Business executive, entrepreneur and retired NBA stand-out Charles D. Smith will deliver this year's Thomas J. Volpe Lecture, a signature annual St. Francis College event that brings world-renowned leaders from sports, politics, commerce and the arts to SFC's Brooklyn Heights campus.

The 2019 Volpe Lecture, titled "The Cultural Ambassador," will take place November 20^th from 11:10 am – 12:10 pm.

Smith retired in 1997 from a ten-year professional basketball career that included turns at the Los Angeles Clippers, the New York Knicks, and the San Antonio Spurs. After the NBA, Smith launched his own tech company and secured four patents on content management software innovations. He served as Executive Director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, managing the organization's growth and fundraising, and spearheaded new business for Midas Exchange, a subsidiary of WPP/GroupM, the world's largest media company.

In his current role as Head of Sports & Entertainment for Mediacom, also part of WPP/GroupM, Smith connects marquee personalities with major brands for integrated social media marketing campaigns.

'While my background is diverse, the common theme is connectivity and relationships," said Smith. "My work has always involved bringing people and organizations together to pursue mutually-beneficial goals. I'm fortunate to have seen much success as an athlete and in business, and I'm grateful for this opportunity to share some of what I've learned with St. Francis students and the broader community."

The twenty-six prior Volpe lecturers include former President of Poland Lech Walesa, author E.L. Doctorow, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The series launched in 1997 and is funded by a generous gift from Thomas J. Volpe, the former Senior Vice President of Financial Operations for The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.

"Charles is a fantastic addition to the Volpe Lecture roster," said Miguel Martinez-Saenz, Ph.D., SFC's President. "His unique mix of achievement in the athletic arena and in the business world gives him a perspective on what 'success' means that is like no other. He's a motivating speaker who will deliver on the Volpe Lecture Series' mission to enrich our students' intellectual lives and prepare them for civic and professional leadership."

Smith earned his BA from University of Pittsburgh, and completed MBA coursework at Seton Hall University. He also completed the Executive Program in Entrepreneurship from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

The Volpe Lecture is free to attend and open to the public. To register, visit: https://volpelecture.eventbrite.com.