Adtran CEO wins life-achievement award

IT group to honor Mark Smith for his tech contributions

Friday, September 17, 2004

By BRIAN LAWSON

Times Business Writer brianl@htimes.com

Adtran CEO Mark Smith's interest in electronics has taken him from teenage ham-radio buff listening to Sputnik's transmissions, to a regular summer internship with the space program, to the founding of two successful Huntsville companies.

For his many accomplishments and contributions to the technology business in Alabama, Smith has been selected by the Alabama Information Technology Association as the first recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented Oct. 21 in Birmingham.

Smith, 64, is also the co-founder and chairman of Huntsville's Adtran Inc., which makes high-speed telecommunications equipment.

Adtran was started in 1986 with a handful of people and today employs some 1,600. It reported nearly $400 million in sales last year and a profit of $62 million. The company had a payroll impact of $146 million, according to the AITA.

Smith said he was very proud of the award, which reflects his helping spur technology development in Alabama. Smith said he has been committed over the years to a business culture that seeks out good minds and rewards their efforts.

"You find the best people you can," Smith said. "Second, you have to provide motivation. One of the ways to do that is to provide jobs that are challenging. And you make sure people are given the necessary tools to accomplish whatever the job is.

"If you put good people and resources together, you can accomplish all kinds of things."

Smith co-founded Universal Data Systems in 1969 in Huntsville. The modem-building company started with just two people, but was profitable and had about $20 million in annual revenue when it was sold to Motorola in the late 1970s.

"We selected Mark Smith to receive our first Lifetime Achievement Award because of the incredible economic development impact he's had on Alabama with UDS, Motorola and now Adtran," said Byron McCain, AITA executive director. "But additionally, he is so good to employees and his community. He truly has set an example for how establishing and managing a company should be handled."

Smith has taken risks to reach such heights, winning a Birmingham science fair, then using the opportunity to shake Dr. Wernher von Braun's hand and ask him for a job. He joined the fledging SCI to work with the space program and develop his engineering and business skills. He plowed his life savings into starting UDS and later left the security of Motorola to start Adtran in the hopes of finding a new market created by the break-up of AT&T.

Smith has been well-rewarded for those risks, but he said the point for him was never the need to take risks or seek a big payoff.

"I think it's the process of doing it," Smith said. "It's the enjoyment of building something. And you can build buildings or products or companies or businesses, whatever. There are just a lot of people who enjoy building things."

Smith's adult life has been tied up in the success of Huntsville. He contributed to the development of the space program and SCI, for years Huntsville's largest private employer. Smith supported the development of the University of Alabama in Huntsville and he became a major high-tech employer whose influence has helped establish Huntsville's modern identity.

"A whole bunch of folks were involved in the early days especially to help Huntsville grow," Smith said. "It's a very inclusive community. As people moved into Huntsville from very diverse parts of the country and from all over the world, the community opened their arms to the newcomers, welcomed them and welcomed their talent.

"That to me is the secret of success of Huntsville."

Smith has been in the same business for more than 30 years. He said that fact makes the recognition by the AITA a special honor.

"It is my hope through UDS and Adtran the impact of the innovation and engineering excellence that exists in North Alabama has been felt, not only in our region, but in the state as a whole.

"This impact will be a catalyst for future developments both in the telecom industry and North Alabama."




Adtran CEO wins life-achievement award IT group to honor Mark Smith for his tech contributions Friday, September 17, 2004 By BRIAN LAWSON Times Business Writer brianl@htimes.com Adtran CEO Mark Smith's interest in electronics has taken him from teenage ham-radio buff listening to Sputnik's transmissions, to a regular summer internship with the space program, to the founding of two successful Huntsville companies. For his many accomplishments and contributions to the technology business in Alabama, Smith has been selected by the Alabama Information Technology Association as the first recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented Oct. 21 in Birmingham. Smith, 64, is also the co-founder and chairman of Huntsville's Adtran Inc., which makes high-speed telecommunications equipment. Adtran was started in 1986 with a handful of people and today employs some 1,600. It reported nearly $400 million in sales last year and a profit of $62 million. The company had a payroll impact of $146 million, according to the AITA. Smith said he was very proud of the award, which reflects his helping spur technology development in Alabama. Smith said he has been committed over the years to a business culture that seeks out good minds and rewards their efforts. "You find the best people you can," Smith said. "Second, you have to provide motivation. One of the ways to do that is to provide jobs that are challenging. And you make sure people are given the necessary tools to accomplish whatever the job is. "If you put good people and resources together, you can accomplish all kinds of things." Smith co-founded Universal Data Systems in 1969 in Huntsville. The modem-building company started with just two people, but was profitable and had about $20 million in annual revenue when it was sold to Motorola in the late 1970s. "We selected Mark Smith to receive our first Lifetime Achievement Award because of the incredible economic development impact he's had on Alabama with UDS, Motorola and now Adtran," said Byron McCain, AITA executive director. "But additionally, he is so good to employees and his community. He truly has set an example for how establishing and managing a company should be handled." Smith has taken risks to reach such heights, winning a Birmingham science fair, then using the opportunity to shake Dr. Wernher von Braun's hand and ask him for a job. He joined the fledging SCI to work with the space program and develop his engineering and business skills. He plowed his life savings into starting UDS and later left the security of Motorola to start Adtran in the hopes of finding a new market created by the break-up of AT&T. Smith has been well-rewarded for those risks, but he said the point for him was never the need to take risks or seek a big payoff. "I think it's the process of doing it," Smith said. "It's the enjoyment of building something. And you can build buildings or products or companies or businesses, whatever. There are just a lot of people who enjoy building things." Smith's adult life has been tied up in the success of Huntsville. He contributed to the development of the space program and SCI, for years Huntsville's largest private employer. Smith supported the development of the University of Alabama in Huntsville and he became a major high-tech employer whose influence has helped establish Huntsville's modern identity. "A whole bunch of folks were involved in the early days especially to help Huntsville grow," Smith said. "It's a very inclusive community. As people moved into Huntsville from very diverse parts of the country and from all over the world, the community opened their arms to the newcomers, welcomed them and welcomed their talent. "That to me is the secret of success of Huntsville." Smith has been in the same business for more than 30 years. He said that fact makes the recognition by the AITA a special honor. "It is my hope through UDS and Adtran the impact of the innovation and engineering excellence that exists in North Alabama has been felt, not only in our region, but in the state as a whole. "This impact will be a catalyst for future developments both in the telecom industry and North Alabama." Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.