Greg Smith

Greg was a star basketball player on the varsity team at Seton Hall Prep School. As a scholar athlete and highly recruited senior, Greg was offered scholarships to numerous Division 1 colleges including Syracuse University, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Seton Hall University, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Fordham University, St. John’s University, Rutgers University, and Fairleigh Dickenson University.

He decided to attend and play at Seton Hall University where he graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University.  After graduation, Greg had an NBA tryout with the New Jersey Nets. He was later offered several opportunities to play professionally in Europe but due to family obligations decided to remain in the United States.

Greg has operated sports athletic camps for over 40 years and has coached AAU, travel, YMCA, and other youth basketball and soccer teams throughout the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas.  Of the student athletes he has coached and mentored, there are 15 professional athletes, 37 Division 1 athletes and over 100 Division 2 and 3 players.

He began studying martial arts at the age of 4 under his father, the late Louis F. Smith, a Retired United States Army officer, Plainfield Police Lieutenant & Academy instructor, and Sensei in Shotokan and Judo. Greg has been teaching various arts since the age of 16. Greg was also a boxer at the Plainfield area YMCA and a member of the Plainfield Neighborhood House boxing team.

After being a lifetime fan of Bruce Lee, he was introduced to the Princeton Academy of Martial Arts in 1997 where he trained under the world-renowned Sifu/Guru/Ajarn Rick Tucci, immersing himself in the school’s martial arts curriculum. In 2006, Greg advanced to the rigorous Jun Fan Level 2 class, demonstrating his commitment to elevating his training to a higher level. He trained at the Princeton Academy of Martial Arts for over 20 years primarily studying several arts including Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Kali, Savate, and Silat. 

Greg continues his consistent commitment to learning and growth. Over the years, he continually trained with accredited masters including Sifu Rick Tucci, Guru Dan Inosanto, the late Pendekar Guru Besar Herman Suwanda, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, Sifu Eric Paulson, Sifu Joel Clark, the late Professor Salem Assili, Professor Nicholas Saignac, Rik Brown (Mr. Maceman), MMA Fighter Asa Ten Pow, MMA Fighter Ben Jones, Sifu Vince Perez Mazzola, and the late Tai Chi Master, Sensei Irv Wynn and many more.

Greg also trains extensively in the Justifiable Force Training curriculum, including Firearms, Martial, Guncraft, NJ Use of Force, and other self-defense tools.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of B.E.S.T. Talent Management Strategies, LLC, Greg advises C-Level executives and client organizations on leadership development solutions, talent strategies, sales methodologies, marketing initiatives, business strategies, career management, and outplacement services and currently conducts individual and cohort coaching for executives at all levels and entrepreneurs.

Previously, Greg consistently exceeded sales performance standards at Xerox Corporation, AT&T, Dun & Bradstreet, Lee Hecht Harrison, and Korn Ferry, while managing major accounts and leading account teams that managed national, and global accounts.

He is actively involved in many professional and community organizations including the American Society of Training & Development (ASTD), The Free & Accepted Masons, Shriners, Church, and various youth groups. He has authored and co-authored twenty- four (24) books and publications, and delivers motivational speeches and programs on a wide variety of key social and professional topics to various businesses, educational institutions, and organizations. Greg holds over 110 Business Training Certifications.

“Honesty and integrity, consummate trust and credibility while completing the overall success profile. The combination of self-confidence, faith, hard work, and a strong, open minded, positive attitude complete the structure of success.  Life is too short to worry or complain.

“ENJOY LIFE TODAY”