Steve Smith

[SHANEA]

This is old, but the google bot turned it up...

Sounds like a decent man who has made his fortune and isn't afraid to share it with others...

http://billandkay.org/personal/pages/steve_smith/lajitaspressrelease051116.htm

NOTE:  The above URL takes you to Steve Smith's cousin's website @ root http://billandkay.org/personal/

Steve Smith  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/16/2005

Lajitas, Texas - Stephen R. Smith embodies the modern-day success story. As one of the key figures behind the success of Excel Communications and presently the owner of a variety of corporations including the 25,000-acre town and resort of Lajitas (www.lajitas.com) and SRS Management, LLC, headquartered in Austin, Texas, Mr. Smith broadens his scope of success with each new venture. Mr. Smith's diverse business interests, known under the umbrella of "The Smith Companies," include significant investments in oil and gas exploration, residential and commercial property development, banking, consumer finance, aviation, and golf course development and ownership. Mr. Smith's most significant acquisition has been a multi-million dollar investment in the purchase and renovation of Lajitas, The Ultimate Hideout (www.lajitas.com).

Located in West, Texas, Lajitas is a 25,000-acre estate, tucked between the Big Bend National and State Parks and resting on the majestic Rio Grande River along the Mexican border. Lajitas and its environs are a major focal point of cultural and recreational activities for the entire Big Bend area with a 92-room luxury hotel, 18-hole golf course, spa, four restaurants, an equestrian center, hunt club, and much more.

Raised in El Paso, Mr. Smith holds a special interest in West Texas and the Big Bend. Mr. Smith has created a comprehensive master plan, and continues to develop the property as a destination for those that relish the seclusion and rugged beauty of the Big Bend - not only to visit, but also to live. For those who wish to reside at Lajitas, an array of options have been made available including Boardwalk Condominiums, Lakeside Cottages (currently under development), and exquisite home sites ranging from 1/2 acre to 2 acres.

In addition, the destination resort has undergone extensive operational and infrastructure improvements designed to offer a world-class luxury hideaway nestled among some of the most awesome vistas North America has to offer. And in all of this, Mr. Smith has maintained his desire and commitment to develop the property in harmony with the pre-existing environment and culture.

Mr. Smith attended the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Texas - El Paso. Prior to his current business endeavors, he was founder and president of Ameritex Coatings Corporation, and Vice President of Marketing for Chemrex Coatings Corporation of El Paso.

In the mid-1980's, Mr. Smith developed an interest in the direct selling or network marketing industry. Early on, Mr. Smith recognized that network marketing methods would be even more ideally suited to the marketing of services rather than products. One of the major obstacles in developing a product-based network marketing business is the individual burden of purchasing and storing inventory. In searching for the ideal service to provide, he pursued the telecommunications industry. He began that effort with Coastal Telephone, a regional long distance company, and Netcom Information Systems, a voice mail company.

Based on this early experience, Mr. Smith brought his ideas to the fledgling long distance company called Excel Telecommunications and implemented that network marketing system. Excel founder Kenny Troutt immediately saw the fit between Mr. Smith's ideas, and his own vision for telecommunications, and one of the most successful network marketing companies in history was born.

With the rewards of the Excel experience under his belt, Mr. Smith announced his participation in a new network-marketing venture with the launch of EverydayWealth (www.everydaywealth.com) on May 1, 2002.

SHANEA SIDEBAR:  

After five plus years in service to American Consumers nationwide, EverydayWealth has decided to close its doors on Thursday, March 8, 2007. Our last scheduled billing cycle ran on Thursday, March 8, 2007, at which time we pulled our final credit-related updates from Experian.

 from http://www.everydaywealth.com

Conceived as a ".service designed to help ordinary people achieve financial independence from where they are, with what they have," EverydayWealth brings together the content, tools, educational materials, credit reports, and anonymous credit marketplace into a personalized internet-based easy-to-use system. Mr. Smith is the majority shareholder, and Chairman of the Board.

In order to capitalize on his investment in EverydayWealth, Mr. Smith shares the same intellectual property with his newest network-marketing venture, UltimateMatch.com, which launched on November 14, 2003. The UltimateMatch.com business model embraces not only the power of the human relationship but also the unique success strategy that combines network marketing and online personals. Mr. Smith is the majority shareholder and Chairman of the Board.

A strong advocate of community and church involvement, Mr. Smith has made a number of generous contributions to the local communities in which the Smith family has become involved. For example, ongoing plans for Lajitas are being developed with the input of local civic and business leaders. In addition, Mr. Smith has contributed funds and other resources to local area school, community, and service groups.

He is heavily involved in Christian ministry, and has contributed substantial resources to the development of Gerald Mann Ministries-a nationwide media ministry located in Austin, Texas. Dr. Mann pastored the Riverbend Church in Austin. The Smith family has also funded the construction of the church's wedding chapel.

SIDEBAR:  SHANEA  http://www.riverbend.com/
http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?npoId=1196651
http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=guidestar&npoId=100780606
http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=guidestar&npoId=688387

Education has remained a primary interest to Mr. Smith, and he recently donated $10.5 million to Texas Christian University's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. The donation is funding the construction of the Center's stand-alone building on the Fort Worth campus. The donation is the largest individual donation by a non-alumnus in the school's history. Mr. Smith's children attended the Fort Worth School.

In 2002, Mr. Smith made a $1 million donation to the MOOT Corp program at the University of Texas at Austin. This program-developed in the early 1980's and now referred to as the "Super Bowl of New Venture Competitions"-is designed to challenge the entrepreneurial skills of participating MBA students from all over the world. Originally developed as an "exercise," much like the "mock trial" competitions common in law schools, the program now actually provides start-up funding to the winning proposals. Mr. Smith's donation will fund the prizes for the winning entries, at $100,000 each, to a national and global winner annually through 2005-2006.

His entire career, from network marketing to his philanthropic interests, have all focused on a very strong entrepreneurial vision not just for himself, but for everyone he comes in contact with.

"I have one goal for these investments," Smith says, "to help develop a more independent society. More than anything else, I think our institutions have the opportunity, even the obligation, to develop self-worth and self-reliance. We live in a society that has become more dependent, rather than independent. As a whole, we depend on a web of social services and government programs, rather than independent initiative and creative problem solving. In fact, problems are not tolerated. And if one does have problems, it's acceptable, even expected, for the individual to look for answers in everything else but their own independent initiative. We need to go about raising new generations who believe they can do whatever entrepreneurial ventures they set their minds to. We need to raise new generations who embrace challenge, and solve problems independently. In other words, we need to do everything we can to return the United States of America to its roots. Independent people founded our nation, and I believe they had absolutely no vision for the dependent society we have become."

For Additional Information:
Anne Bingham
Director of Communications
Lajitas, The Ultimate Hideout
phone: 432.424.5171
Email: abingham@lajitas.com

[Hayduke]

Well, if I paid someone to write my bio I would expect them to say all good things, too.

[SHANEA]

Well, if I paid someone to write my bio I would expect them to say all good things, too.

 :roflmao:  :roflmao:  :roflmao:  :roflmao:  :roflmao:  :roflmao:  :roflmao:  :roflmao:

[SHANEA]

"If you haven't earned a million a month, you should try it sometime...it's a lot of FUN!" ---Steven R. Smith, Founder & CEO

Maybe it should be, if you haven't burned a hundred million plus on a resort, you should try it sometime, it's a lot of fun...