BIOGRAPHY OF
MICHAEL F. SMITH, GRAND EXALTED RULER,2010-2011
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A.
Michael Smith was born and raised in Plant City,
Florida, the second of two children. He was never far
from the ocean and from Florida's inland lakes, and
he developed a lifelong love of water. A strong athlete,
Michael excelled in sports and was named captain of
his high school basketball team, which won the state
championship during his senior year. He was named
MVP of the tournament, captain of the All-Star team,
and captain and MVP of the North-South All Stars.
He received a full basketball scholarship to St. Leo
College, in Florida.
After college, Michael married his high school sweetheart, Sandra, and they started a family. Michael was initiated into the Plant City, Florida, Lodge, his father's lodge, on January 22, 1979, and with Sandra'ssupport, immediately became active in lodge activities and committees. Both their son, Todd, and their daughter, Jennifer, grew up in the lodge and both have continued their family's involvement with the Order. Todd became a member of the Plant City Lodge on September 25, 1995, and Jennifer's husband, Steve, is a past exalted ruler at the Plant City Lodge. Michael and Sandra are very
proud of both children and their many accomplishments.
Jennifer is a high school teacher and college professor
and Todd is a pharmaceutical representative. Michael
and Sandra also enjoy their seven grandchildren and
are happy to cheer them on in their many youth sports
activities.
As a member of the Plant City Lodge, Michael
started Christmas in the Park, which became an annual
Christmas Day tradition in downtown Plant City, during
which the Elks would cook a traditional turkey dinner for
a few thousand less fortunate families. He also initiated
annual holiday dinners to honor the local police and
fire departments.
Michael has served the Plant City Elks in many
positions, including two terms as exalted ruler (1992–
1993 and 1993–1994). He worked his way through the
chairs, spent several years as a trustee, and still chairs
the Memorial Day Service each year. At the state level,
Michael was named district vice president before serving
the Florida State Elks Association as state president in
2001–2002. Michael sits on several boards for the state,
including the Florida State Elks Association board of
directors, and he is currently chairman and president
of the Harry-Anna Investment Fund. At the Grand
Lodge level, Michael served in 1998–1999 as district
deputy for the Southwest Central District of Florida
before being appointed to the Grand Lodge's Lodge
Activities Committee in 2000 and becoming chairman
in 2005. Chosen as Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight
for 2005–2006, Michael joined the Grand Lodge Board
of Grand Trustees in 2006 and currently serves as
chairman of the board.
Michael has been in the insurance business for
over thirty years, primarily in the health care field.
His practice consists of payroll administration, human
resources, plan design, and administration for selffunded
and fully insured benefit programs. Michael
also works with Innovation HR & Benefits. In addition
to the insurance industry, Michael is a partner in a
hotel in St. Petersburg Beach, serves on the board of
directors for a management company, and has served
as the president of a condominium association for the
past twenty years.
Michael enjoys golf and boating. His affiliations are the
BPO Elks, Florida Association of Insurance and Financial
Advisors, National Association of Health Underwriters,
National Retirement Plan Advisors, National Association
of Professional Employer Organizations, First Baptist
Church of Plant City, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and
Pasadena Yacht and Country Club, where Michael has
served on the board of directors.
Michael F. Smith is just one of many hardworking
and dedicated Florida Elks. He is convinced that our
focus on charity, children, and veterans will rekindle our
desire to serve and that if we "Promote Elks Passion,"
the Order will prosper and attract new members.
"PROMOTE ELKS PASSION".