David Smith retires

David Smith, MEA-MFT's first executive director, retired as of January 2, 2008. Erik Burke is MEA-MFT's new executive director.

When Smith came to Montana 15 years ago, nobody could have convinced him he'd still be here. Originally from Florida, David was accustomed to warm evenings, the ocean, and going to football games in shirtsleeves.

But after a significant wardrobe change and hours of fishing on Montana's rivers, David adapted and became "hooked" himself. Good thing for MEA-MFT he did.

Upon his arrival as executive director of the former Montana Education Association in 1992, MEA entered one of its most active and successful eras in its then 100-year history.

"From the time David arrived, we just plain grew," said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver. "And what we were able to do for our members got better and better."

Smith came to MEA after serving as executive director of the Broward Education Association in Florida, one of the largest local unions in the state.

In Montana, Smith began his efforts to grow and improve MEA by reaching out to other labor groups. At the top of his list was collaboration with the Montana Federation of Teachers, a union that had competed with MEA over members and public policy issues.

"David Smith knew that if we were going to truly improve the lives of Montana teachers and public employees, having one united voice would be much more powerful than two entities shouting at one another," Feaver said. "And he knew what it took to make us unified."

Throughout the 1990s, MEA and MFT collaborated on professional development for members, government relations, media strategies, and many other efforts. Smith led staff and governance efforts to draft a new constitution, rules, and procedures that, in 2000, led to a merged MEA-MFT.

Now over 17,000 members strong, MEA-MFT is one of the labor movement's greatest success stories, not only in Montana but throughout the United States.

Smith officially retires January 1. He intends to split his time between Florida and Montana, spending more of it with family, and of course, fishing. Thank you David, and best wishes.

Read MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver's column on David Smith and Erik Burke.

Read about other staff changes at MEA-MFT.