The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday that its Board of Governors has unanimously approved Bradley Nardick (Chicago, Illinois) to join the Board of Governors.

"Bradley is a very successful young man who has used the life skills and lessons learned from wrestling to become a leader in business and the community,” said Tom Slowey, Chairman of the Board of Governors. “He understands the values wrestling has instilled in him and is committed to giving back to the sport that transformed his life. We look forward to the insight and guidance Brad will bring to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and are thankful for his willingness to serve as a Board of Governor."

Nardick received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin where he wrestled four years. He was team captain as a senior and received the Team Leadership award and the W Club’s Community Service award.

He is CEO of The Bazaar Incorporated, a 60-year-old family business that specializes in the buying and selling of closeout consumer goods. He previously served as vice president of development for Bazaar and was president of Bargains in a Box, a unique discount outlet store created to sell extra merchandise from Bazaar that has multiple outlets in the Chicagoland area.

Nardick and his team have built a highly successful disability employment program and 20 percent of their employees are people with disabilities. The program has won several awards from the Department of Rehabilitation Services in the State of Illinois while also being featured in Fast Company Magazine for its hiring and recruitment practices.

He is a seed investor in Optivolt Labs, a solar technology startup in Silicon Valley and a member of the YPO Windy City Chapter. Nardick was a member of the board of directors for the Sonya Shankman Orthogenic School from 2018-2020 and served as a host for the United States team at the 2016 Paralympics. He also serves as a Gray Matter Experience mentor, providing entrepreneurial mentoring for high school students from the south side of Chicago.

The Board of Governors is responsible for preserving the history and tradition of the sport of wrestling in America by operation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. The Board is also responsible for the annual election of Distinguished Members, Outstanding American, Medal of Courage, Order of Merit, and Meritorious Official.

The Board is comprised of no less than 12, and not more than 30 members, who shall serve a maximum of six consecutive years in as many as three consecutive two-year terms. Three members of the Board shall represent United World Wrestling, USA Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Those individuals are nominated by their organizations, and must be approved by the Board.