David Smith, CAE
President & CEO
Dave joined The Employers’ Association in 1989 as Director
of Research and Information Resources. He was made President
& CEO in 1994. Prior to joining The Association, Dave
was Director of Human Resources for a local furniture manufacturer
(5 years) responsible for Union Relations, Compensation, Safety/Environmental
Compliance, and Organizational Development. His previous experience
includes Human Resource Management for a local automotive
supplier (1 year), Technical Recruiting (5 years) and Operations
Management (2 years).
As President of The Association, Dave has served on The National
Association of Manufacturer’s Board of Directors, participates
in its President’s Council, and is a charter member
of its Human Resources Policy Steering Committee. He has been
active within the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, involved
in its CEO Roundtable Program for more than 10 years, serving
as a member of and Chair for its Steering Committee. Additionally,
Dave has served as both Director and Chair for the Employers’
Association Group (EAG) Executive Committee, a national network
of Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Associations.
Dave serves as a Director for Herbruck Poultry Ranch as well
as serving on the Kent/Allegan County Workforce Development
Board and its Childcare Task Force, the YMCA HR Policy Committee.
Dave also serves on the General Synod of the Reformed Church
in America’s Personnel and Evaluation Committee, the
Grand Valley Blood Program’s Board of Governors (having
Chaired its Board for two years), and is a Trustee for the
Michigan Community Blood Centers, a Director for Kent Health
Plan, and a Committee Chair for The Alliance for Health and
its Business Group on Health. Dave is a member of Gun Lake
Community Church, the American Society of Association Executives,
and the Grand Rapids Rotary.
Dave has developed and implemented more than 165 Compensation
Administration Programs while at The Association and consulted
with Members to resolve Organizational Development, Succession
Planning, Staffing, Performance Management, Family Business,
Safety/Health, and Legislative Compliance concerns. Dave has
worked with Manufacturing, Service/Professional, Family Owned
and Non-Profit businesses to provide strategic direction,
planning, and consistent management techniques to promote
excellence in the management of people. Dave is a frequent
speaker on Compensation System Design, Performance Management,
Healthcare Reform, Human Resource Compliance, and Generational
Diversity issues. A regular contributor to The Grand Rapids
Business Journal’s People Matters column, Dave has had
several of his articles reprinted for national publication.
He has been recognized as one of America’s best poets
and compiled a book of poetry for future publication.
Dave was graduated from Hope College with a Bachelor of Arts
Degree (awarded dual majors in Chemistry and Psychology) then
took further studies in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Purdue
University. He has taken advanced coursework at the Thomas
M. Cooley School of Law, achieved the designation Certified
Association Executive and been accepted into both the National
and International Who’s Who Registry of Business Professionals.
He and his wife Laura, a teacher for the Maple Valley School
System, reside in Middleville and have a summer home on Gun
Lake. They share the joys and opportunities and challenges
presented to them by their three grown sons, Ryan, Eric and
Jarod, with whom they enjoy golfing, boating, soccer and a
number of other outdoor activities.
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