Testimonials

Hardy has been an excellent resource for our members as a speaker and a writer for our magazine. He has a wonderful style of humor and anecdotes that drive his message home. I highly recommend Hardy Smith...you will love him!

— Frank Rudd, President and CEO, Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE)

Hardy is a wonderful resource for chamber of commerce professionals and their volunteer leaders. Hardy was diligent in incorporating participant interaction even in a virtual format. Our attendees were extremely engaged and appreciated his expertise.

— Angela Rose, President, MACCE-Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Thank you for speaking at our Association Executives Education Seminar. You knocked it out of the park and the reviews we have are very high.

— Anne Cockayne, Florida Realtors

We asked Hardy to speak at the first virtual Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Regional Conference on how to engage board volunteers during the pandemic. He delivered a powerful and engaging message that left attendees inspired and informed on how to navigate through these unprecedented times. Thank you Hardy for your patience, flexibility and professionalism.

— Tony McWhorter, National Vice President-Leadership Development, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

"It was a pleasure to work with Hardy Smith. After being recommended by one of our board members who had also had the opportunity to work with him, I secured Hardy to speak at our Spring Conference. The session that he presented was relevant, thought-provoking and well-received."

— Tammy C. Bracewell, Executive Director, Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP)

"Thank you for your wonderful presentation during our Association Forum. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the content of the presentation from attendees. Your time and dedication to learn more about our industry in advance enhanced the impact to those that were present."

— Cynthia Martineau, Executive Director-Towing and Recovery Association of America

“I’ve seen Hardy both in person and now virtually and his presentation was just as full of energy and excitement online as it was in person. As an event organizer, Hardy was flexible and willing to try new things during these unprecedented times to help bring a powerful presentation to those registered. He included audience member participation throughout the session to make the online presentation just as engaging as it was in person. Thanks, Hardy, for rolling with the changes and we navigate through these uncharted waters!”

— Tina Banner, College of Central Florida

Hardy engaged everyone at our luncheon program. He provided expertise and enthusiasm which is exactly what our group of fundraisers, CEO's and board members needed!

— Sara Leonard, President, AFP Suncoast Chapter

“Hardy Smith is a true advocate and professional in the speaking industry. His experience with corporate, nonprofit, and association management makes him a perfect fit to deliver content on leadership and strategy. As a meeting planner, finding a speaker that can deliver an impactful message along with being flexible, can be difficult. Hardy is always willing to customize his message to your audience. He has a true passion for his profession.”

— Lori Pugh, CMP, CMM, HMCC Lead Manager, Event Programs & Production, Meeting Professionals International

"Hardy Smith spoke at the Florida Festivals & Events Convention in 2015 on two topics and was one of our highest rated speakers by the attendees for both sessions. We rarely repeat speakers for two consecutive years, but based on the feedback from our members, we have asked Hardy to return in 2016 to present a new topic. From a Meeting Planner perspective, Hardy is wonderful to work with. He is very well organized and prepared and also very willing to work with our marketing committee for pre-event promotional opportunities. I would highly recommend Hardy to any event organizer."

— Suzanne Neve, Executive Director, Florida Festivals & Events Association (FFEA)

We’ve invited Hardy to speak on multiple occasions for our Strategic Nonprofit Alliance Partnership (SNAP) programs, and he does a great job every time. Hardy is an engaging and likable presenter, and the information he provides is relevant and useful. Our most recent event with him was virtual due to the pandemic, and he gave an effective and enjoyable presentation.

— James Halleran, CPA, Partner, James Moore & Co.

Having been in business a long time, I know what strategic planning is, but Hardy’s ability to take it and put it into four to five key elements and then talk about how it can be done without tons of paper work (and tons of hours), I found to be very efficient. He makes (strategic planning) doable.

— Sarah F. Gurtis, Chief Executive Officer, COA (Council On Aging)

Hardy Smith was a wonderful facilitator of our strategic plan session. He was able to draw everyone into a critical conversation while maintaining focus; I attribute this to his exceptional communication skills and in-depth understanding of nonprofits.

— Kerry Karl, Executive Director, Volusia County Association for Responsible Development

Hardy Smith did an outstanding job facilitating our board’s strategic planning session. He took time to understand the mission of our association and the businesses we represent. Our board members are either business owners or top level corporate executives. Hardy was very effective in getting everyone engaged and his get to the point approach was well received.

— Mary Dougherty, Executive Director, Gulf Coast Builders Exchange

Our planning session facilitated by Hardy Smith was very beneficial because he engaged the board in a critical conversation everyone knew needed to be had, but had not been willing to. The result was clarity on the engagement role of board members.

— Carol Berry, Chief Executive Officer, Health Care Administrators Association

Hardy helped our members of the strategic planning committee to think about their current plan, dissect the plan and certainly think toward the future of the association. He brought the group together and the results were lively discussions and a plan that works. Bring Hardy to your association, you will get results!

— Cora Baker, RCE, CAE Chief Executive Officer, New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors, INC.

I have known and worked with Hardy Smith for more than 20 years…he has a very unique background that provides him with skills and experiences that will benefit any nonprofit or volunteer based …I have seen him take on very complex issues and demonstrate an ability for delivering results.

— Nick Craw, former Director, Peace Corps

Hardy demonstrates the highest standards in professionalism, concern not only for the project at hand but also the individuals involved, while always conscientious as it relates to the costs being incurred for his services. He is creative, concise and a consensus builder that can generate successful results for anyone who trusts their organization to his leadership.

— Kevin Krepinevich, CAE, Owner Web Site Assist, Past U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President, and Past Kiwanis International Secretary

Hardy Smith is an Event Planners dream! He is totally confident of who he is and what he does. He engages his audiences with his masterful story-telling and is the expert "go-to" resource for organizations and nonprofits who are seeking to find solutions to their many challenges. With his wit, wisdom, passion, and experience, we are honored to have Hardy on our team to showcase to the world.

— Sue Falcone, CEO, Remarkable! A Speakers Bureau

Hardy Smith is an impact player to any organization or event. He brings a wealth of valuable experience in such topics as fundraising, event planning and promotion, team building, and overall organizational performance. His philosophy, ideas, and strategies are creative, innovative, and most importantly are proven techniques that produce positive results and maximize outcomes…

— Coach Steve Ridder, Head Basketball Coach, Embry-Riddle University

I find Hardy Smith's Tips for Nonprofit Success (blog) timely, trendy, and full of valuable information for both the established and the start-up nonprofit. It is a "must read" if you want to improve your infrastructure and a great resource for all aspects of nonprofit management.

— Candace Lightner, Founder of MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving /Founder of We Save Lives

I am a leader of our local campus for the University of Central Florida, (and) involved in strategic planning. I am going to (return to campus) and implement the comments Hardy made today. I have a strategic plan and my colleagues and I are going to update it to include involvement and engagement.

— Linda Bradley Thacker, Ph.D., Assistant VP/Campus Director, University of Central Florida

Hardy’s down-to-earth approach makes a very complicated topic seem easy to handle, manage, and completely doable. I recommend seeking Hardy and his experience out when you have fundraising and nonprofit guidance needs.

— Monica Wofford, CSP and CEO of Contagious Companies