Champions & Leaders
Metta World Peace
Metta World Peace (born Ronald William Artest Jr., now Metta Sandiford-Artest) is a former NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, renowned for his intense defense and Defensive Player of the Year honors. His controversial career, including the "Malice at the Palace" incident, led to a powerful rebrand in 2011 as "Metta World Peace" (meaning loving-kindness), and later to Metta Sandiford-Artest, reflecting his growth and focus on mental wellness.
Today, he is a leading advocate for mental health awareness, speaking openly about his own struggles and promoting therapy and support for others. He continues his journey as an entrepreneur, actor, and motivational speaker, using his platform to inspire resilience, accountability, and healing.
Anthony Dirrell
Anthony Dirrell is an American professional boxer from Flint, Michigan, and a two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion known for his power, durability, and heart. After overcoming non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma early in his career, he returned to the ring to become an inspiring symbol of perseverance and a respected philanthropist.
With a professional record of 34‑3‑2 and 25 knockouts, he has earned notable victories over fighters such as Sakio Bika and Avni Yıldırım while maintaining a strong amateur pedigree. Beyond the ropes, his story as a cancer survivor continues to motivate communities and fighters around the world.
Mitchell Butler
Mitchell Butler is a former 6'5" NBA guard–forward from Los Angeles who starred at UCLA before carving out an eight-year NBA career. Undrafted in 1993, he earned his place with the Washington Bullets/Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, developing a reputation for elite defense, athleticism, and relentless competitiveness on both ends of the floor.
After retiring from the NBA, he moved into the business side of the game as a respected NBA sports agent and elite player development specialist. He now mentors and represents professional athletes, guiding the next generation of talent on and off the court.
Charlie Bell
Charlie Bell is a former professional basketball player and coach, known for his successful college career at Michigan State and his time in the NBA and European leagues.
Early Life and Education
Charlie Will Bell III was born on March 12, 1979, in Flint, Michigan. He attended Flint Southwestern Academy High School, where he began to hone his basketball skills. Bell's talent led him to Michigan State University, where he played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. During his college career, he was a key player, helping the team reach three consecutive NCAA Final Fours and winning the NCAA Championship in 2000. He was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year at Michigan State for all four years he played there.
Professional Career
After college, Bell went undrafted in the 2001 NBA Draft but was signed by the Phoenix Suns as a free agent. He played briefly for the Suns and then had a stint with the Dallas Mavericks. Following his time in the NBA, he found success in Europe, playing for teams like Benetton Treviso and Virtus Bologna in Italy, where he won the Italian League Championship. He also played in the Spanish League, earning accolades such as being named to the All-Spanish League First Team and being the league's top scorer.
In the 2005-2006 NBA season, Bell signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he recorded his first career triple-double and had a significant impact on the team. He played a total of eight seasons in the NBA and continued to play professionally until his retirement in 2012.
Coaching Career
After retiring from professional basketball, Charlie Bell transitioned into coaching. He has served as an assistant coach for various teams, including the Iowa Wolves and the Texas Legends in the NBA G League. He is currently involved with Flint United, a team in The Basketball League, where he continues to share his passion for the sport.
Personal Life
Charlie Bell is known for his dedication to basketball and his community. He has maintained a presence in the sport through coaching and mentoring young players. He is also recognized for his contributions to local broadcasting, where he engages with the community through various media projects.
Players Bio
Bell stands at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighs around 200 pounds (91 kg). He has a strong connection to his hometown of Flint, which he honors through various personal expressions, including tattoos.
Tre Smith
With over 25 years of experience in information security and management, Tre Smith currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. His role focuses on transforming cybersecurity into a strategic asset by implementing proactive security strategies and aligning initiatives with business objectives to protect critical assets and foster trust within the healthcare sector.
He is dedicated to empowering organizations by integrating cybersecurity with growth strategies. His work involves fostering collaboration, driving business-aligned security measures, and creating opportunities for innovation while ensuring data protection.
Tre’s passion and commitment lie in supporting healthcare institutions to enhance resilience and achieve long-term goals in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Jacolbi Brooks
My name is Jacolbi Brooks, and I am currently an Instrumentation Engineering Technician at Autoliv in Auburn Hills, Michigan. I began working at Autoliv in 2013 within the video and photo group, where I developed expertise in video imaging software and high- and low-speed camera systems used for crash testing.
Key Skills
• ATD Dummy Builder
• THOR Builder & Disassembly
• Calibration Specialist
• Mechanically Inclined
• Weekend Golfer
Career Highlights
At Autoliv, Jacolbi has gained extensive experience in the automotive industry while working alongside colleagues who introduced him to the game of golf. Through increased exposure and participation, he developed a strong passion for the sport, eventually joining a golf league and spending more time on the course. He holds an Associate of Applied Science in Auto/Diesel Technology from Northwestern.