Guest of Honor

Marshall University Foundation Hall renamed in recognition of alumnus Brad D. Smith’s many contributions to his alma mater

Brad Smith is becoming well known throughout his home state of West Virginia for two things: his successful career as president and CEO of Intuit and his loyalty to his alma mater, Marshall University. In a ceremony held Oct. 31, Marshall had the opportunity to honor Smith for that loyalty by renaming the Marshall University Foundation Hall the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall. Smith has been a major donor to Marshall for years, most recently having given $10 million to Marshall for the establishment of the Brad and Alys Smith Family Scholarship Fund.

When asked what the naming ceremony meant to him, Smith said, “It’s hard to put into words. It’s the opportunity for me and my family to give back to those who invested in me for so many years. It’s a real privilege and I hope it inspires the next generation to go out and pursue their dreams.”

Smith grew up in Kenova, West Virginia, and graduated from the former Ceredo-Kenova High School. He studied at the United States Military Academy at West Point before transferring to Marshall, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing.

After graduating, he began his career in business working for Pepsi. Smith also attended night classes to complete a master’s degree in management from Aquinas College. After leaving Pepsi, Smith worked for direct mail marketer ADVO and business outsourcing solutions provider ADP. Since 2008, Smith has led software giant Intuit, which makes Quicken, QuickBooks and TurboTax. The company employs 8,000 people in its offices around the world, and its products are sold in 160 countries. Under Smith’s leadership, Intuit is ranked No. 31 on Fortune magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

Smith credits his parents, his upbringing in West Virginia and the education he received at Marshall with supplying the foundation for his success.

“I sit at dinners next to people who went to Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Stanford and every once in a while, after they’ve had a couple glasses of wine, they will cozy up to me and ask how

I think my education from Marshall University stacks up,” he said. “I smile and tell them, ‘I learned everything you learned in school, but mine cost $150,000 less and our football team was better.’”

Despite living in California and maintaining a grueling work schedule, Smith always finds time to give back to his home state and to Marshall. He received an honorary doctoral degree in 2014 when he was the speaker for Marshall’s commencement ceremony. He was the featured speaker at the 2015 West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Business Summit, where he called on state leaders to use education and technology as tools to solve West Virginia’s economic problems.

“Brad Smith exemplifies everything that is good about West Virginia and Marshall University,” said Gary White, former interim president at Marshall University. “Not only is he an inspiring leader for one of the world’s most exciting companies, he is generous and humble and everything his parents raised him to be.”

Both of Smith’s brothers also graduated from Marshall, an accomplishment that made his father especially proud.

“My dad received his GED before joining the Army,” Smith said. “He and my mom had a dream that their three sons would all go to college. One Christmas morning my dad announced that he had a surprise. He then gave each of us a class ring from Marshall. A few days later my dad passed away of a heart attack. He was 58. My brothers and I wear these rings every single day, not only for Marshall, but also for our parents and the sacrifices they made on our behalf.”

Smith’s mother and brothers were able to attend the naming ceremony. Smith said it meant a lot to have them there, but he wished two more people could have been there as well.

“I wish my father was here,” Smith said. “And, I wish Dr. (Stephen) Kopp was here to see this.”

Dr. Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation, said Smith epitomizes the foundation’s values of diversity, pride, respect and integrity.

“I have been involved in the field of education for more than 40 years,” Area said. “I have gotten acquainted with lots of special people, but Brad Smith has those special qualities that touch your soul. There is an energy around him that challenges you to excel and add value to your work. We are honored to have his name on the Marshall University Foundation Hall.”

Molly McClennen is a freelance writer who divides her time between Huntington and Chicago, where she attends graduate school at the University of Illinois.

Photo: (Below) Smith poses for photo with his daughter, Devon, and wife, Alys, after foundation hall was officially renamed the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.

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