Ron Smith is a Sales Manager for Wagner Meters, specializing in moisture measurement applications for primary and secondary wood-products manufacturers. Throughout his career, Ron has clocked over 39 years of experience with telemetry and instrumentation sales and product management.
He got started in the industrial measurement and telemetry field in 1980 with Butler National Corporation out of the Kansas City area. There the focus was on landline and wireless telemetry applications in a variety of industries, including municipal water and wastewater treatment, pipeline and oil/gas field, and emergency notification systems for nuclear power plants and US national labs.
This background and experience made Wagner Meters an ideal fit for Ron. He came on board in 1993, thrilled to find a great company to work for in the Pacific Northwest where he came from. Ron has always appreciated Wagner Meters’ drive to stay at the forefront of moisture measurement technology. He also enjoys the continual challenge of finding new applications for Wagner products and helping determine a long-term strategy for the company.
Born in Renton, Washington, Ron’s family moved to the San Joaquin Valley in California in 1962. As teenagers, Ron and his younger brother worked as laborers in orange and avocado orchards doing irrigation and other important jobs while also finding time for high school sports. Ron married his wife Debbie in 1982 and they now have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
Ron has always been highly involved in community life. In early 2000, Ron and 8 other local people formed a nonprofit corporation with the goal of raising funds and garnering in-kind donations to build a new stadium at the local high school. This was completed in the late summer of 2002. Additionally, for 18 years, Ron served as a coach for the high school track team.
When he’s not at work, Ron enjoys spending time supporting his grandchildren in their sports and other activities. He also enjoys watching college football and tries to find time for an occasional day of fishing.