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A B O U T M I K E
Innovation is the key to success
The Impact of Mike Smith’s Innovations is Undeniable
Although he is best known for his stellar career focused on saving lives and property, Mike Smith is a businessman and entrepreneur at heart. He has started a number of successful businesses using scientific processes to guide their growth. He is undeniably one of the most passionate businessmen of our time — applying his talents to writing, speaking, and training others how to succeed. His approach to business is both innovative and proven.
Mike Smith's innovations in delivering advance warning of severe weather events, including tornadoes, lightning, and flash floods and blizzards, have helped save thousands of lives and avert billions of dollars in property damage.
One of America's most innovative and honored meteorologists, Mike Smith knew he would have a career in weather at a very young age when a violent tornado passed near his home, killing 44 people. Seeing the damage, he was determined to help minimize the harmful impacts of storms.
Smith went on to receive a meteorology degree from the University of Oklahoma, then worked as a television meteorologist in St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Wichita, Kansas. His contributions helped the science of weather become better represented on television.
In 1981, Smith founded WeatherData, Inc., in Wichita, Kansas. The company developed comprehensive and advanced severe-weather warning services and technologies, which were adopted by government agencies and revolutionized the way industries such as transportation, manufacturing, and others use weather insights to save lives, protect property and reduce the negative impact of weather on the bottom line.
In 2006, WeatherData was acquired by AccuWeather, Inc., and was renamed AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (AES) in 2011, having become the leader in the field of severe weather warnings and risk mitigation. By providing better, more accurate information with more advance notice than anyone else, the company's warnings have become the gold standard in many industries, and many businesses build their emergency preparation and response plans around AES insights and expert consultation.
The warnings provided by AccuWeather have saved thousands of lives and averted literally billions of dollars in property damage, and have helped businesses operate more profitably.
Smith has regularly appeared on national television networks and has written numerous articles for both popular and technical publications. Smith has authored two books: Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather, published by Greenleaf Book Group, and When the Sirens Were Silent, published by Mennonite Press. He also holds more than 30 U.S. and foreign patents in the fields of weather science, emergency management, and search and rescue. Smith is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, and has received the society's Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advance of Applied Meteorology as well as the Award for Outstanding Service to Meteorology by a Corporation.
Smith lives in Wichita with his wife Kathleen, where he is writing his third book and provides consulting services for businesses.
This weather alert app is just one of Mike Smith's innovations to change people’s lives.
1992
recipient of American Meteorological Society Award for Outstanding Contribution to Applied Meteorology.
2000
recipient of American Meteorological Society Award for Outstanding Contribution to Meteorology by a Corporation
2010
release of Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather
More than 30
patents in the fields of storm warnings, search and rescue, and emergency management
OUR TEAM
MIKE SMITH
Mike Smith is a scientist, an innovator, an author and an entrepreneur. He brings a fresh perspective to every project. Whether you need a simple business assessment or ongoing consulting, you will appreciate his succinct recommendations and actionable advice.
SHELLEY SEIDL
Shelley will quickly assess your needs and recommend the best way to interact with Mike to accomplish your goals.
