Smith retires after 18 years of leadership
Safe Foods Corporation President Bruce Smith has announced his retirement after 18 years of serving on the company’s executive team. Smith joined Safe Foods in February 2001 as the Chief Operating Officer and has been an instrumental piece of the company’s success during his career. He was promoted to President in 2017 when Dr. Slaton Fry became COO and Smith has served in that role until now.
During his time at Safe Foods, Smith oversaw a wide variety of strategic initiatives including the optimization of the company’s Cecure application systems, the growth and development of the equipment fabrication and installation team, and most recently led the project team for the new Safe Foods Global Headquarters and Innovation Center. Bruce has played a pivotal role in shaping Safe Foods’ unique servant leadership culture throughout his time with the organization.
“Bruce will be greatly missed by myself and the rest of the Safe Foods team. Safe Foods would not be where it is today without his contributions, leadership, and example,” said Safe Foods Corporation CEO Chris Coleman. “Bruce embodies our Core Values and is the type of person we want all of our team members to emulate.”
Prior to joining Safe Foods, Smith held progressively senior positions with Entergy Corporation, one of the largest electric utilities in the nation, establishing a track record of leadership in strategy development, program execution, communications, and employee management. His last positions at Entergy included Managing Director of process and system integration in deregulated, competitive markets and Executive Director of sales and service activities for a major business center of Entergy. Over his career at Entergy he also served as an Industrial Engineer, Power Plant Manager, Business Development Manager and Division Manager.
Smith obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. He has also attended Executive Education Programs at Columbia University in Sales Management and Key Account Planning and at the University of Michigan on Finance for the Non-Financial Manager and Finance for Strategic Decision Making. In addition, while working for Entergy, he attended two in-house executive development programs conducted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on Winning in the Marketplace and Creating Shareholder Value. He has completed numerous other programs in total quality management, performance management, sales leadership and general management.
“Being a part of the Safe Foods team has been the highlight of my career,” Smith said. “It has been fulfilling to see this company grow from a small startup in 2001 to a rapidly growing industry leader today. I have no doubt that Safe Foods will continue to have a positive impact on the world’s food supply—leading to fewer illnesses and less waste.”
Smith will continue with the company in a consulting and mentoring role.
For more information visit www.safefoods.net.
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