Kimberly Smith-Drake is an experienced administrator with many years of impactful service in corporate philanthropy, non-profit administration, community and economic development and municipal government. Her uniquely diverse background in industries including public administration, higher education and several types of corporations from biopharmaceutical to agriculture, has fueled her ability to spur community growth and development by elevating the importance of being a good institutional neighbor and building collaborative relationships. Specifically imploring her skills in project management, program development, organizational structure and business growth, Kimberly has focused on strategic collaborations to bring millions of dollars in investment to disinvested communities through the redevelopment of underutilized public and private structures and land.
As a planning leader, Kimberly has been instrumental in community building focusing on place based development creating successful land bank programs for city and residential building, designed community parks and recreation spaces, and coordinated the development of several senior living apartments, retail strips and former police/fire houses and city hall structures.
As an Economic Development professional, Kimberly has focused on building strong small businesses. As a former boutique owner/operator, her approach to supporting entrepreneurs is driven by the desire to equip them for long-term success and sustainability and enable them to transition from the hustle to a successful enterprise. She has built small business associations, hosted financial and marketing workshops and most recently co-founded the Eric Outlaw Small Business Center, an incubator focused on the development of minority women-owned businesses.
Over several decades, Kimberly has been an advocate for individuals and families facing housing crises resulting in them becoming unhoused. Her work in establishing non-profits, and creating programs to offer services and secure safe places for people to live and work on their lives is a continued passion. Most recently, she secured more than $3 million for organizations providing emergency and transitional housing services, notably to build tiny homes. Also, through her business, Smith-Drake & Associates, she is sought after as a trusted consultant and facilitator for both corporate and non-profit organizations.
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Kimberly manages to always incorporate service and giving into every role engaging staff to participate in holiday outreach programs, toy drives, childhood hunger initiatives and senior support projects. With a diverse background, her dynamic skill set enables fluid movement in a variety of spaces which she uses to elevate actions that promote equity in access to resources and movement toward a prosperous quality of life for everyone. Communities are built intentionally