A recent posting on the MIMList, MeetingNews' email forum for the meetings community, mused thusly about the longtime general manager of Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center: "Does anyone else agree with me that John Smith is far too young to retire?"
At 57, Smith is stepping down after guiding the 1.4-million-square-foot exhibition and entertainment facility through three major expansions, assisting on the construction of the Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park, and working on the 1988 Democratic National Convention, the 1996 Olympic Games, and two Super Bowls.
As for being "far too young," well, Smith only is "retiring" from his State of Georgia employment; with more than 30 years working for various Peach State entities (including 21 years at GWCC), he's eligible. But he'll continue educating hospitality-management students as an adjunct professor at Atlanta's Georgia State University, among many other planned activities.
More puzzling than Smith's seemingly premature retirement is this: How did a civil engineering major from Georgia Tech wind up in trade show facilities management?
"I asked that question when I got the job," Smith joked.
In reality, that background makes sense. Working with the state's construction division, Smith was in charge of the GWCC's second expansion in the early 1980s. After being recruited as the facility's assistant director, he realized the post was a logical extension of his expertise.
"In construction, there's a need for organizing people, materials and equipment," he said. "You need systems, organizations and structures, all within an accurate timeline. And that's at the heart of any convention center, which is nothing more than a series of construction projects, as trade shows move in and out."
As the construction guy, Smith also was the logical man to spearhead the development of the Georgia Dome, put up in 1992, and Centennial Olympic Park, in 1996. These, along with the GWCC, are operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, with Smith's boss, Dan Graveline, as the authority's executive director.
At Georgia State, Smith now is helping create a learning center as part of the hospitality management program, so students can interact with trade show managers. He also plans to stay active in professional organizations, including the International Association of Assembly Managers (he was IAAM's international president in 1999) and the Convention Industry Council's APEX Initiative, which is setting forth best practices for the meetings industry.
With his retirement, he's had to leave the APEX governing board, but has been asked to help introduce APEX concepts to the academic community and the college textbook industry.
His favorite event since becoming GWCC general manager in 1989?
"When we're standing around the water cooler with the rest of the gang, we all look at each other and say the Olympics has to be it. Chief Olympic organizer Billy Payne has said that the Olympics brought joy and happiness all around us. It was just the most fun, watching folks coming in from all over the world and having a helluva great time."