Tom Smith is a distinguished executive with over 40 years of experience in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, green technologies, and more. As a Managing Director of Focused Solutions Group, Smith brings a vast technical and business background, excelling in leadership roles that require a deep understanding of engineering principles, business management, and project execution. His career has spanned engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, chemical, and process engineering, positioning him as a versatile leader who consistently delivers high-performance results across sectors.
Tom’s technical expertise is broad and comprehensive, with hands-on experience in complex engineering systems and processes. He has specialized in materials such as steel, aluminum, and high alloys like Inconel, Hastelloy, titanium, tantalum, and precious metals such as platinum and palladium. Additionally, his knowledge extends to specialized plastics, including fiberglass and PTFE, and industry standards such as ASME, ISO-9000 Quality Management, ISO-14000 Environmental Management, and ISO-13485 Medical Device Manufacturing requirements. His ability to work with equipment ranging from milligrams to 200,000 pounds, as well as systems operating at pressures from vacuum to 10,000 PSIG and temperatures from -192F to 2400F, underscores his deep technical knowledge. Smith’s range of expertise also includes chemical reactors, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, combustion systems, process blowers, and intricate control systems.
Throughout his career, Tom has developed and executed projects involving highly specialized chemical reactions, electrochemical processes, and air pollution control systems. His work has often focused on designing systems that reduce carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, specializing in both thermal and catalytic oxidation systems. He has managed large-scale projects globally, implementing advanced air pollution control solutions for major processing plants across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Tom’s work extends beyond technical design; he is also an accomplished project manager, overseeing the full lifecycle of projects, from initial design through to installation and operation. His experience includes supervising up to 40 simultaneous projects, with budgets as large as $6 million, across various industries. His project management approach ensures the successful completion of projects by focusing on cost estimates, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management. His ability to liaise between vendors, engineering teams, and customers has been a key factor in his ability to drive projects to successful completion.
In addition to his extensive engineering background, Smith has held senior leadership positions at several organizations, further demonstrating his expertise in business management. Before his current tenure as Managing Director at Focused Solutions Group, Smith served as President and CEO of ZEB Staples, where he led strategic planning initiatives and oversaw the company’s overall operations. As Vice President of Finance & Ventures at Air Liquide (Voltaix), Smith contributed to significant growth by leading ventures and finance-related activities in the ultra-high purity semiconductor gas sector, a key component in the semiconductor manufacturing process. His earlier roles include Executive Vice President at CSM Worldwide, where he managed engineering, manufacturing, and operations, and as a Project Manager and Process Engineer at Engelhard (now BASF).
Tom’s ability to lead is deeply rooted in his comprehensive understanding of both the technical and financial aspects of business operations. His business management experience includes P&L responsibility, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial modeling, and risk management. Over the course of his career, he has developed and executed turnaround strategies, identified growth opportunities, and extended product lines, positioning the companies he has led for long-term success.
A holder of two U.S. patents, Tom is a recognized innovator. His work on reducing the water demand of alkaline aqueous suspensions (U.S. Patent 4,342,599) and on a water purification system (U.S. Patent 6,348,155) underscores his ability to contribute valuable innovations across industries. These patents, developed during his time with Colloids (now Solvay-Rhodia) and WaterChef, have had significant industrial applications and reflect his commitment to advancing technological solutions.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In addition to his formal education, he has pursued various management courses through the American Management Association (AMA) and taken MBA courses through Ellis University. His commitment to lifelong learning is evident in his ability to stay at the forefront of engineering and management practices throughout his career.
Under Tom’s leadership, Focused Solutions Group has become known for delivering high-quality, custom-engineered solutions for a diverse client base. His ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary teams in designing, manufacturing, and implementing sophisticated engineering systems has earned him a reputation as an expert in driving innovation, efficiency, and operational excellence.
Beyond his technical and managerial expertise, Smith is a strategic thinker and a visionary leader. His ability to anticipate industry trends, understand emerging technologies, and identify new business opportunities has positioned him as a key figure in industries as varied as aerospace, chemicals, and semiconductors. His focus on sustainability and green technologies is particularly relevant in today’s business environment, where environmental regulations and sustainable practices are becoming increasingly important.
Throughout his career, Tom has worked with some of the world’s leading companies and has played a critical role in advancing the industries in which he has operated. His deep technical knowledge, combined with his strong business acumen, has enabled him to lead successfully at the highest levels of corporate management, consistently driving growth, innovation, and operational improvement.
In sum, Tom Smith is an accomplished and multi-faceted executive whose experience across diverse industries, combined with his technical prowess and business leadership, has made him a respected leader. His ability to navigate complex engineering challenges, manage large-scale projects, and drive business success has solidified his reputation as a dynamic force in the world of engineering and business.
Character: Tom Smith is a distinguished executive known for his unwavering integrity and ethical leadership, consistently fostering trust and respect across diverse industries and professional roles.
Knowledge: With over 40 years of experience, Tom possesses a profound and comprehensive understanding of engineering, business management, and technical processes, spanning sectors from aerospace to green technologies.
Strategic: Tom excels in strategic planning and execution, leveraging his extensive expertise to drive innovation, manage large-scale projects, and capitalize on emerging opportunities across various industries.
Communication: He is adept at clear and effective communication, skillfully conveying complex technical and business information to diverse stakeholders, ensuring successful project outcomes and fostering collaboration.
