Lon T. Dolber Elected Vice Chairman of World T.E.A.M. Sports

HOLBROOK, N.Y. - Sept. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Lon T. Dolber, the CEO and President of American Portfolios Financial Services, has strongly supported national non-profit World T.E.A.M. Sports and its participating disabled and able-bodied athletes since 2007. At a recent meeting, the World T.E.A.M. Sports board of directors unanimously selected Dolber to serve as the organization’s vice chairman.

In his new leadership role, Dolber will assist World T.E.A.M. Sports’ Chairman and founder James Benson. Dolber’s new duties will include directing board meetings and improving and encouraging communication and collaborative cooperation among the 12 member board.

“World T.E.A.M. Sports is glad to be able to bring the talents of Lon to bear on our organization,” said Van Brinson, the organization’s President and CEO. “His experience and leadership will greatly assist us in taking our organization to the next level.”

Since 2007’s Return to Kilimanjaro, which saw a team of developmentally-disabled athletes successfully climb Africa’s highest peak, Dolber has actively participated, raised funds in support and helped launch and direct World T.E.A.M. Sports inclusive events across the North American continent. In 2009, Dolber helped launch the Coastal Team Challenge as a part of the organization’s Military Initiative. The Challenge was relaunched in 2014 as an annual event for developmentally-disabled athletes along the Long Island coast, in part because of Dolber’s direction and oversight. In 2010, Dolber helped create the Adventure Team Challenge New York, an ongoing annual event at Frost Valley in the Catskill Mountains, bringing together developmentally-disabled athletes with able-bodied coaches in a series of team challenges. Annually, Dolber and his American Portfolios team is a major participant and fundraiser of the organization’s Face of America bicycle and hand cycle ride from the Pentagon to Gettysburg.

Although he has helped launch new events for World T.E.A.M. Sports, Dolber believes the board of directors should take a broader view of the organization in the coming years. “We can always do more events,” Dolber explained in a recent interview, but planning for the future with the board and staff will help the organization expand and provide opportunities for additional athletes with disabilities.

Believing that board members should contribute and collect – contribute capital and sponsors, and collect funds to help the organization, Dolber is directing his board colleagues to take more time to create a lasting organizational structure. “I want to build a five year road map,” he explained. This road map will help guide decisions within the organization and see that sufficient financial support from corporate partners, grants and donations through events is in place to cover the organization’s expenses, including staffing.

Other organizational improvements envisioned by Dolber include establishing committees that will include both board members and outside knowledgeable people who will consider a variety of topics and interests. Each committee will be chaired by a board member, and will meet regularly to consider their specific topic. The committee chairs will report back to the board with their research and recommendations.

Board members will also undertake identifying and mentoring candidates for board membership, and determine policies for elections and transitions. This process will allow staff members to concentrate on creating and managing events such as 2016’s CanAm Veterans’ Challenge with injured veterans, a bike ride from Washington D.C. to Ottawa, Ontario.

Dolber is enthusiastic about the organization and its future in creating exceptional opportunities for athletes – “I want to succeed,” he said. To do so, board members, staff, participants, sponsors, partners and supporters need to “perpetuate support and articulate goals” and the mission of World T.E.A.M. Sports. Through better organization, World T.E.A.M. Sports will actively change more lives through sports.

About World T.E.A.M. Sports

World T.E.A.M. Sports is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered in North Carolina and headquartered in Holbrook, New York. Since 1993, World T.E.A.M. Sports has organized athletic events for disabled and able bodied citizens – mountain climbing, white water rafting, biking, and more. Four things always happen at our events: (1) Disabled participants build self-confidence and physical fitness; (2) The disabled provide a role model for other disabled citizens, encouraging them to take up physical activities; (3) The disabled become a moving inspiration to other participants and to spectators when they see that disabled individuals can meet challenges beyond anyone’s imagination; and (4) The disabled and able-bodied participants learn to work as a team to overcome those challenges. World T.E.A.M. Sports changes lives through sports. Learn more about World T.E.A.M. Sports at http://worldteamsports.org/.