The Legacy Centre Speaker Series with Gregor Smee
Fri Mar 9, 2012
The Legacy Centre Speaker Series with Gregor Smee
“On the Journey: Why Am I Stuck in This Lousy Recession?" presented by Gregor Smee - Husband, Father, Son and President of Smee + Busby Architects, PC
In the current economy keeping the dream alive can be challenging. Gregor Smee, a local architect and entrepreneur, has been there. When circumstances threatened his passion, he found a way to design around the economy. Join us in March for a powerful entrepreneurial story and find hope and encouragement for your journey.
So you believe that you are doing the right things, trying to live with integrity, making good choices. So this should all work out, right? What goes around comes around. People get what they deserve.
Fine. But what happens when it all comes crashing down? Do bad things happen to good people? And who are the “good” people anyway? How do you make sense of things when you are walking in the cold valley and watching others skip across the sunny mountain tops? What poor decisions are you tempted to make while in the desperate places?
Gregor Smee, his business partner, Scott Busby, and their dedicated staff started their firm in 2004. After a meteoric rise followed by an unexpected shock, the firm was struggling to regain its footing when the economy fell apart in 2008-2009. But here it is, 2012, and they are still here – retaining all of their talented staff. Come and hear Gregor tell the story of this entrepreneurial endeavor, the ups and downs, and some of the insights the journey has taught him.
Meet Our Speaker: Gregor Smee
Gregor Smee graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1987 with a Bachelors of Architecture degree and became a licensed architect in 1990. He worked in San Diego for six years where he met his wife, Jennifer. They moved to Knoxville in 1993 following Jennifer’s parents. They have since increased the surplus population with three beautiful daughters. In 2001 Gregor’s aging parents moved from California to live with them. They are now 92 and 94 and still live in the downstairs of their home while Gregor, Jen and the girls live upstairs. Gregor received his LEED accreditation in 2003, served as the East Tennessee AIA President in 2006, continuing on the board in various capacities from 2002 to 2007, and serving on the AIA State Board of Directors during 2005 and 2007.
Gregor is an elder at Fellowship Church on Middlebrook Pike. He and his wife are developing and leading a ministry to Israel in connection with the local Messianic Congregation. He is President of the Board for The WordPlayers, the only non-profit, non-denominational theatre company in East Tennessee. Gregor also serves on the Market Square District Association Board and plays racquetball at least twice a week at the downtown YMCA (where he served as a board member for four years).
Coffee, Light Breakfast, & TLC Served.
When
Fri Mar 9, 2012
7:15 - 9:00 a.m.
Where
Friedman's Appliances
9296 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922