life. “She has always been involved with her family and children’s activities and supported them in their interests” said, Gloria Remick, CEO of the ADA. “She made an effort to attend as many National Championship and Regional Events that she could throughout the years to work and support her participating teams. These events were our time to catch up with what’s been going on with our families.” “ We are all going to miss her.”
“She has been a part of the ADA family for a long time but it seems like just yesterday that she signed her ADA franchise contract. We are saddened by her decision to retire but know that out of our partnership we have made a lifelong friend. We thank you Melissa for all your hard work throughout the years and wish you good luck with your future retirement!”
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