A number of area business leaders will participate in the Northwest Ohio Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 6, and are inviting the public to attend.

The 32nd annual event will take place at Premier banquet complex, 4480 Heatherdowns Boulevard, Toledo.

The guest speaker will be retired U.S. Army Major Scotty Smiley, who became the first blind active-duty officer in military history following a face-to-face confrontation with a suicide car bomber in Iraq in 2005.

After the injury, his faith led him to forgive his attacker and inspired him to rebuild his life while continuing to serve his country in the U.S. Army.

The team of local business officials organizing the event include:

•Dr. Bill Zouhary, retired Rossford dentist.

•Rick Smith, vice president and controller, William Fall Group.

•Luella Smith, owner of Colorful Living Interiors by Luella.

•Janell Vickers of Mercy Health and Owens Corning.

•Dr. Tom Baur, D.C., of New Life Spine Center.

•Brad Bloomer of Integrity Rental & Logistics.

•Karrie Jackson, retired corporate trainer at Owens Corning.

Dr. Zouhary said the Northwest Ohio Prayer Breakfast has been very popular in the past three decades, drawing thousands of guests.

Due to limitations on attendance by state COVID-19 mandates, the event this year has been split in two–a breakfast at 7 a.m. or a dinner at 7 p.m.

Dr. Zouhary said the mission of the organization is “marketplace leaders gathering and encouraging the body of Christ while sharing the good news of Jesus with those who do not know him.”

Along with the networking opportunities available, he believes that Major Smiley’s presentation will be very inspiring.

“Scotty wrote his book ‘Hope Unseen’ about his journey through overcoming adversity and now travels the country sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope,” Dr. Zouhary explained.

The West Point graduate, who was named the Army Times “Soldier of the Year” and won an ESPY award for “Best Outdoor Athlete,” retired from the military in 2015.

Major Smiley is the recipient of a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award.

Ever the adventurer, even after the loss of his eyesight, he learned to surf, has gone skydiving, climbed Mt. Denali and became an Ironman.

Major Smiley currently works as an investment banker at Drexel Hamilton and is a regular guest on TV news networks. He lives with his family in Washington.

For tickets or more information, visit the website nwoprayerbreakfast.org.