Smith holds a 1970 master's degree from Yale University in Forest Science. He is a native Cincinnatian, attended Walnut Hills High School and in 1968 earned a Bachelor of Science in Botany from the University of Cincinnati.

Since 1973, Smith has taught horticulture courses at the University of Cincinnati College of Evening and Continuing Education, Northern Kentucky University, and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

He is listed in "Who's Who in Frontier Science and Technology" with specialties in plant growth and urban forest resource management.

Active in professional organizations in the Greater Cincinnati community, Smith holds memberships and offices in many groups. He is a member of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association, the Ohio Association of Cemeteries, and Ohio Cemetery Superintendents and Officials, and also served on the Green Industry Exposition Board of Directors. He has volunteered for more than 20 years as an advisor to the Ohio State Cooperative Extension Service. He has recently served as president of the National Professional Grounds Management Society. Currently, he is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Professional Grounds Management Society, the Ohio Forestry Association, and the Ohio Nursery Landscape Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Urban Forestry Department of the City of Cincinnati and is a past board member of the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati. He has also been active in the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and the Mentoring Program.

In July 1997, Smith achieved approval from the Ohio Board of Regents for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture for the College of Evening and Continuing Education at the University of Cincinnati.

In November 1999, Smith was awarded the Professional Grounds Management Society's highest honor, Gold Medal Award.