SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The Fiesta Bowl will celebrate its 50^th season in 2020-21 with Nick Smith as Chair of the Yellow Jacket Committee. Smith served as Chair-Elect in the 2019-20 season, alongside David Dorward, who led the committee last year.

"We are excited to have Nick Smith as the chairman of our Yellow Jacket Committee for the 2020-21 season. He has been an exemplary Yellow Jacket since he joined in 2012," said Patrick Barkley, Chair of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors. "Nick is a great leader within the organization. I have no doubt he will excel in this new role and engage our Yellow Jacket Committee to new levels of service and success."

As Yellow Jacket Committee Chair, Smith will lead the fundraising and participation efforts of this year's committee, which is comprised of 122 community leaders. Yellow Jacket Committee members volunteer their time to work with sponsors, volunteers, staff and the board of directors to support the Fiesta Bowl and its numerous events throughout the year. This past season, the committee raised $3.4 million and helped to successfully execute all Fiesta Bowl events and charitable giving efforts.

"I love volunteering and being a part of the Fiesta Bowl Yellow Jacket Committee. I feel fortunate and blessed to be asked to serve as Chair of the Committee for an organization whose primary commitment is to have a positive impact in the very community I live and serve," Smith said. "My personal philosophy is to use the power of enthusiasm combined with the desire to succeed in order to achieve my life goals and to inspire others to pursue theirs."

Smith has been an active member of the Yellow Jacket Committee since 2012 and quickly made an impact by earning Rookie of the Year honors in his first season. Leading up to his position as Chair-Elect last season, Smith served multiple seasons as Media Operations Chair and Chair of the Aerospace Challenge committee, in addition to leadership roles as Engagement Commissioner and Sales Commissioner. In the last two seasons, Smith was a team liaison for the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl.

A four-year letter winner at linebacker for Notre Dame, Smith helped the Irish to a 41-8 record in his from 1989-92. His teams finished ranked in the top four twice under legendary Head Coach Lou Holtz.

When Smith isn't serving the Fiesta Bowl, he serves on the executive team at National PEO, a human resources company owned by Vensure Employer Services. He first entered that industry in 2009, elevated to become President of HR Betty in 2012 and joined the executive team of National PEO as Executive Vice President in 2014. He originally came to Arizona in 1993, when he and Irish teammate Irv Smith opened a series of Smoothie King franchise locations.

Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and events such as the Fiesta Bowl Parade, presented by Cheez-It®, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted $10 million in charitable giving the last four years alone and $15.5 million to the Arizona community in the last nine years.
 
ABOUT FIESTA BOWL

Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and our year-round events, such as the Fiesta Bowl Parade, presented by Cheez-It®, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.
 
On the Web: www.FiestaBowl.org
Social Media: @Fiesta_Bowl
Media Contacts: Scott Leightman (sleightman@fiestabowl.org; 480.517.6291); Alex Nash (anash@fiestabowl.org; 480.350.0925)