His mother, born Verla Slick, known as "Babe," was a grocery cashier, bowling enthusiast and partner at Cornucopia, one of the first coffee, tea, and spice shops in Portland.
After graduating in 1967 from Franklin High School, Smith attended Portland State University and served aboard the USS Hancock during the Vietnam War.
In 1975, Smith, Lee, and Leger pioneered the market for domestic peppermint and spearmint, selling Oregon-grown mint to Lipton, Celestial Seasonings, and others.
Created in collaboration with the Sandstrom Partners design firm and writer Steve Sandoz, the Tazo brand blended the history and myth of tea cultures with a unique sense of humor.
Marketed as "The Reincarnation of Tea," Tazo found distribution in retail stores and foodservice operations throughout North America.
The Smith Teamaker line includes full leaf black, green and white teas as well as herbal infusions and blends packaged in individual sachets and loose form, as well as ready-to-drink tea beverages made with water that has been infused with ripe fruit though a proprietary process called "fruitsmithing".
This work included the Portland International Film Festival, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon College of Art and Craft, the Caldera Arts Center, and the Mercy Corps School Education Retention Project (SERP) as well as in kind donations, including to local schools, community projects, and larger foundations.