COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) announces the inaugural NWBA Champion’s Circle. This program is an exclusive opportunity for individuals who want to increase the impact and awareness of wheelchair basketball through fundraising and other initiatives. Additionally, the NWBA Champion’s Circle members will serve in an advisory capacity to the organization. The NWBA is pleased to announce that Joe Ruocco and Brian Kurtz will serve through the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics as founding members. 

The NWBA Champion’s Circle members is composed of high-level professionals with a wide range of expertise to advise the organization to sustain the growth of the sport and serve as ambassadors for wheelchair basketball nationally. 

“We are excited about the launch of the NWBA Champion’s Circle and the opportunity for growth in the organization. The Champion’s Circle allows us to not only have important dialogue with experts in their respective fields and also advocate on behalf of the organization as well,” said Anthony Bartkowski, NWBA Executive Director. 

Joe Ruocco brings over 30 years of business experience to the NWBA Champion’s Circle spending seven years as Goodyear’s Chief Human Resources Officer following a long career at GE. He again is stepping into a leadership role to serve as the Co-Captain of the inaugural NWBA Champion’s Circle.

“I’m excited to co-lead the Champion’s Circle and to support an organization with such an extensive history as the NWBA. I look forward to dedicating my knowledge and experience to help take the organization to the next level,” said Ruocco.

Ruocco is currently a Senior Advisor to CamberView Partners, a leading provider of independent, investor-focused advice to help public company management teams and boards build strong, productive relationships with institutional investors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Bright Funds, a technology company that provides a business platform that allows employees to execute high-impact charitable giving.

Brian Kurtz, Managing Director for Baird’s Private Wealth Management business, brings nearly two decades of financial services experience to the Champions Circle. In addition to managing retirement planning and professional money management for his clients, he also serves as Baird’s Ohio Market Director, overseeing the regional operations for Baird’s private wealth management offices in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, as well as Kansas City, Missouri and Wichita, Kansas.  Active in the Cleveland community, Kurtz is on the St. Martin de Porres High School Corporate Work Study Board, a member of the Camp Cheerful Fall Festival Committee and a member of the John Carroll Entrepreneurs Association. 

The NWBA is actively recruiting NWBA Champion’s Circle members to help the organization better serve its members and build towards the future growth of the sport, all while helping to build a strong financial base to ensure the NWBA is able to meet its needs of the members.