Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> February 23, 2004
RODNEY I. SMITH, Chairman, President & CEO of Smith-Midland Corporation,
co-founded Smith-Cattleguard Company with his father in Midland,
Virginia, in 1960. Capitalizing on the swift success of a line of
precast concrete farm products, the company soon expanded its markets
with the introduction of Easi-Set underground utility products, J-J
Hooks highway safety barrier, Easi-Set utility buildings, soundwall and
Slenderwall'. These products were patented and equally successful. In
1985, to reflect the diversity of products, the company name was changed
to Smith-Midland Corporation. In 1995 the company became publicly traded
under the symbol SMID. Slenderwall, Smith-Midland's latest innovation,
is a lightweight precast concrete exterior wall panel system that is
changing the way that the construction industry designs and builds
commercial high-rise buildings. Mr. Smith's entrepreneurial flair is
reflected in several other companies he founded, both related to the
precast concrete industry and in other business areas. Concrete Safety
Systems was the first company formed for the sole purpose of leasing
precast concrete highway safety barrier to contractors and state highway
departments throughout the mid-eastern US. In 1978 he formed Easi-Set
Industries, the first full-service licensing company for the precast
industry. More than 30 Easi-Set licensees in the US, Canadian and
European markets, manufacture and sell the proven products that have
been established by Smith-Midland Corporation. Mr. Smith also founded
Midland Advertising, Inc., t/a Ad Ventures, Smith-Carolina and Hometown
Properties, a real estate company. In recognition of Mr. Smith's success
as a manufacturer whose products have achieved the distinction of
becoming the accepted standard for the industry, he was named Virginia's
Small Business Person of the Year. He is a member of the
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, the American Concrete Institute
and is a member past President of the National Precast Concrete
Association. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Bridgewater College,
Bridgewater, Virginia, and is active in several local churches, civic
and charitable organizations. Profile
look at what you're doing now.
Mr. Smith: Smith-Midland has been, for many years, in the pre-cast
concrete products
