C. Mark Smith is a nationally-recognized leader in the field of economic development having managed economic development organizations at the federal, state and local level for more than 35 years. He is president of C. Mark Smith & Associates, a Richland, Washington-based consulting firm specializing in planning and economic development services.

As Regional Director of the eight-state Western Regional Office of the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) from 1970 to 1978, Smith was responsible for funding a series of vitally-important public works projects that established the future role of Pacific Coast ports in international trade.   He funded a three-year technical assistance study for Washington State University whose work formed the foundation for Washington's thriving wine industry.   He was instrumental in providing facilities that allowed minority economic development organizations to better serve their clients and provided funding for many important and now famous Native American tourism projects.

As Executive Director of the Tacoma-Pierce County (Washington) Economic Development Board, he was involved in early redevelopment efforts in downtown Tacoma, including the redevelopment of the Broadway Mall and the attraction of the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel.

As the first Executive Director of the Economic Development Executives of Washington (EDEW), he led the statewide organization, known for its member services, to a membership of more than 350.

As Director of the City of Birmingham (Alabama) Office of Economic Development (OED) from 1988 to 2000, he was involved in the effort that recruited Mercedes-Benz to Alabama and in the development of the first of eight $14.5 million, 54-hole world-class golf courses known as the "Robert Trent Jones Trail of Golf".   While at OED, Smith started one of the first one-stop small business finance centers in the nation combining various federal, state and local small business loan programs in one location.

After his retirement from the Birmingham position, Smith returned to Washington State where he served as Manager of the City of Richland's Office of Business and Economic Development (OBED) from 2000 to 2005.    In that capacity, he oversaw the development of the Columbia Point mixed use development on the Columbia River and led the effort to create and implement a new strategic economic development plan for the city.    Following a second retirement in 2005, Smith has been active in efforts to create a new "research district" in North Richland, anchored by PNNL and WSU-TC.   He recently authored a study on behalf of TRIDEC for the State of Washington which laid out a framework for the creation of a state "innovation zone" program.    He is currently working on a regional public facilities study funded by Pasco, Kennewick and Richland.

In each of these positions, Smith has been an innovator in the field of marketing and promotion, having won 44 national and state promotional marketing awards since 1988.

In a volunteer capacity, he has been a long-time contributor to various national and state economic development professional organizations, having served for more than 25 years as an officer or board member of the American Economic Development Council, the National Council for Urban Economic Development, and the International Economic Development Council.   IEDC awarded him its coveted Fellow Member designation in 2004 and its Honorary Life Member designation in 2005.   He received a special Lifetime Achievement Award from Washington Governor Gary Locke in November 2004. He was honored as the Washington Economic Development Association's first honorary life member and Board Member Emeritus in 2007.