Gloria L. Smith

President, CEO

Mrs. Gloria L. Smith is President of SMITHLAIN Enterprises, Incorporated, with Corporate Headquarters in Huntsville, Ala.  SMITHLAIN is a woman-owned, small disadvantaged business founded June 12, 1998.  The company has experienced phenomenal growth in the last five years. 

Ever attuned to the needs of business and industry, Mrs. Smith has assembled a capable team of professionals to provide support services in the areas of logistics, training and development, program management, information technology, manufacturing, and conference planning.   Her current clients include NASA Headquarters, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Teledyne Solutions, and Boeing.

Owing to her diligence, SMITHLAIN received its 8(a) certification in August 1999 and HUBZone certification in July 2000 and is a viable member of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

In 2001, Mrs. Smith’s firm was awarded the South Region’s Minority Business Council (SRMBC) Diversity Award for “Supplier of the Year” and was featured in the November 1999 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine.

In the January/February 2002 issue of Minority Business Entrepreneur, SMITHLAIN was featured for its work with Oakwood College of Huntsville, Ala., as part of the government’s Historically Black Colleges and University and Other Minority Institutions (HBCU/OMIs) initiative.  By April 2002, Smith’s company had earned the coveted “Small Business of the Year” honor from the Office of Corporate Relations at Alabama A&M University. 

A recipient of the Bachelor of Science and graduate degrees from Faulkner University, Mrs. Smith earlier received an associate degree from Robinson Business College in Monroe, La.   A fierce advocate of continuing education, Mrs. Smith has received several certificates throughout her career. 

The astute entrepreneur possesses more than 20 years of legal and administrative experience in the government-contracting arena. Her expertise includes strategic business planning, as well as technical and program management.  She is an active member of numerous civic organizations and associations, among them the American Business Women’s Association, Women’s Business Council, AUSA, and HAMA.  She is an advisor for the Organization of Small Business Owners, Inc., and is dedicated to causes that encourage young girls and women to aspire to new heights.   She also gives her time and talents to local organizations, including the Girl Scouts of North Alabama and Girls, Incorporated, for which she serves on the Executive Board of Directors.  Mrs. Smith was recently invited to be a member of the Women’s Business Council Board of Directors.

 Mrs. Smith has accomplished several noteworthy achievements, including Outstanding Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2000 by the African American Entrepreneurial Summit. She was recently recognized as one of three finalists for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year- 2003 Award.

 The Winnsboro, La., native envisions SMITHLAIN’s continued growth and ability to provide excellent quality and cost-effective services to its customers.  She is married to Frank Smith, Sr. and they have three children, Frank Jr., Daphane, and Erica, and four grandchildren. 

Mr. Smith is the vice president of SMITHLAIN Enterprises, Incorporated.  He completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.  He also received an associate’s degree in Education Administration from the University of the State of New York.  He has received numerous certificates for continuing education courses throughout his career. 

Mr. Smith served 24 years in the United States Army.  As a retired officer of the US Army, he has an extensive background in military operations, which includes knowledge of the HAWK, Patriot Missile systems.   

Mr. Smith is a native Alabamian.  He is a member of numerous professional, civic and non-profit organizations.  Mr. Smith is married to Gloria L. Smith and they have three children, Frank, Jr., Daphane and Erica, and three grandchildren.