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NWBA Announces Greg Smith and Nick Vojnovic to Champion's Circle

By NWBA, 11/12/18, 5:00PM CST

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) announces Greg Smith and Nick Vojnovic as the newest members of 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 various key initiatives including fundraising. The NWBA Champion's Circle represents a wide range of experts in their respective fields and will act in an advisory capacity to the organization. As ambassadors for wheelchair basketball, they will advise the organization to enable the sustained growth of the sport, and the attainment of its Mission: to provide access to this sport for people with disabilities.  

Greg and Nick will serve The NWBA through the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics alongside Joe Ruocco and Brian Kurtz, founding members of this program. Sarah Castle, NWBA President, said: "The NWBA is thrilled to welcome Nick and Greg into Champion's Circle, and into the NWBA Family. The knowledge, network, and passion that each of our Champion's Circle members has will provide a tangible benefit to our organization and our Membership."

Greg Smith is  Executive Vice President of Supply Chain for Walmart U.S. and has over 30 years of Supply Chain and Operations leadership experience at various branded organizations. Throughout Greg's career, he has led high impact change initiatives, and he places a particular emphasis on what he calls servant leadership. Greg will be an active contributor to this first class of NWBA Champion's Circle. A graduate of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Greg also serves on the advisory boards for UT's Global Supply Chain and College of Business. Greg is currently on the board of The Northwest Arkansas Red Cross, and previously he has been on the Board of Boy Scouts of America in Greater Omaha and West Tennessee.

"I am pleased to join the Champion's Circle and The NWBA," said Greg Smith. "As I researched the organization, I was amazed by its roots in supporting the military. I have had limited exposure in the past, but what I do know is that wheelchair basketball is an exciting sport that also plays a huge role in athletes' lives."

Nick Vojnovic is the Founder and President at Little Greek Restaurant Franchise Development where he has grown the franchise to 38 stores nationally in just seven years. Nick has over 30 years in the hospitality industry and prior to Little Greek, Nick was President of Beef O'Brady's where he led the company through an unprecedented period of growth. Nick is known as a world-class entrepreneur, an outstanding developer of people, and has a demonstrated track record of success in both business and his community endeavors. Nick is on the University of South Florida Advisory Board and has been actively involved in the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. Nick has a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University in Hotel Administration and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

"I'm thrilled to be part of this great organization," said Vojnovic.  "I look forward to dedicating my time and effort to take wheelchair basketball to the next level, and providing support to the athletes in the NWBA."

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.

## Roll With U.S. ##

 

About NWBA

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) is the recognized National Organization for Wheelchair Basketball in the USA by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and the High-Performance Management Organization by the United States Olympic Committee. The NWBA trains and selects teams for participation in the Paralympic Games, World Championships, and other international competitions. The NWBA was founded in 1948, and today consists of eight divisions including: Adult Division (I, II and III), Women's Division, Intercollegiate Men's Division, and Intercollegiate Women's Division, as well a Junior Varsity and Prep Divisions. The NWBA will host The National Wheelchair Basketball Championship Series, featuring 96 teams and over 1,100 athletes, between March and April of 2019 across multiple cities in the US. The NWBA National Tournament (Series) is the world's largest wheelchair basketball tournament.

 

Contact:

Brandon McBeain

Director of Membership Services, NWBA

719-266-4082 x 108