COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – USA Boxing President Harold Adonis and the Board of Directors, has selected long-time Olympic and sports administrator, Anthony Bartkowski (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director. He has served as Interim Executive Director since October 15, 2010, but will now lead the organization in a permanent capacity. Bartkowski possesses great experience in the Olympic movement, serving in numerous capacities in the field during his career.

"Anthony Bartkowski stepped in to the position of Interim Executive Director and in a short period of time, mastered the key aspects of the position.  As a veteran of the Olympic movement, he possesses a true understanding of our key priorities and the skills to address those in a fashion that will make USA Boxing  successful,” said Adonis. “He has developed a strong high performance plan which will allow our athletes to effectively prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games and compete to the best of their ability in international competition. We look forward to working with him to once again create an atmosphere of success from the grassroots level to the Olympic medal stand." 

As USA Boxing’s Executive Director, Bartkowski will oversee all management functions, including the annual budget, staffing, organizational contracts, strategic planning, business development, and management of day-to-day operations. 

“The opportunity to serve as USA Boxing’s Executive Director and aid in the current rebuilding process is a challenging and exciting opportunity that I look forward to tackling,” Bartkowski said. “I am joining the organization at a very exciting and promising time with the debut of women’s boxing at the 2012 Olympics and look forward to working with the organization’s dedicated membership to return United States’ Olympic-style boxing program to one of prominence and international success. As a former combat sport athlete, I have a unique passion for boxing and the opportunities our athletes face and will dedicate myself to providing all the key elements needed to succeed.”  

Bartkowski was initially stung by the Olympic bug as a student volunteer for USA Wrestling during his time at Edinboro University. Yet, his professional work in the Olympic movement began nearly 20 years ago as the Communications Manager for USA Wrestling. His experience within the National Governing Body world also includes roles as the Director of Communications for Weightlifting in 1996 as well as work as USA Wrestling’s Manager of National Events. In 1999, he left the Olympic movement to assist the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s marketing and sponsorship efforts, where he was responsible for over 24 million dollars in sponsorship funds. It was a role at USA Boxing that drew Bartkowski back to the Olympic Training Center in 2005 when he took over the organization’s events and marketing department. In his previous role with USA Boxing, Bartkowski oversaw all of the major national and international events as well as aiding in the development and growth of sponsorship efforts. 

Following a short time at USA Hockey, the fourth National Governing Body on Bartkowski’s extensive resume, he combined his love of fishing and his professional skills as the Director of Communications for Bass & ESPN’s Outdoors communications business units. He returned to Colorado Springs in 2009 and has balanced a variety of roles in the Pikes Peak region since that time, including work with the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation and the United States Olympic Committee.

An avid fly fisher, Bartkowski often leads guided tours and has also served a marketing and events consultant to the Flyfisher Guide Service. He graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a degree in communications, where he was a member of the NCAA Division I wrestling team that was coached by four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner. He and his wife, Kim reside in the Colorado Springs area.

Bartkowski’s role as the permanent Executive Director is effective immediately.