RL SMITH & ASSOCIATES - Key Persons

Roy Smith has been a hobby and professional mechanic since graduating from high school in 1984. After graduation, Roy joined the U.S. Air Force where he served as an equipment operator, graduating first in his class from technical school. In 1988, Roy began working at North American Salt Company and during this time at their Kansas plant he loaded cargo into all types of transportation equipment including loading barges at their Louisiana facility. Roy was extensively trained in equipment operation and cargo loading, designed dunnage arrangements and investigated cargo claims. In 1996, Roy went to work for Mid Coast Terminal Co. where, as terminal supervisor, he operated the 65 to 100-ton cranes loading and offloading barges, rail cars and trucks, while scheduling and supervising the daily activities of the terminal and maintaining a safe and productive operation. In 1997 Roy continued to expand his experience taking a surveying position with Manley & Manley, covering a plethora of disciplines such as cargo, hull damage, hull repair, emergency service, dock facility damage, new construction supervision and failure analysis covering all sizes and shapes of boats and barges operating on the inland waterways. In 2007 R. L. Smith & Associates was formed, with the idea of obtaining the highest level of education and training to provide the most accurate and concise opinions and conclusions for a wide variety of clientele. Roy's son Cameron would join the team in 2017, further expanding the company by opening an office in Buffalo, IA & Chicago, IL. Cameron has been an avid outdoors man and athlete his entire life, with hobbies like hunting, fishing, and competition shooting. Growing up, Cameron would often travel with his father on surveys, providing help when he could, and learning the trade. This continued through high school until Cameron was accepted to Culver-Stockton College in 2008 on a football scholarship. He would later attend Southeast Missouri State University where he studied biology. After college, Cameron began work as a CAD/CAM designer and CNC operator for a number of stone counter top companies. After 2 years of working, he decided to return to the familiar trade of Marine Surveying, learning directly under Roy. Cameron is a Certified Marine Surveyor (CMS) with the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS).