Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> April 17, 2000
RAYMOND J. SMITH, CEO of Lakeland Industries, Inc., founded the company
in 1982. During the ensuing 18 years, he assembled its management team
and shepherded its domestic growth, international expansion, and
development into a public corporation currently employing nearly 3,000
people worldwide. Mr. Smith was associated with Disposables, Inc. from
1966 until 1982, serving as that company's President from 1978 to 1982.
Previously, he was employed by International Paper Co., rising through
its executive training program to soon become a Product Manager. Mr.
Smith is a graduate of Georgetown University (1960). He attended Harvard
University's Business Management School just prior to founding Lakeland. Profile
That's to provide a context as you then describe the business today.
Mr. Smith: Basically, the company was started in
