Though he refined his skills and talents at West Chester University and throughout Chester County’s thriving business world, it was the work ethic that first drove — and still drives — Gary Smith, a West Bradford farm boy, to excel as president and CEO of the influential Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).

“I still wake up every morning to work on our farm before heading in to the office, whether it’s haying season, calving in the spring or taking care of winter maintenance responsibilities,” Smith said in a Philadelphia Business Journal interview.

That upbringing informs his core values — devotion, motivation and energy — and has grounded his perspective at the CCEDC amidst powerful politics.

“As a farm boy entering the business world, I was initially attracted by the approach of wining and dining me to win me over. But it didn’t take long for me to realize it wasn’t always authentic,” he said in the article.

“I quickly learned that my job was to listen, absorb and balance public and private sector views and needs. That principle helped me focus on nurturing companies small and large to plant their roots into the community and flourish … much like farming!”

And it’s a similarly elusive balance between progress and preservation that keeps Smith driven to realize the VISTA 2025 dream of “a healthy economic community that will enable sustainability for the foreseeable future.”

To get there, it all comes back to work ethic and teamwork.

“Working for a cause and shared mission helps people achieve their best. CCEDC operates with that principle, which is similar to a faith-based model. We have no membership — companies become voluntary investors and they become committed.”

Read much more about the man behind the CCEDC in the Philadelphia Business Journal here, and check out our own Chester County Leadership profile of Gary here.