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NWBA Board of Directors Promotes Anthony Bartkowski to Executive Director

By NWBA, 06/09/17, 2:45PM CDT

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – On Friday, the NWBA Board of Directors and President Sarah Castle selected long-time Olympic and sports administrator Anthony Bartkowski of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as its next Executive Director, effective June 12. Bartkowski first joined the NWBA in September 2015 as a volunteer and was named the Director of Marketing, Communications and Events in January 2016. Bartkowski possesses expansive experience in the Olympic movement, serving in numerous capacities during his career.

He has worked closely with Jim Scherr, the past NWBA Executive Director for the last 21 months, increasing the publicity of the athletes and the NWBA. Additionally, Bartkowski solidified Louisville, Kentucky, as the host of the National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament following a competitive bid process. He has also worked closely with the board in updating the NWBA governance documents.

“The Board of Directors and I are pleased to maintain consistency and the progress with the appointment of Anthony Bartkowski as the Executive Director,” said Sarah Castle, NWBA President. “He has worked closely with us since coming to the NWBA and understands our key priorities and further expanding our programs for success, especially with grassroots opportunities.”

As the NWBA Executive Director, Bartkowski will oversee all management functions, including the day-to-day operations, budget, strategic planning, business development, and staffing.

“First, I want to thank Sarah Castle and the board of directors for providing this opportunity to expand and grow the NWBA,” said Bartkowski. “The NWBA is a great organization that has established itself as a leader among all disabled sport organizations. I look forward to furthering the new programs and initiatives that we have recently developed that could drive grassroots growth. I have a passion for sports and want to provide our athletes with the necessary resources for success at all levels.”

Bartkowski was the Executive Director for USA Boxing from 2010-2014. Bartkowski’s most notable achievement was bringing the organization into financial positive assets in 2012. He left the organization with nearly $2.5 million in cash assets. In total, it was a $4.2 million net change in assets.

In 2013, Bartkowski re-organized and selected a new high performance team that excelled in obtaining 83 medals in 19 international competitions with 128 athletes, the most since the late 1990s. He also provided USA Boxing its first four-year calendar of national events, and negotiated the largest host fee for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

From 2009 to late 2010, Bartkowski was a consultant for a variety of Olympic sports in communications and event management, which included the public and media relations for the 2010 Archery World Cup that resulted in a sold-out finals venue. He also was the event director for the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships. Prior to serving as an independent consultant, Bartkowski held positions with ESPN, USA Hockey, USA Boxing, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, USA Wrestling and USA Weightlifting.

As the Director, Communications for ESPN Outdoors and BASS, he was responsible for executing a successful communications plan around the Bassmaster Classic that resulted in 320 media members attending and delivering over $8.2 million in coverage. He received the APEX Award of Excellence for the 2009 BASS Media Guide.

Bartkowski has a wealth of experience in developing, bidding and managing successful sporting events, including: U.S. Boxing National Championships; National Finals Rodeo; ProRodeo Tour championships; the first-ever Dave Schultz Memorial International; and numerous USA Wrestling age-group national championships.

An avid angler, Bartkowski has been a fly fishing guide in Colorado since 2004, and recognized as the Guide of the Year for the Flyfisher Guide Service three times. He graduated from Edinboro University with a degree in communications, where he was a member of the NCAA Division I wrestling team that was coached by four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner. He and his wife, Kimberly, reside in the Colorado Springs area.