About Us | L.I. Smith & Associates

OUR HISTORY

For nearly 50 years, L.I. Smith & Associates (LIS) has provided innovative services throughout the region. The family owned business, named after cofounder Larry Isham Smith, has expanded throughout the decades from a part-time surveying company to the renowned full-service civil engineering and surveying company you see today.

Larry became a Registered Land Surveyor (RLS) in the state of Tennessee in 1975. This professional licensure marked the birth of LIS, as it provided Larry with the necessary certification to do survey work at the professional level.

In 1996, Lucile (Sherrod) Smith, a cofounder and now the President of the company, and Larry, Vice President, turned their professional company into a corporation. During this time, Lucile became the first woman in the state of Tennessee to become a licensed surveyor by passing the state-specific examinations.

To contend with the ever-changing industry, Larry and Lucile began exploring other services to offer, such as construction layout and engineering services. Coverage areas also grew with the addition of Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi. As these new service areas were added, offices were established throughout the region, with the current Nashville branch opening in 2004 to accommodate demand.

At the end of 2017, Lucile retired, and Larry became part-time, still holding his position as Vice President. Their son, Patrick Smith, took over the company as President in 2018. Through his leadership and renewed focus on engineering services, he has carried on the surveying tradition while expanding the company’s services and expertise, which led to the addition of the Portland office in 2021.

With a fresh perspective, LIS has continued to embrace new technologies developed within the engineering and surveying world such as drone mapping, aerial mapping, and laser scanning. The company has expanded to a staff of nearly 50 staff members, including a team of Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, field crews, and office support staff, all of whom work together to provide multistate coverage for projects of all sizes throughout the Central and Southeast regions of the United States.

OUR Leaders

patrick smith, pe, plspresident
731-644-1014
psmith@lismith.com

LIS President, Patrick Smith, heads the leadership team. Smith is an experienced engineer and surveyor, holding Registered Land Surveyor licensures in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, as well as Professional Engineer licensures in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Virginia. Smith is a problem solver and enjoys taking on challenging projects and developing creative solutions. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Smith is involved in several professional and technical societies, including the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors, Mississippi Association of Professional Surveyors, Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, and American Society of Civil Engineers, to name a few.

LARRY smith, pe, RlsExecutive VICE president
731-644-1014
lsmith@lismith.com

Larry Smith is the founder and Executive Vice President of LIS. Smith holds more than 45 years of industry experience, having started the company and earning his first professional licensure in 1975. He is a well-established civil engineer and land surveyor, obtaining Registered Land Surveyor licensures in seven states and Professional Engineer licensures in six states. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Tennessee Technological University. Smith is a veteran of the US Air Force, during which he traveled all over the world to locations such as Guam, Thailand, and Vietnam. He is 20 year veteran of the Tennessee State Guard. At the time of his retirement in 2022, Smith served as the Regimental Commander for the First Tennessee Regiment located in Henderson, Tenn.

Chris Conrad, RLSExecutive VICE PRESIDENT and Chief Operating Officer
615-256-0290
CCONRAD@lismith.com

Chris Conrad is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Executive Vice President of LIS and acts as head of our Nashville office. Conrad is a Professional Licensed Surveyor (RLS) with an impressive resume. He possesses more than 30 years of industry knowledge, with extensive hands-on experience in the field and proven leadership skills. He assumes complete responsibility for the day-to-day operations at LIS which includes the supervision of operations personnel, inventory and purchasing of all essential equipment and instruments, and management of the company’s fleet of vehicles. Conrad is also responsible for further improving the daily operations and current business functions through collaboration and strategic planning with other members of company leadership.

Ashley horn, mascVice President of Marketing and Communications
731-644-1014
ahorn@lismith.com

As Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Ashley Horn heads all of LIS’ marketing, business development, staff engagement, public relations, and recruitment initiatives. The experienced marketer has a diverse background in communications, with an emphasis in higher education and nonprofit fields, which assisted her greatly as she laid the foundation for LIS’ internship program. In her role, Horn is tasked with the continuous responsibility of building LIS’ vision and voice, while protecting and growing the company’s brand and reputation. She is currently a doctoral student at Regent University. Horn holds a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Horn is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), serves as a board member for the American Advertising Federation (AAF), a volunteer for the Paris-Henry County Arts Council (PHCAC), and is a graduate of Leadership Henry County (LHC).

Tommy Young Vice President of Surveying
731-644-1014
TYoung@LISMITH.COM

Vice President of Surveying, Tommy Young is an experienced leader in the surveying industry with more than 25 years of experience, 21 of which have been spent with LIS. Throughout his lengthy and impressive career, Young has played a key role in land survey projects throughout the Central and Southeast regions of the United States. From this diverse experience, he has developed an immensely broad awareness of industry standards, which makes him an invaluable asset. Currently, Young holds surveying licenses in 10 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. As Vice President, Young mentors and provides his extensive knowledge to assist on a vast array of projects. This distribution of knowledge and technical skill is essential in furthering the advancement of both the survey department and the company as a whole.

LIS is proud to support our veterans. We understand the importance of leadership, personal devotion, and the sacrifices made by our military personnel and the value they bring to our team.