Chip Smith

Smith attended the Lawrenceville School and graduated in 1986. Smith graduated from Colby College in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in American Studies. He earned an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

Soon after graduating from Colby, Smith oversaw the advance team for Senator Bob Kerrey during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992. Smith coordinated more than 1,000 student workers for the campaign. He then worked for Senator Wyche Fowler as a legislative assistant.

In 1995, he joined Robert Shrum and Tad Devine as they started media consulting firm Shrum, Devine & Donilon. Smith’s kitchen served as the firm’s first office. Smith became an executive vice president for the firm, a role in which he created and produced advertising for political campaigns.

Smith left political work in 1996 to become chief of staff to the president and chief executive officer of MCI Inc. He led internal and external communications for the company until his departure in 2000.

Smith then joined Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign as chief of staff and deputy campaign manager. He managed all day-to-day operations out of the campaign’s Nashville headquarters. Alongside Donna Brazile, Smith also headed the "war room," Gore's committee for operations, communications, and outreach during the Florida election recount.