A longtime advocate of the IT industry — a man who built a successful career from humble beginnings — will be presented with CompTIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award during this week’s Annual Member Meeting (AMM) in San Diego. David P. Smith, vice president of field service for CompuCom Systems, will be honored by CompTIA, where was chairman of the board of directors from 2003 to 2004, and was a board member from 2000 to 2005.
Smith began his career fixing copiers and had a passion and talent for IT that helped him build a notable and respected career. He’s served over 20 years at CompuCom Systems, an international company that specializes in IT outsourcing. As a vice president, he oversees the company’s relationship with its vendors, network management and operations.
For many years, Smith was heavily involved with CompTIA, starting with the CompTIA service section. “I met Dave Smith, who was already a Services Section member with CompTIA, in April of 1998,” said Rich Rysiewicz of Synnex, who is also the former CompTIA vice president of services. “He had been active in the forum for at least five or more years earlier and was one of the very involved members who actively supported the association.”
Smith helped create CompTIA’s well-known certification program. He was active in the initial committees that blueprinted the idea, and provided technical experts, funding and mandates through his national service organization.
“He also drove the manufacturers to accept the certifications as a basis for their authorizations,” Rysiewicz said. “Dave not only helped drive the association activities to benefit his organization, he truly was a true visionary for the IT industry.”
Smith later sat on the board of directors as a member and as chairman. After his tenure, he continued to chair the Services Section for CompTIA.
In fact, Smith never really stopped being involved, said Mark Romanowski, executive vice president of ASI System Integration Inc.
“He always participated in every CompTIA Service Section meeting and was a tireless advocate for the industry,” Romanowski said. “He continued to give of himself to CompTIA and OEMs all the way until the end of his career. He never said no and always contributed his time and his knowledge of the service industry.”
One of his closest colleagues, Aaron Woods, director of U.S. solutions providers, relationship and partners at Xerox, and a CompTIA board member, agreed that Smith was particularly perceptive about the industry.
“Dave was always able to grasp what was needed in the industry,” Woods said. “Dave was always making sure we were providing the right thing to customers and to balance that with the needs of OEMs. He could see all sides and use that to provide the right balance for the different players in the industry.”
Above all, Smith earned a tremendous amount of respect from his colleagues and peers. Gary Gilliam, retired from Xerox, and a CompTIA board member while Smith was chairman, said, “Dave is an example of how effective leaders can be when they are humble and do not seek personal recognition. His leadership at [CompuCom] has resulted in a best-in-class service practice. His leadership at Comp TIA resulted in growth in membership and member benefits.”
Smith will be honored at a dinner during AMM conference, set for April 1-3. For more on CompTIA’s Annual Member meeting, click here.
David Dritsas is a freelance writer based in Chicago who has covered business and technology since 1999.
