Michael S. Smith
A lifelong love of learning combined with the opportunity and experience of applying his knowledge and passion to growing a business, Michael smith has numerous years of practice in leading, teaching and mentoring. Michael has a wide range of experience coaching leaders, especially CEOs, executives and business owners of medium to small businesses as well as the leaders of not-for-profit organizations.
Hired after graduating from college by Gemini Industries of El Reno, Oklahoma in 1975, Mr. Smith became President of the $8 million dollar company in 1989 and assumed the title of CEO in 1994. By 2003 the company had $35 million in sales, 150 employees and 5 physical locations, doing business virtually in every state in the U.S.
After selling his majority equity position in Gemini Industries, now an employee-owned company, to its team members, Michael ventured into new areas opportunities that spoke to his passions. He became the Principal of Oxygen for Organizations, an organization that creates growth opportunities for people and the organizations that nurture them so that men and women discover and optimize their own unique gifts and talents in the context of group success.
He also became a contributor to a couple of for-profit leadership growth initiatives which serviced current or potential CEOs. Michael developed experiential curriculum designed to leverage the shared experience and knowledge of medium to small business executives in the areas of leadership, culture, and strategic planning,
Mr. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Education at the University of Oklahoma in 1975 and in 1984 received his Master of Human Relations degree from OU.
Michael married his high school sweetheart, Joanna, and their family includes three terrific adult children: Molly (now married to Marty), Rachel and Ryan. Michael enjoys fly-fishing, photography, bicycling and gardening, and he is also a passionate board member of Oklahoma City Young Life.
