Stan Smith Biography

Professional History
Stan is a veteran global business leader, and a strategic, results-oriented thinker. His proven commercial leadership, communications and mentoring skills have long been on display at GE and across the Capital Region.

During his 43-year-long career at GE, he was responsible for sales of $140 billion in three GE businesses. Stan has held numerous manufacturing, sales, marketing, product management, financial planning and acquisition leadership positions in diverse GE businesses including GE Health Care, GE Computer Services, GE Aviation and GE Energy.

Stan is especially well known for his 12 years as the Global Commercial Leader for GE Power and Water, which under his leadership, grew from $3 billion to $23 billion and 25,000 employees worldwide. Product portfolios included complete power plants, gas and steam turbines, wind turbines, solar panels, gas engines, nuclear plants, water systems and chemicals.

He earned GE’s 2008 top sales award for orders exceeding $26 billion, in addition to other GE  Leadership awards over the years. Stan received extensive corporate training at GE’s John F. Welch Leadership Center in Crotonville, New York; coursework focused on leadership, innovation, growth, business and executive management development, and Six Sigma certification.

Stan has been on the Board of Directors for Proctors Theater in Schenectady, New York, since 2006 when this large heritage theater began a $27 million revitalization investment. He is the leader of their operations committee and assisted in developing and implementing a novel district heating and cogeneration plant. The power plant serves six customers and has saved Proctors more than $1 million. In addition, he continues to support several regional not-for-profit organizations including Albany  Regional Chamber of Commerce, Albany Art Museum, Girls Inc., GE Asia Pacific Forum, GE Hispanic Forum, GE Women’s Network, Northeast Parent & Child Society (Schenectady), Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce, Schenectady County Community College, Schenectady Science Museum, United Way, and WARC.

Stan is the Executive Vice President of Castle Rock Ranch Group and holds a master of business administration from Marquette University, and a professional engineering degree in petroleum refining and chemical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Throughout his career, Stan worked in more than 50 countries as an intensely involved business leader. He intends to continue bringing his broad experience and sound judgment to both business and the community.