On Thursday, Dec. 6, Bill Smith, President & CEO of Waterous Company in South St. Paul, will be honored at the River Heights Chamber of Commerce's Cheers to Our Volunteers Luncheon at Mendakota Country Club!
The Forrest Glewwe Visions of Excellence Award has been given out to extraordinary business leaders in the River Heights Chamber of Commerce business community for 25 years.
Bill has excelled in all of the criteria this award encompasses including applying himself completely to the principles of entrepreneurship, family, ethics and corporate citizenship.
Bill grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from LaSalle University in 1980, where he obtained his Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration. Bill went on to graduate from the Minnesota Executive Program at the Carlson School of Management through the University of Minnesota.
Hard work has always been a value of Bill’s. He has been employed since grammar school where his first job was as a paper boy for the Philadelphia Bulletin. Bill’s first adult job was as a Production Scheduler at SKF Ball Bearing Company. As he progressed through his career he always worked for companies that manufactured items. In 1997, Bill became the Director of Manufacturing at Waterous Company and was promoted to the Vice President of Manufacturing the following year. He became the President and CEO on November 1, 2009. Under Bill’s leadership, they have invested heavily in their process’, people and products, ensuring they have the most current technologies in both the shop and office, as well as maintaining their leadership position in the markets they serve.
Bill’s family is his treasure. He and his wife Marge got married in 1978. Bill has three wonderful children: Matt, Erin & Tom; and two precious grand-kids, Grace and Lawson. Amidst his professional and philanthropic success, Bill says his most rewarding experience has been watching their children grow into adults and following their chosen careers, as well as being married to his wife Marge for the past 34 years.
Bill has been a member of the River Heights Chamber for approximately 15 years. He said he finds it most rewarding because he has had the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the community and the businesses it serves. Bill served as Chairman of the Chamber in 2008, and continues on the Board of Directors and other committees, as well as supports the Ambassador committee through his employees, and supports economic development through Progress Plus, the Chamber’s Economic Development Foundation. Bill supports the community through sponsorships and volunteering with the City of South St. Paul, Kaposia Days, SSP/IGH Rotary and Special School District 6, in addition to Wounded Warriors and Tee it Up for the Troops. From 2001-2007, he held leadership roles on the Board of Directors for the Dakota Country Work Force Council and was Chairman of Dakota Futures from 2003-2006. Bill says, “I enjoy meeting and getting to know the various business executives along with the business owners. I have found it helpful in my growth as a businessman because it ensures I better see the issues from other perspectives and realize that a city needs both strong businesses, along with a variety of people to solidify its continued success.” Bill is also involved in the local, state and national political ring, where he believes, although we may not always agree, we need to share and show each other the appropriate levels of respect.
Bill was nominated and selected by his peers in the Chamber and business community. "I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who felt me worthy of receiving such a prestigious award. I will do everything in my power to live up to the established standards set for this award," noted Bill.
The River Heights Chamber of Commerce and local business community commemorates this special occasion by honoring Bill Smith, a man who has earned the respect of the River Heights Community for his hard work, local support and his belief in the spirit of free enterprise.
The luncheon will also host Brad Rixmann, Entrepreneur and Owner of Pawn America, as its keynote speaker. Mr. Rixmann will talk about entrepreneurship and why he decided to take the risk in the pawn business, as well as the value of volunteering and the importance of appreciation and using your strengths to give back to the community.
Join us in honoring Bill Smith and celebrating our community’s volunteer business leaders by registering for the Cheers to Our Volunteers Luncheon on December 6th at www.riverheights.com or call the River Heights Chamber of Commerce at 651.451.2266.
