Alex Smith (entrepreneur)

Alex Smith
Born (1986-11-06) November 6, 1986
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Education Indiana University
Occupation Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Known for
Spouse(s) Michaela Smith (m. 2013)

Alex Smith (born November 6, 1986, Fort Wayne, Indiana) is an American entrepreneur, community activist,[1] and philanthropist.[2] He is the co-founder & CEO of 3BG Supply Co. (Panzit International),[3] an industrial automation and distribution company and the winner of Fort Wayne Business Weekly's "Emerging Company of the Year" award and overall "Innovators of the Year" award.[4]

He is also the co-founder of A Better Fort,[5] co-founder of BAALS Music Festival,[6] creator of the #HipHop4theCity (MY CITY) music project,[7][8][9][10][11] and the business manager of Nyzzy Nyce, an American rapper and founder of the Hurricane Music Group. Smith is a recipient of the 2014 Fort Wayne Business Weekly "40 Under 40" award and a Bishop Dwenger Hall of Fame Inductee as Alumnus of the Year 2015.[12]

Biography

Alex Smith was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he attended Bishop Dwenger High School.[13] Following high school, Smith enrolled in Indiana University where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Public Financial Management prior to working as a financial planner at Galecki Financial Management. Smith left financial services and co-founded 3BG Supply Co. (Panzit International).[14] In 2014, the company was awarded Emerging Company of the Year and overall Innovators of the Year by Fort Wayne Business Weekly.[15][16]

Smith is married to Michaela Smith.[17]

Projects

The MY CITY Project (HipHop4theCity)

In 2012, Smith facilitated a music project entitled,"HipHop4theCity" (aka The MY CITY Project). It was a community driven hip-hop project that involved the collaboration of many local musicians and most notably American rapper, Nyzzy Nyce.[18] This project showcased the region's undiscovered talent while simultaneously bringing awareness to community involvement, the arts, and what young people are able to do for a community's civic pride when they collaborate and work together. Coverage of the project sparked a newly renewed sense of civic pride within the young population of Fort Wayne that attracted the attention of national economic development publications[19] and blogs[20][21] and inspired other civic initiatives such as the annual MY CITY Summit.[22]

Philanthropy

Smith is involved in volunteerism, community activism and downtown development initiatives in Fort Wayne, and co-founded A Better Fort, an organization with a focus on community empowerment and the retention of young talent through service opportunities, philanthropic endeavors, innovative projects, and cultural discovery.[23] The organization has also raised capital on behalf of other local nonprofits in need of funds.[24] [25]

References

  1. ↑ Grade, Up. "A Better Fort PEE Factor: Alex Smith at TEDxFortWayne". up-grade.me.
  2. ↑ Dan Stockman (June 7, 2014). "Block Parties Embrace Former Mayor Baals". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kieara Carr (June 19, 2014). "Inspiration for a Better Fort". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2014 Innovation Awards". Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly. November 6, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ Kelly Lynch (April 8, 2014). "Arts Weekly with A Better Fort". Lynchpin Creative. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Jaclyn Goldborough (July 29, 2014). "A Better Fort Plans a Pair of Block Parties for Downtown Fort Wayne". The News Sentinel. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ "'My City' message grows". Fort Wayne.com. March 21, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ Devon Haynie (May 31, 2012). "Can a Rap Video Make Fort Wayne Cool?". City Lab. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ Melissa Rinehart (April 15, 2013). "A Call from BET Changed Everything". Fort Wayne Monthly. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ Devon Haynie (May 31, 2012). "Can a Rap Video Make Fort Wayne Cool?" (PDF). Atlantic Cities. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ Katrina Helmer and Rachel Martin (December 4, 2011). "Building the Community Through Hip Hop". 21 Alive. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "40 Under 40: Alex Smith". Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly. March 28, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Dwenger Times" (PDF). Bishop Dwenger High School. 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ "BBB Business Review". BBB. November 14, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Innovative Companies Honored". kpc News. November 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  16. ↑ Claudia Johnson (September 26, 2014). "2014 Innovation Award Category Winners Announced". kpc Media group Inc. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  17. ↑ Keiara Carr (June 19, 2014). "Inspiration for a Better Fort". Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  18. ↑ "HipHop4theCity". Indiana News Center. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Can a Rap Video Make Fort Wayne Cool?". TheAtlanticCities.com. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Hip Hop Music Video Shows Community's Passion for Fort Wayne". Indiana News Center. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Hip Hop 4 the City". Wane TV. Discover Downtown Episode 9 on Wane TV. Retrieved November 5, 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ↑ "City summit will inspire big ideas, challenge leaders". The Journal Gazette. April 6, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  23. ↑ WANE Staff Reports (July 11, 2014). "#BAALS summer block party promises local DJs, drink specials, and more". WANE.com. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  24. ↑ Dan Stockman (June 7, 2014). "Block Parties Embrace Former Mayor Baals". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Theme: RE THINK Fort Wayne". TED. May 19, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
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