Jeff Smith is once again glad to be doing what he loves in a place he adores.
Jeff is originally from the Toledo area. He grew up in Temperance and Sylvania. He graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School and is an alumnus of Indiana University, Bloomington.
Because of his local roots, Jeff makes it a point to give back to the community. Over the years he's been involved in activities and programs at his former high school and is at the beck and call of those who knew him back when and need help from him today.
In 2008, Jeff took his love for journalism and education to his alma mater (St. Francis) - and began teaching a journalism class and moderating the production of the school's newspaper. He’s also taught at BGSU where he received a Master’s in Strategic Communication in 2020.
Jeff’s journalistic journey started 1995. He spent two years in northern Michigan at WPBN/WTOM (Traverse City). He lived in Gaylord, Michigan, as a bureau reporter – responsible for 500 square miles stretching from Grayling to Alpena to Cheboygan … from the Soo Locks to Petoskey and Charlevoix. In addition to his work behind the desk, Jeff has been a producer, reporter, photographer, and editor.
In September of 2008, Jeff, along with three co-workers, spent a week in Houston covering the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. He's an award winner for reporting and has been involved with numerous presidential visits. He once traveled with the Coast Guard during an 11-hour trip across a frozen Lake Michigan to deliver fuel oil to a struggling island (It had been a long, hard winter). That trip during the summer takes 30 minutes!
In his spare time, Jeff loves to cook, find his old albums on Spotify, and coach baseball. Jeff is married to Lisa (Key Realty) and is the proud father of daughter, Parker Jayden (P.J.), and sons Dugan Jeffrey (D.J.), and Keaton James (K.J.).
