02/03/2020

Meet Cate Smith, PMPA’s New Executive Director

She possesses a range of experience related to professional association management

This month's Last Word is a discussion with the Precision Machined Products Association's (PMPA's) new executive director, Cate Smith. Smith started her role with the association on Dec. 2, 2019.

PM: Please give us some of your background story and how your previous experience can carry over, first, to directorial duties of the association, and second, to contributions to the precision machined parts industry as a whole.

CS: My 22 previous years in professional association management have been an ideal preparation for this position with PMPA. In school, I was always involved in extracurricular student organizations, but had no idea that my interest in bringing people together for a common good could end up being a career! 

My legal training (I have a law degree) taught me to think methodically and communicate clearly, and my work in association management has been focused on building collaborative relationships and seeking efficient spending for the benefit of the membership and the budget. My master’s degree (in public administration) provided me additional insight that may help with endeavors involving external partners and government relations.

Please select this link to read the complete blog post from Production Machining.