Jon Smith provides results focused consulting, interim and board services for portfolio enterprises. Building upon his leadership skills honed over 20+ year military career, he founded Veteran Horizons LLC. He has diverse expertise in leading all sizes of companies and P&Ls in the utility, energy, and manufacturing markets. With extensive domestic & international experience from founder-led small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, Jon has produced unprecedented results in both publicly traded and PE/VC spaces. His expertise in energy policy, operations and services, especially with utility, municipality and city systems and governments, makes Jon a widely respected and called upon expert by related associations and media.
EXPERIENCE
- Interim CEO of High Star Traffic. He merged 3 founder-led Midwest companies and brought them under a new brand after they were purchased by private equity. Jon implemented new operating processes and centralized functions resulting in synergies well above expectations. He also created a culture of “One High Star” by evaluating the organizational design, retaining high performing talent, while adding new leaders and capabilities.
- CEO and Board Member for Hydromax USA, a leading national provider of comprehensive testing and inspection services for gas, water, and wastewater utilities and municipalities. Jon was the first CEO following the founder after purchase by PE. He joined Hydromax USA and quickly pivoted the company which started an unprecedented period of revenue and EBITDA growth during his tenure.
- President, Global Mobile Pipeline, for Hexagon Lincoln, LLC, in Lincoln, Nebraska (Public)
- Vice President & General Manager, Smart Energy Gas Americas, for Honeywell International metering (Public)
- President & CEO, Board Member, Elster Gas, Western Hemisphere (PE)
- Various leadership roles with Ford Motor Company, Johnson Electric, Federal-Mogul, Associated Materials, Inc.
- Led international businesses in Latin America, Asia, and Europe
- Retired U. S. Naval Officer with 20+ years of leadership experience
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Recognized as one of the Top 100 U.S. Business Leaders of 2021
- 10 Best CEOs to Watch in 2021
- 20 Influential Leaders Everyone Should Know in 2021
- Hydromax USA was also recognized as one of the 50 Most Admired Companies of 2021 by Silicon Review
- Top 10 Innovation Companies of 2021
EDUCATION
- Undergraduate degree from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
- Graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Leadership Program
- Masters degree from Central Michigan University (Business)
- Graduate of the U.S. Naval War College in Strategic International Studies