Chris Conrad Promoted to Chief Operating Officer

L.I. Smith & Associates (LIS) is proud to announce the recent promotion of Chris Conrad to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). He assumed his new role in late April.

Conrad, formerly Vice President, 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 is a definite asset to both the Nashville office and the company as a whole.

As COO, Conrad will now assume 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. Moving forward, he will be responsible for further improving the daily operations and current business functions through collaboration and strategic planning with other members of company leadership.

“There are few people that have held every position in a surveying company. Chris started as a surveyor’s helper, progressed into the office, went back to college, obtained licensure, and never looked back. As he continues to strive forward, he will take LIS to new heights,” stated LIS President Patrick Smith. “He has had my confidence for years. The pleasure of watching him realize his talents will be all mine.”

Over the past two decades, Conrad has worked his way up from Boundary Crew Chief to General Manager, Vice President, and now to COO, thus experiencing, firsthand, each link of the chain of command. He has a unique understanding of the issues that field and office staff face each day in the civil engineering and surveying industry. This knowledge makes him a dynamic leader who is relatable and approachable to staff members.

“I am very humbled and proud to be given this responsibility,” said Conrad, “The upward trajectory of the company is what’s most exciting for me. We are growing, branching out, and working for quality clients, which, in turn, helps to promote the best culture for our employees.”

Conrad was the 2016 recipient of the Regional Vice President’s Medal from the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). The award recognized his outstanding service to the Campbell Post, in which he has served as treasurer since 2015. Conrad is also a licensed drone pilot.