Staff Member Spotlight: Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is no stranger to the Cobb Galleria Centre and the hundreds of events that are held here yearly. As a six-year veteran, Smith will tell you that he coordinates quite a few events, but that his responsibility as Event Services Manager now consists of overseeing the department of four event coordinators and four concierges.

After being promoted to the department manager in November 2013 from Event Services Supervisor, Smith attends a lot more operational meetings and focuses a lot of his attention on inventory and budgets.

Originally from Loveland, Colo., Smith earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Wayne State College in northeast Nebraska. His older brother and parents still reside in Loveland, so he likes to visit there in the summer with his 4-year-old daughter, Addison.

Smith has developed a lot of good friendships throughout the years that he doesn’t label as just work friendships. He says his favorite part of the job is the co-workers in his department. “We have worked in this department together for years,” he said. “All of us relate to each other and get along really well. We are all pretty close.”

Smith said that many of his co-workers and the company’s culture of teamwork inspire him to work hard. “I see people on the floor, they’re sweating and moving chairs, so I have to jump in there, and I think, hopefully, people appreciate that.”

He has had a lot of experience dealing with the unexpected at events, including one that was especially memorable: “One of our clients always has a big-name country music artist perform a concert after their dinner,” Smith said. “I found out around lunch time the day of the event that his tour bus had been delayed in Alabama on its way to Atlanta. Hours had gone by, so my production team and clients were getting worried that their talent might not make it in time. At the last minute, the performer showed up, parked on the dock, and walked on stage to perform just in time, no rehearsal or anything!”