Photo of Charlie Thomas Charlie Thomas Dinner Chairman 2006 SneakerBall In the 09/07/2006 edition of ExecutiveBiz we had a chance to catch up with Charlie Thomas, Dinner Chairman of 2006 SneakerBall. The SneakerBall an annual black-tie and sneakers gala is on its way to securing the premier position of gala's to attend in Washington's social scene. No other gala hosted attracts the number of professional athlete's, CEO's, politicos and VIP's that attend this event. The event will be held on September 19th at the National Building Musuem. ExecutiveBiz sits down with Charlie Thomas, Dinner Chairman for the 2006 SneakerBall to discuss the event, who should attend, and which local sport personalities will be in the attendance.

ExecutiveBiz: Charlie, why did you choose to chair the 2006 SneakerBall? Charlie Thomas: I've been involved with many charitable events in the D.C. area over the last decade including serving as Chair of Childhelp and NFTE (National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship) for several years. SneakerBall is a unique event focused on highlighting the Washington, D.C. region as a great sports destination (for scholastic, collegiate and professional events), while raising money for regional youth programs that use sports to build character, encourage leadership, and enhance education. I have a lifelong affinity for sports as a former college athlete, and as CEO of Razorsight, I recognize the important complements between community and business. SneakerBall brings together the best of both worlds while sending a strong message to support our regions efforts in enhancing the quality of life in our own back yards. ExecutiveBiz: Why would a C"X"O individual want to align themselves with the Greater Washington Sports Alliance? Charlie Thomas: I have been into sports for my entire life. I played Baseball at UVA and have been really impressed with the kinds of things the Sports Alliance is doing in our region. This organization was created with a very strong foundation, and in a very short time (4 years) has built strategic partnerships to meet its lofty goals and objectives. The board of directors is very active in the mission, and President, Bob Sweeney and Board Chairman, Fernando Murias have done a great job in making the Sports Alliance's vision a reality. ExecutiveBiz: What can attendees expect to find at this years gala? Charlie Thomas: This will be a unique, first class experience for all attendees. Steve Buckhantz the play-by-play announcer for the Washington Wizards on Comcast SportsNet will Emcee an evening full of celebration! Several area professional athletes from the Redskins, Wizards, etc. attend the event as well. And the main component of the evening is the induction of the Hall of Champions. The Greater Washington Sports Hall of Champions honors and preserves the achievements of the finest sports leaders in Greater Washington. Past inductees include Abe Pollin, Gary Williams, John Thompson, Dominique Dawes and Darrell Green among others. The live and silent auctions represent the ultimate experience for every sports fan that includes 2007 Super Bowl package, sports memorabilia, fabulous trips, luxury items, restaurant certificates and much more! ExecutiveBiz: Who will be honored at this year's event and what is the criterion to be selected? Charlie Thomas: This year's Hall of Champions inductees are James Brown, award winning Anchor for CBS Sports / HBO Sports, Ted Leonsis, Vice Chairman of AOL and Owner of the Washington Capitals and Coach Morgan Wootten, Basketball Hall of Famer and former Men's Head Coach of Dematha High School. The criterion for selecting the honorees includes outstanding achievement and sizable impact on the individual's sport, extensive community service and significant efforts to increase visibility for the region as a sports town. Following SneakerBall, a permanent enshrinement will be visible to the public in the Verizon Center. ExecutiveBiz: Why is this event important to the Washington community? Charlie Thomas: The economic impact from sports initiatives in the region can be easily measured and listed as a proven benefit. We have seen communities across the country flourish from a sports marketing outreach. This event sends a strong message to the entire sports world that the Greater Washington community comes together on an annual basis to show their pride and support the grassroots movement that has been instilled at all age levels. Supporting and cheering for a team on the professional, Olympic or collegiate level crosses all boundaries and provides positive goals for the entire community. For more information about 2006 SneakerBall, visit www.gwsportsalliance.com. Interview with Charlie Thomas conducted by JD Kathuria. Enjoy this interview? Digg It! Check out more Executive Spotlights ...