Addison Staples was born and raised in Gainesville and now calls it home with his beautiful wife, Tracy, and two amazing children, Grace and Emeline. He enjoys spending time with family, surfing, sailing, and anything around water. He is a member of Greenhouse Church and is passionate about serving his community. Staples earned his bachelor's degree from Methodist University where he played college tennis, and his master’s from the University of Florida's Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management.

Staples’s career as a professional tennis instructor has employed him at various private country clubs, resorts, public facilities and colleges. He founded Sports In Motion, a sport for development program in rural Guatemala for impoverished communities. Staples was the executive director of Aces In Motion, which empowers hundreds of Gainesville’s local underserved youth by providing academic assistance and life-skills through sport. Aces In Motion currently partners with UF by operating its after-school program on UF's campus to expose and provide opportunities to more than 40 youth as well as provide research and volunteer opportunities for UF faculty and students. With a collaborative approach, Staples believes Gainesville can improve its issues surrounding racial disparities.

[Profile added in 2018]

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