Greg Smith
vice president, agribusiness

Greg brings 20 years of communications management experience to Padilla Speer Beardsley. An insightful strategist, Greg's experience spans several clients and industries. He currently leads the Padilla Speer Beardsley agribusiness practice that was recently recognized as one of the nation's largest independent public relations agribusiness agencies by the O'Dwyers Directory of Public Relations Firms.

Greg currently oversees the firm's work for BASF Professional Vegetation Management, BASF Turf & Ornamental and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Previously, Greg has worked with Ciba-Geigy Crop Protection and Ciba-Geigy Turf and Ornamental (now Syngenta), Starbar and Vet-Kem (Wellmark International, formerly Sandoz), handling product marketing, public issues and corporate reputation initiatives.

A skilled researcher and communications strategist, Greg is the recipient of numerous local and national awards for campaign planning and communications management, including a prestigious Bronze Sabre Award for crisis communications management. Prior to joining Padilla Speer Beardsley, Greg ran his own public relations business. His career also includes work as a vice president and account supervisor for two prominent agribusiness firms, Weber Shandwick and Colle-McVoy.

Greg holds a master's degree in science journalism from the University of Minnesota and studied engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy. Greg also serves as an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University, teaching public relations writing and advanced public relations courses, and at Bethel University, teaching communications management and business communications. Greg is active in the National Agribusiness Marketing Association, serving as vice president of program development for the North Central NAMA Chapter.