Rod A. Smith Email & Phone Number

Pennsylvania & National

Joined the National Association of Realtors. NRDS #717001284.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Licensed in Pennsylvania in real estate and working with Keller Williams Realty, the largest real estate broker in North America. Keller Williams 2015 AWARDS include: Training Magazine #1 Training Organization across all industries. REALTOR Magazine 30 Under 30 Seven Keller Williams finalists and four winners including the Web Choice winner REAL Trends 500 143 Keller Williams offices ranked by transactions and 140 by sales volume - more than any other real estate franchise RIS Media Power Broker 500 Keller Williams is home to 25 percent of Power Brokers by Brand and 25 percent Power Brokers by Referral Network Franchise 500 Made Entrepreneur magazine's list of top franchises - for the fifth year in a row Austin Business Journal's Healthiest Employers Named a healthiest employer in Austin for the company's dedication to team member health and wellness Inc. 5000 Made list of fastest-growing private companies - for the sixth year in a row. National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals 250 Keller Williams had two of the Top 10 agents on NAHREP's list of top-producing Latino agents and a total of 30 representatives receiving recognition. REAL Trends/Wall Street Journal "The Thousand" Keller Williams had 120 associates and teams on list of top real estate professionals in America. REAL Trends 500 Keller Williams had 143 offices ranked by transactions and 140 ranked by sales volume Austin Business Journal Chief Financial Officer Legacy Award Keller Williams’ CFO recognized with the Austin Business Journal’s 2015 Legacy Award for lifetime achievement/li>

During my tenure at Zhao I have been fortunate to work with an amazing group of corporate executives and owners who recognize the value of bringing new products to market in an industry plagued with fierce competition and volatility. A key function of my role includes leading marketplace research functions and recommending product line strategy. Due to the expertise of my team we concluded, prior to our competition, that a new category line of healthy food for pets would be the next trend based on the healthier eating trend in the human food market. In just under one year we developed the brand “Pet Smiles” and officially launched the new line at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL. The marketing strategy we utilized was an outstanding success. We established critical and key customer contacts at Del Monte Foods who expressed sincere interest in entering the healthy pet treat category. In less than 18 months we produced our first product, Chicken Jerky, under the newly created LLC company brand of Milo's Kitchen. Our first year sales exceeded expectations in the multi-million dollar range. Shortly thereafter co-developed a brand line extension, the 'Chicken Griller' Milo Kitchen item. That year our combined sales for Chicken Jerky and Chicken Griller again exceeded forecasted targets. Throughout the co-packer relationship we enjoyed with Del Monte, I served as the leader of the daily management for all Del Monte project managers (CFO, VP of Co-Pack, Director of Co-Pack, VP of R&D, Director of R&D, Sr. Food Chemist, Director of QA and Food Safety, Quality Assurance Manager, Graphics Manager, Packaging Managers, etc.). To this day I look back with pride on how our teams collaborated and created success out of both opportunities and challenges.

I had the privilege of witnessing what it truly means to provide excellent service and do whatever it takes to win loyalty and respect. About 24 months into my tenure management informed me of an opportunity to turn a particularly nasty situation into a spectacular success. All I had to do was to rescue an account valued at over $6 million from disaffiliation.Upon my first very visit, I was told by the disgruntled buyer that the disaffiliation was non-negotiable. When queried for clarification he provided very specific points which he felt were irreconcilable and politely ended the meeting. While walking to my car I contemplated a new strategy and determined a solution to situation could be found through collaboration and leveraging diverse opinions. I used a "lifeline" phone call to our company president and together we brainstormed to resolve the matter.Armed with a solution neither the president or I could have thought up on our own, I called buyer back and began a full out apology. I took full responsibility and asked him to forgive us for known and unknown wrong doings on our behalf. I asked if he could find it in his heart to not hold me personally responsible for prior history and to allow me just 30 days to correct the points at issue, which I recounted one by one. If within the 30 days I failed to remedy all points, then I would willing withdraw/accept his terms of relationship cancellation. He agreed it was reasonable and fair and "he should not hold me accountable for things the other guy did". I informed our team of the issues, we found amenable solutions and presented them within one week. He tweaked a couple things, and then we went about correcting all concerns to a 100% satisfaction rating.Over the next 2 years we increase the business by over a million dollars and achieved maximum sales results. We also added a brand-new piece of business which generated an additional one million in sales per calendar year.Success through persistence.

Dyersville, Ia

The Ertl Company, Dyersville, IA An American company best known for die cast REPLICA toys and collectibles marketing under the brands of John Deere, Case IH, Ford and Massey. Ertl was a leader in the model kit business under the company names of AMT & MPC, and the innovator of the 1/18 die cast collectible car brand, American Muscle.I enjoyed the warmth of the people of Iowa while employed at Ertl as well as the Heartland of America good work ethic that accompanied them. A great experience which explains why I was there for 15 years!

State & National Real Estate Licensing, Real Estate, Licensed

Activities and Societies: Pennsylvania License #332419 in 2015, Joined the Association of Realtors in 2016

Food Safety Program Certification, Food Science, Passing Completion

Activities and Societies: Completed 2014 Penn State University's Food Safety Certification FDA/USDA Coursework