Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> February 23, 2004

RODNEY SMITH – SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION (SMID)

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
TWST: We'd like to begin with an historical sketch of the company and a

look at what you're doing now.

Mr. Smith: Smith-Midland has been, for many years, in the pre-cast

concrete products