**Please note: this meeting will be held at Piedmont Hall at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex**

Richard Beard, President, Greensboro Sports Foundation

The Economic Impact of Sports Tourism in Greensboro

Richard is a native of Greensboro, NC. A graduate of Greensboro College, Richard began a successful career in economic development in 1993 with the Roanoke Valley of Virginia Economic Development Partnership and later with the Greensboro Chamber. In 1999, Richard moved into the private arena of economic development as a site location consultant. In 2005, he joined in the formation of Simpson Schulman & Beard Commercial real estate and led the acquisition of the remaining 683 acres of Rock Creek Center, the Piedmont Triad’s largest industrial park.

Since 2001, Sports and Sports Tourism in Greensboro has been a passion as a community volunteer. In July 2022, Richard left his career in commercial real estate to focus full time on sports tourism and accepted a new role as President & CEO of the Greensboro Sports Foundation. His role in leading this organization is to increase awareness of sports tourism in the area, advocate for improved and expanded sports facilities and assist in growing the sports tourism economic impact on Greensboro and the Triad.

Richard is happily married to Susan who is an executive with a local trust and investment company, Old North State Trust. They have two children, Thomas, a commercial broker with Colliers International in Columbia, SC and Mary Grace, who is an analyst with Huron Education Consulting in New York City.

Outside of work, Richard enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, serving community initiatives, and playing golf.

**Please note: this meeting will be held at Piedmont Hall at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex**

To Attend Virtually:  The Zoom link was  provided in the newsletter that was published on the Monday before this date.

To Attend as a Prospective Member or Guest: Click here for more information.