Steve Smith is the Vice President of Sales for Vacuworx. He is responsible for strategic planning, market research, sales and marketing, and dealer/agent development for Vacuworx in all areas of the world. Under his direction, Vacuworx won the Oklahoma Exporter of the Year in 2014, 2017 and again in 2022. Mr. Smith has over 42 years of experience in the lifting and material handling industry with 31 years of International Sales and Operations experience in his career.

He has had the privilege of dealing with customers in all areas of the world. His background includes a broad range of international areas, including Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, Logistics, Accounting, Engineering and Market Research. Mr. Smith was in charge of The Crosby Group’s International Block and Sheave Centers located in Singapore and Hangzhou, China, where he directed start up operations and developed a “template” for future Centers to use including operating procedures and marketing strategies. During his first three years, his efforts yielded a 788% increase in sales for Crane Blocks and Sheaves, despite having the highest prices in the industry.

Mr. Smith is the President and Owner of Fast Forward Ideas, LLC, an idea development company. Fast Forward Ideas is attempting to create an entirely new market niche in entrepreneurship, focusing on potential serial entrepreneurs who are overlooked by the traditional entrepreneurial market. He also assists potential entrepreneurs and business start-ups on analysis of their business ideas and assisting with research. He assists clients in research to develop Overall Strategic planning, Sales and Marketing Strategies, Target Markets, Financial Plans, and Competitive Analysis.

Mr. Smith also was a 2002 Candidate for Mayor of Tulsa, with the intent of influencing policy direction in the city. He was regularly referred to as “The Idea Guy” by his competitors and many of his ideas were implemented by Tulsa’s political leadership. He was the first to promote a new downtown arena, downtown Tulsa development, and moving the baseball stadium to a downtown location.

Mr. Smith graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1985 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management. He is a member of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s District Export Council and Tulsa Global Alliance. He is married to Nadezda Smith and they have an 11 year old daughter, Nicole.