Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> March 3, 2003
Rodney I. Smith, a native of Fauquier County, Virginia, co-
founded Smith-Cattleguard Company with his father in Midland,
Virginia, in 1960. Capitalizing on the success of a line of pre-
cast concrete farm products, the company soon expanded its
markets with the introduction of underground utility products,
highway safety barriers, utility buildings and soundwalls. These
products were patented and equally successful. In 1985, the
company name was changed to Smith-Midland Corporation. In 1995
the company was listed on the NASDAQ. Mr. Smith founded Concrete
Safety System, the first company formed for the sole purpose of
leasing pre-cast concrete highway safety barrier to contractors
and state highway departments throughout the mideastern US. In
1978 he formed Easi-Set Industries, the first full-service
licensing company for the pre-cast 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. Midland Advertising,
Inc., t/a Ad Ventures, and Hometown Properties, a real estate
company, were also founded by Mr. Smith. 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 Pre-cast/Pre-stressed Concrete
institute (PCI), the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and is a
past President of the National Pre-cast Concrete Association
(NPCA). He serves on the Board of Trustees of Bridgewater
College, Bridgewater, Virginia, and is active in several local
civic and charitable organizations. Profile
JOHN K. JOHNSON joined Smith-Midland Corporation in January 2003
as the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Johnson has over 20 years of
broad-based experience in accounting and finance operations with
fast growing public and private companies with a particular
emphasis on manufacturing. He has held a variety of financial
executive positions with companies such as DuPont, Omnichrome
Inc., Comstor and Strayer Education, Inc. Mr. Johnson is a member
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where
he is involved with the business and industry section. Mr.
Johnson received a BBA from Southern Methodist University in 1972
and served as a commissioned officer in the United States Air
Force from 1972'1977. He received an MSBA from Boston University
in 1987. Profile
Midland and a picture of what you are doing at the present time?
Mr. Smith: Smith-Midland is in the pre-cast concrete
