FedEx Founder Frederick W. Smith Will Keynote Forward Janesville’s Annual Dinner
JANESVILLE, Wis. (Sept. 17, 2024) – Forward Janesville, the city’s Chamber of Commerce and economic development leader, today announced that Frederick W. Smith, Founder and Executive Chairman of FedEx Corporation, will be the featured speaker for Forward Janesville’s Annual Dinner.
The Nov. 12 event, presented by Platinum Level sponsors ABC Supply Co., Baird, Boomerang Home Rentals, JP Cullen, Nowlan Law, and Zilber Property Group, will be held at the Holiday Inn and Janesville Conference Center.
Sponsorships and registration are now available at www.forwardjanesville.com/dinner
“We are elated to have Fred Smith join us for a fireside chat that will engage our more than 600 attendees on topics like delivering exponential business growth and the power of community,” said Shar Hermanson, President and CEO of Forward Janesville. “On its first night in 1973, FedEx transported 186 packages and currently handles approximately 15 million daily shipments globally. We are excited to share more about that growth story and to learn from Mr. Smith’s five decades of experience in business.”
After graduating from Yale in 1966, Smith served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, which included two tours of duty in Vietnam. In the early 1970s, he combined his aviation experience and military logistics insights to create a revolutionary hub-and-spoke model for package delivery. The original air-ground Federal Express network began serving the rapidly growing high-tech, high-value-added sectors of the economy. The company has since grown into a $87 billion global enterprise that serves more than 220 countries and territories. Today, FedEx operations include 698 aircraft, more than 200,000 vehicles, approximately 5,000 operating facilities and 500,000 team members.
Smith, who served as FedEx President & CEO from its founding until 2022, now serves as the Executive Chairman. Today, he focuses on Board governance and issues of global importance, including sustainability, innovation, and public policy.
Smith has received several honorary degrees and numerous civic, academic, and business awards, including the Global Leadership Award from the U.S.-India Business Council; the George C. Marshall Foundation Award; the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Business Leadership Award; the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy; the Circle of Honor Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation; and the Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum.
In addition, Smith is a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame and the Business Hall of Fame. He was co-chairman of the U.S. World War II Memorial project and the campaign for the National Museum of the Marine Corps. He was cited in Forbes's “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” and has been named a top CEO by both Barron’s and Chief Executive magazines.
Forward Janesville’s Annual Dinner has been an important event in Janesville’s community fabric. It is an opportunity for business, public, and not-for-profit leaders to come together and hear national speakers address topics such as leadership, politics, civic service, communication, and business.
ABOUT FORWARD JANESVILLE
Forward Janesville is Janesville’s Chamber of Commerce and a leader in ensuring business and industry's continued health and prosperity in the Janesville-Beloit Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). We deploy our team, ideas, and resources to help our members and community become stronger, together. For more information on Forward Janesville, visit www.forwardjanesville.com or call 608-757-3160.