Joshua Smith
Joshua I. Smith is a nationally renowned entrepreneur and lecturer. Since 1998 Mr. Smith has been Chairman and Managing Partner of The Coaching Group. In that capacity he is the "coach," senior advisor/consultant, to the CEO's of the portfolio companies and assumes active roles with these companies which includes serving as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board, Board member, or Advisory Board member. Previously he was Founder, Chairman and CEO of The MAXIMA Corporation, a 20-year-old firm that achieved a national reputation as one of the top African American owned firms in the United States.

Earlier in his career, he was a high school teacher in Washington, D.C., served on the faculties of Central State University and the University of Akron (both in Ohio), was Executive Director of the American Society for Information Science (ASIS) and served in executive management capacities for Herner and Company and Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Mr. Smith serves on the board of directors of three Fortune 100 companies: Caterpillar, Inc. (Chairman, Nominating Committee); FedEx Corp.; and Allstate Insurance Corp. He also serves as a director of Cardiocomm Solutions, Inc., a public company in Canada.

Mr. Smith was appointed by former President Bush to serve in the following capacities: Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Minority Business Development from 1989 to 1992; the Executive Committee of the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations; the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the George H.W. Bush Memorial Library Board of Trustees. He also chaired the Committee on Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the George Bush for President Campaign.

Throughout his impressive career Mr. Smith has volunteered his time to promote small and minority business development and forming relationships with all segments of the business community. Since 1986 Mr. Smith has been a member of the Maryland Stadium Authority (appointed by three different governors) and is on the Board of Directors of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Village Foundation. He is the recipient of the Man of Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'Rith, served on the National Fund-Raising Campaign Committee of the NAACP, and was Chairman of the National Urban Coalition. In recognition of his achievements and business acumen he has received over 300 awards, honors and other citations.