Charlie Williams (born January 5, Seoul, Korea ) is the founder of international promotions company Dragon Promotions, and is an Asian American entrepreneur involved in multiple sports and marketing industries. As a CEO of multiple corporations, his core skills as a promoter, project manager, marketing guru and TV producer has brought him to the table of numerous industries and leaders. He is heavily involved today in the tennis industry, NFL, billiards, and politics.
He started his company Dragon Promotions in 2001, and for closer to 2 decades has been one of the leading producers and pioneers in the sporting side of the billiard industry. A professional pool player himself, Williams is also known as a world class pool champion, formerly ranked in the top 10 in the United States, despite his majority focus on his productions. Williams is also a sports writer with a monthly column and professional coach and manager of top billiard professionals including Allison Fisher, Yu Ram Cha, Shanelle Loraine, Rodney Morris, and Eunji Erica Park. Most recently Williams has turned his attention to other industries including football (soccer) and produced a highly successful match between Philippines and South Korea.[1]
Williams has produced over 400 events worldwide, and has been the only billiards producer to successfully create international televised events in Korea, China, Philippines, and the United States.
Williams has at times been a subject of controversy. In 2001 he was elected President of the United States Professional Poolplayers Association (UPA) which attempted to boycott the US Open 9-Ball Championship for reducing its prize fund at the event and not paying the top finishers. His role as top ranked player, promoter, and pro tour association president seemed a conflict of interest to some, and as the youngest president of any US billiards pro association in history, many questioned his ability to lead.[2] Williams also has come under fire for his professional play of representing USA in world sanctioned events, and at time for South Korea in invitational exhibition events. Most recently at the annual USA vs Europe Mosconi Cup, he was selected as the USA captain, which had some fans and industry peers object to.
Williams was successful in negotiating TV contracts with ESPN for the UPA as well as successfully signing on a full season of tour stops for the players, and left the men's tour presidency when his term was finished, adhering to the promises he kept to the public that he would not want to continue in that role and recognizing the conflict of interests.
Williams went on to continue growing his company and partnered later with Cindy Lee, a Chicago-based entrepreneur who he made CEO of his company. Dragon Promotions went on to develop events and TV contracts with a dozen TV networks. The team has been successful in staging large and historic events in the sport with high TV ratings.[3]
Williams and his team has also been a part of many charity productions including for the benefits of the Boys & Girls Club, Police Athletic League, the Red Cross and raised $50,000 in one night for the Typhoon Sendong Victims in the Philippines.[4] Williams also produced the Typhoon Haiyan Tennis Tournament which raised money for victims in Asia.
Williams and his company Dragon Promotions was selected as the #2 Most Influential Entity in the Sport by a worldwide vote of industry leaders and media.[5]
In 2013 Williams became the Chief Marketing Officer and co-owner of Orlando Synergy Marketing, a digital media firm. Williams also founded the FTT Florida Tennis Tour and is the CEO as well as owner of OrlandoTennisNews.com, the #1 tennis news site in Central Florida. In 2016, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer presented the OrlandoTennisNews.com Man of the Year Award to Tom Sweitzer, a high-profile figure in the tennis community, where Williams made the induction speech at Orlando City Hall. Williams had quickly risen to become a high-profile figure in the Florida tennis community with the gaining popularity of the FTT. [6]
Most recently in 2016, Williams accepted a position with the NFL Alumni to become the Director of Marketing & Sales of Central & North Florida, with Dragon Promotions producing the events. The NFL Alumni is a division of the NFL and a 501C3 charity. Williams has headed projects such as the Pro Bowl Party and involved most recently with Les Brown in securing NFL pros at events and co-marketing. [7]
Today Williams also continues producing and promoting events in other sports and industries such as tennis, MMA, golf, and special events and maintains his role as the Executive Producer at Dragon Promotions.
References
edit- ^ "AzBilliards.com". AzBilliards.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Main Page Billiards Digest.com Online Pool Magazine". Billiardsdigest.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Biggest Televised Women's Pool Event Ever! ESPN STAR Sports to Air Women's World 10-Ball Championship | Professor-Q-Ball's National Pool & 3-Cushion News". Professorqball.com. 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Azkals-Icheon match earns P2M for disaster victims". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "The Top 10 Most Influential People in the Sport of Billiards". Viva.com.ph. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "orlandotennisnews". orlandotennisnews. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ "Charlie Williams and Dragon Promotions Partner with NFL Alumni - Pool & Billiard Magazine". poolmag.com. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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Category:Living people
Category:American pool players
Category:1970s births
Category:South Korean emigrants to the United States