Rob Smith is named Shafer Award winner

Apr. 13—Rob Smith admits he has some bad habits.

"I can't say no," Smith, the executive chairman of Acutec Precision Aerospace Inc. of Meadville, said with a laugh. "I have a problem. When I get onto something, eventually I want to run it — it's the ego in me."

During his more than 30 years in Meadville, those habits have led Smith to the roles of business leader, member of various community boards and committees, and even a stint as a politician.

The habits have also made him the recipient of this year's Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service.

"He's a sociable guy and connects with everyone from the shop floor to the boardroom," one person wrote in nominating Smith. "Folks in town know him to be a great sounding board particularly related to matters of finance and strategy for all manners of organizations in the community. He's not afraid to ask hard questions and often says the thing others are thinking and afraid to say, or identifies opportunities or issues no one could put into words."

The nomination pointed out that since retiring from Acutec in 2015, Smith has thrown his time and energy into developing downtown Meadville, "offering business development coaching to entrepreneurs, he has helped launch and grow downtown business including Yoga Spot (Meadville), French Creek Coffee (and Tea Co.), French Creek Framing (and Fine Art) and Cussewago Creek Distillery, significantly renovating dilapidated properties in the process."

Named for former Gov. Raymond P. Shafer, the award started in 1991 to recognize an individual who has made a positive impact on the quality of life in western Crawford County through volunteer service.

To be eligible, a person must have lived or worked in western Crawford County. Recipients are chosen based on the nominee's volunteer efforts and commitment of time, accomplishments, community impact and enhancement of the lives of others. Things done as part of a nominee's paid employment are not considered.

Sponsored by Allegheny College, the Shafer Law Firm, and the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, the award is presented at the Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner. This year's award will be presented April 24.

Smith said he's honored to be recognized but is grateful to the community and especially to his wife, Nancy.

"This is a really nice town to live and work because of its people," Smith said. "But none of this would be possible (for me) without Nancy."

Smith's involvement in the community, goes back to the early 1990s when he and his wife and their two daughters moved to Meadville in 1993.

Smith graduated from Allegheny College in 1973 with a degree in political science. He worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., holding numerous posts including manager of marketing services for Firestone Hispania in Madrid, Spain. He later worked for an Iowa manufacturer of industrial tires, wheels and brakes as its president of sales and marketing. In 1988, he helped to found Acutec in Meadville and returned to Meadville in 1993, taking ownership of Acutec in 1994.

He was elected to the Crawford Central School Board in 1995 and again in 1999, serving as board president during his second four-year term. He also coached several girls' sports teams and volunteered at swim meets supporting his kids' activities.

Smith served multiple terms on his alma mater's Board of Trustees from 2001-2022 including chairman 2013-2016 and has been a trustee emeriti since 2023. He helps Allegheny liaison with the community at large, helping new administrators connect with community members.

Smith's been on the board of Women's Services Inc. since 2010 and treasurer since 2021, helping the organization with its vision and making prudent strategic choices.

He has served on Meadville Medical Center's finance and investment committees and the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County's nominating committee, all since 2014. He's served on the Academy Theatre Board's finance committee since 2020 and has been a member of the Community Development Corp Steering Committee since 2023.

Though he retired from Acutec in 2015, Smith isn't slowing down at 72.

RAN Investments, an investment company he and Nancy own, is developing Cussewago Square.

It's the former Race Street Lumber Co./Meadville Distillery property on seven acres between Spring and Race streets in the city's Fifth Ward.

It's designed to have two restaurants, a theater/performance complex, an event building and other amenities, connected with a planned biking and hiking trail.

"To me, this is slowing down," Smith said of doing the Cussewago Square development. It's a project he estimates will occupy his time for the next couple of years.

"Anybody who's run their own business knows it's non-stop, 24/7 you're in it," he said. "You become an adrenaline junkie."

"I'm a lousy golfer, and I can't travel 24/7," Smith said with a laugh. "I've got to do something. I've got to have things to do."

Keith Gushard can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.