Allen Smith showed Texas Gov. Rick Perry around town during Perry's run for the Republican nomination primary. Perry withdrew the next day.
Allen Smith stands next to John Kimbrell, center, the Greer chamber president/CEO, before Smith. Reno Deaton, Greer Development Corporation Executive Director, is next to Kimbrell at the $1 billion MT
Allen Smith with Tommy Stringer, center, and Keith Smith, left, at the annual Chamber celebration.
Smith, just short of four years as the president/CEO of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, told his staff and board members Thursday he was resigning effective June 13 to head the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. He begins his new job June 16.
The Greer and Spartanburg chambers sent out mirrored releases almost simultaneously of the announcement.
“I have been emotionally involved in Greer for four years,” Smith told GreerToday.com. “It was difficult to tell the staff and the leaders who have embraced me that I was leaving.”
Spartanburg launched a national search to replace David Cordeau, the former Spartanburg Chamber president/CEO who resigned earlier this year. Colleen Keith president of Spartanburg Methodist College and chair of the chamber board of directors, and Sue Schneider, CEO Spartanburg Water System and Sewer District, headed the search committee.
There were 78 national responses to the advertisement and two international – one from Brazil, said Keith. “We took the job description and decided what was important and put them in a Rubric,” said Smith.
After Spartanburg identified four finalists the criteria was what the chamber considered the qualities most important to become its leader. “Allen was one of the finalists we could put in every box,” Keith said.
Keith said the bottom line was Smith’s name was being bandied about throughout the state and other chambers had their sights set on hiring him. “Frankly I didn’t want to see him go out of the upstate,” Keith said.
Keith has seen Smith’s leadership firsthand as a board member for the Greater Greer Educational Foundation.
Cordeau was brought to Spartanburg from Syracuse to bring economic development and Futures, convention and visitors bureau and downtown development under Spartanburg’s chamber’s umbrella.
Smith said that description fit Greer’s Partnership for Tomorrow. “That was one of the questions in the interview. All the entities are under one roof and each worked well together.”
“Allen will bring creativity, a strong work ethic and an ability to collaborate with others,” Keith said. “This is a young leader who has the experience to help Spartanburg County soar.”
Since Smith started in Greer on June 6, 2010 the chamber has more members than at any time in its 76-year history. The chamber’s “Keep the Green” in Greer initiative has generated a reported $200,000 back to chamber members.
Through local businesses and the many programs like First Friday, networking programs in the morning and after hours, social events plus appreciation dinners for first responders, small business, women and minorities helped solidify its financial portfolio.
Smith, with former board chairman John Mansure, promoted diversity through seminars and leadership positions.
The Greer Chamber was awarded the 2012 Carolinas Chamber of the Year.
Ken Harper, Chairman of the Greer Executive Board, said in a statement, "We certainly wish Allen well in his new position. Selfishly, we are pleased that he will remain in the Upstate, and continue to serve as a positive force for further improvement in areas of mutual interest. Allen's contributions to Greer and to our Chamber have been significant, and we wish to sincerely thank him"
The Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce will conduct a national search to fulfill the vacancy, Harper said.
Keith cited Smith’s success in developing a strong social media presence for the Greer chamber, efforts for which the organization was recognized, from among a pool of more than 7,100 chambers of commerce, as one of the nation’s “Top 100” social media-friendly chambers.
“Allen is a leader who has new ideas and can communicate well,” Keith said.
Smith said there is “no better time than now to be in and serve the Spartanburg community.”
“There is a tremendous amount of momentum and opportunity,” Smith said. “In order to continue this momentum and seize every opportunity we have available to us, it is imperative that we continue to fully support the efforts of the Economic Futures Group, strengthen the Chamber by bringing measurable value to organizations of all sizes and promote Spartanburg County as the premier destination for business, leisure, recreation and tourism. I look forward to building a meaningful relationship with volunteer leaders, the staff and the community at large as we move Spartanburg forward.”
