Michael Smith

Michael Smith has a diverse and impressive work experience spanning several companies and industries. Michael began their career in the Wisconsin Army National Guard as a Petroleum Laboratory Technician from 1984 to 1992. Michael then joined Ashley Furniture in 1991 as a Designer, where they lived in Southeast Asia to design and develop new products and conducted market research. In 1995, they joined Urbana Furniture as a Designer, creating unique contemporary designs and achieving innovations in upholstery design and manufacturing. Michael moved to Flexsteel Industries Inc. in 1998 and served as the Chief Designer for 17 years, driving the design and development of the Latitudes line and establishing it as a $165M business. Finally, they joined Smith Brothers of Berne, Inc. in 2015 as the Director of Product Design, elevating the design aesthetic, enhancing brand awareness, and creating new product categories to grow market share. Overall, Michael Smith has a proven track record of success in product design and development, with extensive experience in Asia and a talent for driving business growth.

Michael Smith attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1985 to 1987, studying Fine Arts. Michael then pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Industrial Design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where they studied from 1987 to 1991.