USTA Southern California has named Steve Lakowske of Avila Beach as the May 2023 League Captain of the Month.

Stephen Lakowske, a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader in the technology industry, is known for his remarkable achievements. With a passion for innovation and a talent for spotting market opportunities, he consistently drives growth and success. Steve was born in Kansas City and raised in Oregon. He pursued his education at Oregon State University, the University of Southern California, and Stanford University, earning degrees in Engineering and Human Factors. In 1979, Lakowske began his career with NASA in the Bay Area, where he spent a decade before venturing into the entrepreneurial world.

Steven founded three successful high-tech software development/hardware startups creating aerospace data analysis and visualization application software. His first foray into entrepreneurship was with Centric, a company based in Los Gatos, California. Afterward, Lakowske went on to establish two more companies: SimAuthor in Boulder, Colorado, and Mentor eData in San Luis Obispo, California.

Throughout his career, Lakowske achieved notable milestones. One of his career highlights was the design and construction of NASA/Ames’ cutting-edge aviation human factors research facility. This facility was at the forefront of technological advancement in the field. Additionally, Lakowske developed the world’s first transportable, full-fidelity passenger driving simulator, which was deployed in Australia for driver’s education and research purposes, benefiting high school students.

Centric, under Lakowske’s leadership, earned recognition as one of Silicon Valley’s Top 100 fastest-growing companies. However, despite the success, Lakowske decided to pursue his next startup venture and eventually left Centric.

Overall, Steve Lakowske’s life journey encompasses a range of accomplishments, from his academic pursuits in engineering and human factors to his impactful contributions to aerospace data analysis, human factors research, and transportation education.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Steve Lakowske also embarked on a new passion later in life. At the age of 50, while residing in Boulder, he discovered tennis as an alternative to his previous sports involvement as a senior baseball player in the MSBL (Men’s Senior Baseball League). Realizing that he could no longer hit a breaking ball effectively, Lakowske sought a sport that offered a larger target, leading him to pick up a racquet and a fuzzy green ball.

Since that discovery, tennis has become a significant part of Lakowske’s life, bringing him not only enjoyment through the game itself but also a sense of community. He actively supports organizations like the USTA and finds fulfillment in contributing to the growth of tennis participation in both Boulder and the Central Coast.

Lakowske considers his involvement in promoting and expanding tennis as a rewarding and extraordinary adventure. As he and his journey continue, he plans to bring the same dedication and enthusiasm to his new location in Sedona, Arizona, where he and his family will be relocating in June.