Board Chair, Teel Plastics
UW Major: Economics
For Smith, who was born and raised in Madison and became familiar with the university’s reputation early on, attending UW–Madison felt like a natural decision. Right away, he appreciated the breadth of ideas and perspectives on campus. “I was really excited about the university,” he says. “Meeting people from different parts of the world, with different opinions, was interesting but also helped me a lot in business, too.”
He fondly recalls joining the Sigma Chi fraternity and meeting new people — including his wife, retired art teacher Pat Hovey Smith ’63. “That was probably the best thing that happened to me at the UW,” he says.
After graduating, Smith joined the Fordem Company and, as president, led the firm from a small, family-owned snack-food packaging business to a market leader in sterilizable medical packaging. In the 1980s, Smith negotiated Fordem’s sale to UK–based Dickinson Robinson Group (DRG) — propelling DRG to become the world’s largest manufacturer of medical packaging — and went on to manage its operations across a dozen countries.
“It was a wonderful learning experience,” he says of the chance to work internationally and in such a specialized industry.
Smith later served as president of DRG’s worldwide operations before launching a family investment firm. In 1999, he and his two children — Jason Smith and Brynna Smith London ’97 — acquired Teel Plastics and guided the company’s growth into a first-class manufacturer of custom-engineered plastics, with four facilities in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Under Smith’s leadership, Teel earned multiple honors, including a Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award in 2015. The company has also been recognized for its sustainability efforts, such as using recycled materials and improving energy efficiency.
Throughout his manufacturing career, Smith remained equally committed to civic and educational efforts. Appointed to the UW System Board of Regents in 1995, he went on to serve under multiple governors from different political parties — including two terms as board president, from 2000 to 2002. Smith championed stronger ties between the university and the business community. He was responsible for initiating and leading Wisconsin’s first four statewide economic summits, which were attended by hundreds of leaders across higher education, government, and commerce.
Throughout his career, Smith distinguished himself as a relationship builder, connecting people with differing backgrounds and viewpoints toward common goals. He stresses the importance of a kind of statesmanship — working together and navigating disagreements rather than avoiding them — a perspective he traces back to his time as a UW student.
Today, Smith serves on the board of Teel and on the boards of organizations including Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Clack Corporation, the Waisman Center, and the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. He’s also deeply connected with the UW, with roles on advisory boards and search committees, as well as offering philanthropic support. He views his involvement not just as service, but as an opportunity to continue learning and stay involved. “The university is a great place to be and to talk about important things with incredibly smart people,” he says. “It’s a gift.”
