The Detroit Regional Chamber mourns the loss of Frank E. Smith, who served as the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce’s President and Chief Executive Officer from 1978 to his retirement in 1994.
Frank had an outstanding career culminating in his leadership of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, what then became the Detroit Regional Chamber. Frank’s achievements leading the Chamber serve as foundation blocks for the Chamber’s strategy and impact today.
Under Frank’s tenure, the Chamber launched initiatives related to workforce development, education, international business attraction, and its advocacy efforts in Lansing. Frank also led the Chamber to move its annual membership meeting to Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel, which has grown and evolved over the years and is known today as the Mackinac Policy Conference.
A memorial service for Smith will be held on Feb. 24 at Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to The Alzheimer’s Foundation or Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church.