NEW YORK (August 25, 2011) – Charles D. Smith, an entrepreneur and former Olympian and professional basketball player, has joined the Board of Advisors of Zito Partners, the company announced today.
Mr. Smith was most recently the Executive Director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA). Under his leadership, the Association grew and reached goals in fundraising, marketing, member relations and programs and services for its members.
Prior to joining the NBRPA, Mr. Smith served as a Regional Representative of Player Programs for the NBA Players Association (NBPA). In that capacity, he made an impact on the lives of current and former players by providing them educational programs and support services.
He also developed and owns four prestigious technology patents providing customizable software applications for video ingestion in the industry of content management. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is completing his MBA at Seton Hall University.
Mr. Smith was a high school basketball star in Bridgeport, Connecticut, before moving on to the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned Big East Player of the Year honors. The third overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, Mr. Smith played with the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs during a 10-year career.
After his basketball career, Mr. Smith worked in the entertainment and technology industries in senior positions at NewMedia Global, Simply TV, and Fluid Sports & Entertainment. In 1989 he founded the Charles D. Smith Foundation and Education Center in Bridgeport, an after-school center designed to assist inner-city children with academic support and activities.