The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is pleased to recognize Bill Smith in our Community Proud series.

Bill’s story is one of deep roots, professional excellence, and a lifelong commitment to service. He has called this area home for nearly 65 years. His family moved to the region before he was school aged, drawn here for work at Electric Boat. Like many families, they put down roots quickly, and Bill grew up immersed in the community that would shape the rest of his life.

A graduate of Fitch High School, Bill went on to earn his undergraduate degree from University of Connecticut in 1978. From there, he launched what would become an extraordinary career in product marketing and business leadership. Early roles in consumer-packaged goods led him to pursue an MBA at the University of Texas, after which he returned to UConn as an instructor of marketing. Teaching allowed Bill to sharpen his craft while preparing future business leaders, blending theory with real world experience.

Bill’s corporate career reads like a case study in successful brand building. He first worked as a assistant product manager for Drano, then rose through the ranks at Lysol, eventually serving as a senior and group marketing manager. When Kodak acquired the company he was with, Bill was recruited to Eastman Kodak, where he worked on film products, served as worldwide marketing manager for Kodak paper, and later became Director of Strategy. His work helped shape the evolution of retail imaging at a pivotal time in the industry.

From Kodak, Bill was recruited by Hewlett Packard, where he spent the final 12 years of his corporate career. At HP, he served as worldwide marketing manager for inkjet supplies before being promoted to Vice President & General Manager, a role he held for seven years. Over the course of his career, Bill launched more than 50 new products, including the Kodak Picture Maker, and played a key role in advancing digital imaging at HP. In 1996, he received the American Marketing Association Grand Edison award for the New Product Marketer of the Year. Bill retired at just 52, proud not only of the business growth he helped create, but of the people whose careers he helped build along the way.

Retirement did not slow Bill down. While living in San Diego, he spent several years working as an administrator for a large Presbyterian church, applying his leadership and operational skills in a service focused setting. In 2011, Bill and his wife Betty made the decision to return home to Groton. With time, energy, and perspective, Bill asked himself an important question: how can I give back?

What followed was a decade of deep civic involvement. Bill served on the Groton Representative Town Meeting, chaired Always Home, volunteered for years at Mystic Seaport Museum, and stepped in as interim president of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. He became deeply involved with the Rotary Club of Mystic, where he later served as president and currently serves as treasurer, fundraising chair, and youth services chair. Throughout it all, Bill remained active in church leadership and community service.

From 2011 to 2021, Groton was home. Then came another chapter. Bill and Betty sold their house, let go of nearly everything they owned, bought a RV, and spent more than two years living full time on the road with their dog, Sundance. They traveled extensively, embracing freedom, curiosity, and adventure. By fall of 2023, they found themselves asking one more important question: where do we want to live?

The answer brought Bill and Betty returned back to the region they love, settling in Stonington. For Bill, coming home meant reconnecting with a place where people care deeply about their towns and take pride in making them better. He often says there is something rare here, a connection and lifestyle that is both engaging and grounded.

These days, Bill is once again fully immersed in community life. He serves as a trustee for the Mystic & Noank Library, mentors students at Fitch High School, and sits on the board of Hope in Focus. He and Betty also volunteer at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Bill also works alongside his daughter on SEAWELL, a premium non-alcoholic sparkling wellness beverage that is slated for launch later this year. Supporting his daughter's entrepreneurial journey is one of his greatest sources of joy. 

When asked what keeps him rooted here, Bill always comes back to relationships. The feeling of belonging when walking into a room and knowing lots of people whether it be lifelong friends from high school or newer acquaintances. He has traveled to more than 30 countries and is convinced that this area is something special.

Bill believes trust is built through competence, honesty, and follow through. His advice is to do what you say you will do, be open, and exceed expectations. These principles guided his business career and now guide his community work. He encourages others not just to live in a community, but to contribute to it by getting involved and showing up.

Outside of his many commitments, Bill enjoys traveling with Betty, staying active, reading, and spending time with friends and family. They are preparing to welcome a new golden retriever, Buttercup which will mark a shift toward being more rooted after years of international travel.

Bill credits Betty as his greatest support and partner in every season of life. His greatest advice is simple and lasting: find your passion. Find something that excites you day in and day out. When you do, success and service tend to follow.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is extraordinarily proud to recognize Bill for a lifetime of leadership, generosity, and commitment to community. He embodies what it means to be Community Proud.