Technology Woman of the Year Nominee
Wendy Smith is Chief Operating Officer of Optimation, with over thirty years’ experience in plant operations and design and engineering services management. Ms. Smith has a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering with a Business Management minor from Alfred University. She started at Corning Incorporated as a Melting Engineer and went on to hold key manufacturing and operations leadership positions over the next 15 years including Department Head, Product Line Coordinator, Supply Chain Manager, Operations Manager and Plant Manager.
In 2003 she joined Optimation as the Mechanical and Process Engineering/Design Supervisor as well as the COO of Klug Systems. Over the next sixteen years Ms. Smith took on additional management and leadership roles at Optimation including VP of Engineering, a member of the Sales Team and the Executive team, and the Board of Directors.
Ms. Smith has a broad technical and manufacturing background serving multiple industries and disciplines. She has worked in and managed manufacturing and engineering organizations for hot glass, refractory, continuous flow, batch processes, finishing, fabrication, and assembly. Ms. Smith has broad general management experience with responsibilities for sales, gross margin, operations, manufacturing efficiencies, EH&S, facilities, information technology, supply chain, procurement, logistics, materials, and quality. She has extensive experience with business strategic planning as well as organizational and personnel development.
Ms. Smith is and has been involved in many organizations outside of work. She has served the Rochester Engineering Society since 2005 as a longtime board member, Past President, Chair of RES Gala Committee, and continues to serve on the Scholarship Committee. She is on the Board of Directors for Compeer Rochester, and the President’s Advisory Board at Roberts Wesleyan College. She has been actively involved in her church’s children and youth ministries including Flower City Work Camp (missions). Ms. Smith is married and has four children.
