NSME Workshop - January 14, 2025

“Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty” by Thomas Schmidt, Account Manager, Kee Innovations, Inc.

Stories from the Pursuit of Relentless Preparation:

Elements of Relentless Preparation

* Reading

* Meeting People

* Practicing Your Craft

* Being Intentional

* Staying Focused

BIOGRAPHY: TOM SCHMIDT

As the Account Executive for Kee Innovations, Inc., Tom is a very seasoned local businessman with many years of senior-level leadership in numerous organizations, including Barbco, Inc., Progressive Auto Group, AultCare, Harrison Paint, and the Heinemann Saw Company. In 2000, he singlehandedly saved Harrison Paint from permanent bankruptcy-enforced closure, returning 50 well-paying manufacturing jobs to the Canton, Ohio, community.

Mr. Schmidt is a long-time Canton, Ohio resident with a B.A. from Kent State University (Summa Cum Laude), an M.B.A. from the University of Akron (Cum Laude), holds APICS certification and is a Leadership Stark County graduate.  He is also a passionate local business advocate and dedicated community volunteer.

Currently, he is a Past President for the National Sales and Marketing Executives Akron Canton Board of Directors and has served on this august board since 2011.  He served as co-founder and Board Vice President of the Stark County Manufacturer’s Workforce Development Partnership, which was formed in 2019. In addition, he has served two terms on the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and another two terms on the former Jackson Belden Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, serving as Board President in 2014.  Moreover, he has served on the Legislative Committee for the Massillon West Stark Chamber of Commerce since 2012.  Lastly, Tom was awarded the prestigious Sales & Marketing Executives International Award in 2013, which recognized his years of leadership and performance in sales and marketing in NE Ohio.

In 2019, Mr. Schmidt was ‘knighted’ as a Squire of Hope by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation recognizing his long history in raising both awareness and money in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer! His annual Progress4TheCure event ran from 2015 through 2018 and raised nearly $50,000 in donations to the Breast Cancer departments of Aultman Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton. Finally, by Mayoral Proclamation in 2016, May 10th is officially “Tom Schmidt Day” in Massillon, Ohio, in recognition of his decades of community service and charitable activities to make his community a great place to live, work, and play. He resides in Canton, Ohio, and is married. He has two sons and two granddaughters.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaswschmidt/

YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIlS7yp1lkk