Smith's service to El Campo appreciated, will be missed
ASK THE MAYOR
MAYOR PHILLIP SPENRATH

Kyle Smith has always been an extremely generous and hardworking individual who continually offers his God given talents and tireless energy to help promote, develop, and strengthen our community.

Kyle's strong work ethic and exceptional "people" skills enabled him to work his way up from a high school age cashier in Bay City to the H-E-B store director here in El Campo.

After three years in El Campo as store director, Kyle's passion for community service led him into the position of executive director of the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

During this time, Kyle helped introduce and entice many new businesses into our community.

In addition, Kyle worked with community leaders in obtaining voter support for raising the local sales tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent, with half of the increase used to create and fund the City Development Corporation of El Campo, and the other half for reducing property taxes.

At this time, Kyle took on the dual role of director of the CDC and continued as the Chamber executive director. As director of the CDC, Kyle spent numerous hours serving as a liaison between the City of El Campo and the newly introduced Cardell Cabinetry.

Through his close ties and countless hours of support, Kyle was soon lured away from the Chamber and CDC to become Cardell Cabinetry's plant general manager. Through continued success and growing marketability in the field of management, Kyle was soon asked to take his leadership skills to Greenleaf Nursery, where he has since been employed as the operations manager for the past five years.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Kyle tendered his resignation and ended over 5 1/2 years of remarkable community leadership as your councilman.

During his time serving on your City Council as Mayor Pro-Tem, Kyle was an integral supporter of El Campo's wastewater treatment expansion and the El Campo Aquatic Center; street development in our industrial park; downtown beautification projects; renovations to City Hall and the Emergency Services Buildings; expansion of summer programs for the El Campo Boys and Girls Club; and many more notable and worthwhile endeavors.

Kyle has spent countless hours researching and communicating to his constituents the goals and impact associated with hundreds of City Council agenda Items. During my tenure on Council, Kyle has always made himself available to discuss issues and offer solid solutions based on both his many years of community service and his unquestionable faith and commitment toward what is right for the betterment of all.

On Dec. 3, Kyle will begin his new employment as the director of the University of Houston's Coastal Plains Small Business Development Center. The SBDC provides business consulting and training services to entrepreneurs who are starting, or currently managing, an existing business in Wharton and Matagorda counties.

Kyle will be working with clients on business planning; financing operations, loan packaging and marketing strategies that will help them achieve business sustainability and growth.

While we will greatly miss Kyle's presence, wisdom and insight on City Council, El Campo will still be able to draw on his exceptional talents and experience as he and his family will continue to make El Campo their home.

Kyle, thank you for always staying the course and sharing your strong community beliefs, values and morals. El Campo has and will continue to be blessed with your servant's heart.

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