Joe Galli was an outstanding wrestler during his career at UNC–which spanned from 1976 to 1980 and included an ACC Championship at 142 lbs in his senior season.

Ironically, though, that’s not the main reason why the 56-year-old was inducted this week into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

He was the recipient of the organization’s “Outstanding American” award–an honor recognizing individuals who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers after concluding their wrestling career.

Galli was named as the Wrestling Hall of Fame's Outstanding American award winner for his success off the mat. (Photo via CNBC)

Galli was named as the Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Outstanding American award winner for his success off the mat. (Photo via CNBC)

The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. since 2008, Galli has a wide variety of job duties.

He’s responsible for integrating acquisitions in North America and Europe, and enhancing the global sales potential of the group’s strong brand portfolio. The Pennsylvania native is also responsible for leading the management team in the group’s daily operation.

Upon earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UNC in 1980, Galli spent 19 years at Black & Decker–where he was responsible for the highly successful launch of the “DeWalt” Brand heavy duty power tools in 1992.

For two years–following his departure from Black & Decker–he was the President and Chief Operating Officer at Amazon.com.

He then went on to become Director and CEO at Newell Rubbermaid Inc from 2001 to 2005.

Wrestling, according to Galli, prepared him for the intense pressures of the business world–as well as teaching him hard work and the ability to recover from setbacks.

In November 2000, he donated $500,000 to the UNC wrestling program.

Galli said at that time that, “If we don’t support the sport at this point, those of us who have benefited from wrestling will not be able to pass on those benefits to the next generation of wrestlers.”

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