Manheim, PA - On behalf of the Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN) Board of Directors, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the donors, sponsors, and members who support us every day.

While on the surface, it looks as if WIBN chapters host a series of social events that have some networking benefits to business leaders, so much more is being accomplished. Our existing WIBN chapters and the new chapters forming each month are changing people's lives every day. We will continue developing and growing the WIBN to benefit even more people in and from the wrestling community. A couple of the accomplishments this month were:

In late May, the WIBN/Atlanta chapter hosted workouts for the men's and women's Olympic Freestyle wrestling teams at "The Cooler" before their departure for the Pan Am Games. WIBN Atlanta chapter president Rob Larmore and his Board put together an incredible experience for the athletes, including food preparation by some of the best chefs in America compliments of Proof in the Pudding Catering. Atlanta Takedown President Gary Schaefer and a crew of volunteers spearheaded the delivery of the wrestling mats, and amazingly, two of these mats were used in the 1996 Olympics. Not long after the Freestyle wrestlers departed, the doors were back open for the Olympic Greco Roman wrestlers. They arrived on June 22 and will depart on July 2. This is just another terrific example of wrestlers supporting wrestlers.

WIBN Philadelphia launched its first-ever scholarship program. This program will provide a $1000 scholarship to one high school graduating man and woman wrestler from the Philadelphia area to assist in the next stage of their educational lives. The Philadelphia chapter launched this program on June 1 at 2021 WIBN Philadelphia Scholarship Program — Wrestlers in Business Network and will announce the two winners in August.

The WIBN Michigan chapter revitalized its B2B event, which was started in mid-2020 when the pandemic changed our usual way of holding events. In the past few months, Michigan has been aggressive in maintaining its B2B meetings. Michigan took it upon themselves to begin hosting a quick virtual meeting, held every two weeks, before business hours. As a result, they could host their first in-person membership drive, which had an exciting turnout that should allow the chapter to snowball that success into student growth and multiple future events.

In June, WIBN National was honored to host Jonathan Koch as the guest speaker for the WIBN's Speaker Series. This former wrestler and iconic Hollywood TV/Documentary producer has an amazing life story and provided inspirational guidance. Though some moments silenced everyone, Johnathan also provided some great laughs and if you want to know what Jonathan Koch has in common with Red, the Red Robin's mascot, make sure to check out his interview in the WIBN Video Library. Video Library — Wrestlers in Business Network

WIBN Student/Young Professional Membership: We continue to be excited about introducing our new WIBN Student Membership program. We recognize that we have a vast pool of highly motivated college wrestlers who have a demonstrated history of performing at a high level under very adverse conditions. In place of college students paying a fee to purchase a WIBN Student membership, they must upload a current resume into the system while completing their membership application.

Each month we have had a new chapter sign on to be part of the new program and will soon be at all chapters providing the Student Membership. As the resumes build in the career center, WIBN National, in conjunction with local WIBN Chapters, will connect the college wrestlers with internship and career opportunities at companies that specifically want to hire wrestlers. We have started our collaboration with our partners at Wrestling Mindset to implement this program. If you are a college coach and receive a call/email from a local WIBN chapter leader and/or a Wrestling Mindset consultant, please respond promptly. For those college coaches who want to get a head start in getting the resumes of our wrestlers uploaded into the system, please forward this link to your team members: https://wibn.member365.com/public/login/membership/b8bc283cb167a233189e9bfc0d30fd4ba7bfcb52/1.

WIBN Zoom for Prospective Chapter Leaders Interested in Establishing a New Chapter: Over the past year, we have received inquiries from approximately 230 business leaders across the nation who have expressed interest in helping us establish a new WIBN chapter. We are working hard at expanding into new chapters. If you are interested in hearing more, please contact Mike Moyer at mmoyer@nwca.cc or via cell phone at 717.330.2123.

Thanks to our WIBN Chapter leaders and board members for your relentless efforts to advance our mission of providing opportunities for wrestlers to do business with each other and advance their careers. It is a powerful thing when WIBN chapters can leverage revenue generated from networking events to support local wrestling charities. I also want to thank all the friends and family of wrestlers and the wrestling community who are often overlooked. You all provide so much more support than could ever be seen, so THANK YOU! Please don't forget to visit our website at www.wrestlersinbusiness.org to learn more.

In closing, while we dedicate a considerable amount of time to developing transformational coaches, starting new programs, and saving threatening programs, we are really in the business of "changing lives" through the sport of wrestling. Each new intercollegiate men's and women's wrestling team we help establish will provide an opportunity for countless young First Generation College Bound Student-Wrestlers to obtain a college degree (many of which would not have the opportunity ever to attend college), they provide a chance for student-wrestlers to be connected with internship and careers via WIBN. These competition opportunities also help our young aspiring student-wrestlers become comfortable with being uncomfortable. I could go on for pages with other benefits that amateur wrestling provides to student-wrestlers but suffice it to say, none of this would be possible without the generous and ongoing support we receive from our vast array of constituents across the nation.

Mike Moyer, Executive Director
Wrestlers in Business Network

WIBN July's Newsletter