GREENSBORO, N.C. –High Point University president Nido Qubein is the 2018 and ‘19 Wyndham Championship honorary chairman, the tournament announced today. The 79th annual Wyndham Championship is set for Aug. 14-19, 2018.
As the honorary chairman, Qubein will serve as an ambassador for the PGA TOUR event which provides important economic and charitable benefits for the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As the Wyndham Championship has evolved, the honorary chairmen have led the charge to promote Piedmont Triad regionalism through the PGA TOUR event.
Since 2005, Qubein has led High Point University on a meteoric rise increasing enrollment by 245 percent (from 1,450 to 5,000 students) while adding five academic schools (Communication, Health Sciences, Art & Design, Pharmacy and Undergraduate Sciences).
Qubein is a leader not only in High Point but also throughout the Piedmont Triad; he and his team transformed a small college into a national university attracting students from all 50 states and 37 foreign countries. As a member of the Piedmont Triad Partnership executive committee, Qubein participates in discussions regarding industry recruitment and job creation among many other important regional topics all tied Piedmont Triad economic growth.
His accomplishments in business and life complement the unprecedented growth achieved at High Point University. He came to the United States as a teenager with limited knowledge of English and only $50 in his pocket before going on to partner in businesses, banking, real estate, publishing and retail. Prior to his role as High Point University president, Qubein rose to prominence as an internationally-known leader, speaker and consultant who has given more than 7,000 business presentations worldwide.
“I am grateful to serve as the honorary chairman for the Wyndham Championship whose international coverage gives the world an opportunity to discover and appreciate the Piedmont Triad region,” Qubein said. “Our PGA TOUR event is the largest annual sporting event in our region. The Wyndham Championship is a successful anchor institution whose influence and impact brings exposure and positioning for the Triad. Bobby Long, Mark Brazil and their team are ambassadors and cheerleaders for our state. I am blessed and grateful to be associated with them, and I appreciate the global exposure, economic impact and elite golf competition the Wyndham Championship provides each year for our area.”
“We are honored to have Nido serving as our honorary chairman for these next two years,” tournament director Mark Brazil said. “We are so appreciative of Nido’s leadership in High Point, around our region and throughout this beautiful state. We all look forward to working with him as we continue to elevate our PGA TOUR event on the national and international levels.”
Qubein joins an impressive list of former honorary chairmen that includes Piedmont Triad Partnership CEO Stan Kelly, former BB&T executive vice president and chief marketing officer Steve Wiggs, North State CEO Royster Tucker III, Pace Communications founder and CEO Bonnie McElveen Hunter, 2012 co-chairs Shirley and Henry Frye, Louis DeJoy, former Chairman and CEO of XPO Logistics, Kelly S. King, Chairman and CEO of BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., Allen Gant, former president and chief executive officer of Glen Raven, Inc. in Burlington, N.C., Paul Fulton, Chairman of Bassett Furniture Industries in Winston-Salem, N.C., Mackey McDonald, former Chairman and CEO of VF Corporation, Dennis Glass, president and chief executive officer of Lincoln Financial; Jim Melvin, president of Bryan Foundation and former mayor of Greensboro; Charlie Reid, former chairman of United Guaranty and Fred Starr, former chairman of Thomasville Furniture.
About High Point University:
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.® HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report for Best Regional Colleges in the South, No. 1 for Most Innovative Regional Colleges in the South and No. 1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching in the South. The Princeton Review named HPU in the 2018 edition of “The Best 382 Colleges” in the nation, as well as Best Career Services (No. 19), Best-Run Colleges (No. 20), Best College Dorm Rooms (No. 7), a Great School for Communication Majors and a Great School for Business/Finance Majors. For seven years in a row, HPU has been named a College of Distinction with special recognition for business and education programs, and The National Council on Teacher Quality ranks HPU’s elementary education program as one of the best in the nation. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 57 undergraduate minors and 13 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the web at highpoint.edu.
About the Wyndham Championship:
Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA TOUR excluding the Majors. Tickets are available at http://www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Rewards, presenting sponsor BB&T and Premier Partners, Cadillac, Harris Teeter, Lincoln Financial, McConnell Golf, Sunbrella® and VF Corporation for their continued support. Additional tournament information and sponsorship information are available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com. For more information about Wyndham Rewards, please visit www.wyndhamrewards.com. Stay connected with the Wyndham Championship through its social media channels, including the Wyndham Championship Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.
About Wyndham Rewards:
Named a best travel rewards program for the past three consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous loyalty program offering members a simple earning structure of a guaranteed 1,000 points for every qualified stay, along with a flat, free night redemption rate of just 15,000 points per room per night – the first of its kind for a major rewards program. Wyndham Rewards members can enjoy the benefits of the program at nearly 9,000 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts properties, as well as thousands of homes and condos in partnership with Wyndham Destinations. Join for free today at www.WyndhamRewards.com You’ve earned this.®
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts:
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the largest hotel franchising Company in the world, with nearly 9,000 hotels across more than 80 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 790,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in both the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services, with more than 400 properties under management. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards® loyalty program offers more than 56 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, condominiums and holiday homes globally. For more information, visit www.WyndhamHotels.com.
About Wyndham Destinations:
Wyndham Destinations (NYSE: WYND) believes in putting the world on vacation. Our global presence in 110 countries at more than 220 vacation ownership resorts and 4,300+ affiliated exchange properties distinguishes Wyndham Destinations as the world’s largest vacation ownership and exchange company, with North America’s largest professionally managed rental business. Each year our team of 25,000 associates delivers great vacations to millions of families as they make memories of a lifetime. Learn more at www.WyndhamDestinations.com. Our world is your destination.
