Through our People Behind the PLUS series, Copiers Plus is on a mission to showcase the outstanding people that represent our brand across the state of North Carolina. This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Drew Smith, Director of Communications, and are excited to give you a glimpse into his personality, professional accomplishments, and contributions to the team. Keep reading to get to know him a little better!
Meet Drew Smith
Drew has been an integral part of the team since 2014. However, his ties to the company go well beyond the actual dates of his employment. Drew is the grandson of Copiers Plus CEO Bob Smith and is surrounded by a number of other family members at work, including his father, uncle, aunt, and brother-in-law.
Drew grew up in Fayetteville, NC, but has called Wilmington home since graduating from UNCW with a B.A. in communication studies. Before his college years, he attended Jack Britt High School and worked as a customer service associate at Michaels Arts and Crafts. He also helped in the warehouse at Copiers Plus during this time.
He married his wife, Jess, in 2016 and the couple welcomed their first child, Addison, in February of this year. In addition, the Smiths have a German shepherd named Berkley. Drew describes himself as an inspired person and he gains much of that inspiration from his family. “My wife and daughter make me want to be a better version of myself and deepen my faith,” he said. “Proud girl dad over here!”
Answering The Copiers Plus Call
Drew always planned to join the family business but didn’t expect it to be his first job out of college. As he says, however, “The Lord has a plan better than my own.” As the company’s Director of Communications, Drew is responsible for the business’s overall marketing and ensures that Copiers Plus’s external communications represent the brand both visually and from a messaging standpoint.
On a daily basis, you might find Drew working with vendors on advertising and marketing initiatives, tracking the performance of different ventures, or making sure the sales team has everything they need to prospect and serve businesses across North Carolina. His goal is to project a clear, cohesive, and engaging message over all of the business’s communication outlets.
Drew’s made lots of great memories at Copiers Plus over the years, but one of his favorites is the 2017 company kick-off meeting. “It was the first time we had the whole company gathered together in a while,” Drew shared. “We also had the opportunity to hear from Pastor Daniel Ward, which was a blessing for myself and many others. There is always something special about getting the family together and growing deeper relationships.”
In addition, this kick-off meeting was an opportunity to reveal a new logo and website to the Copiers Plus team. Drew spearheaded this initiative and considers it one of the professional accomplishments of which he is most proud.
“During the logo and website redesign in 2017, we were able to go from a website that was not compatible with mobile and many other things to a polished and responsive site that could stand with the best in our industry.” He added, “We wanted to modernize the look of our logo to further emphasize the fact that we are more than copiers and can handle advanced technology.”
At Copiers Plus, Customers Come First
At the end of the day, Copiers Plus’s customers are the driving force behind Drew’s work. “Customers have a special place in my heart and make me want to work harder to give them a better partner in business,” he revealed. “I’m happy I can contribute in a small way to help people know about us and understand how we can help them.”
This same sentiment is found throughout the company, and Drew believes it’s one thing that makes Copiers Plus stand out from other organizations. “Copiers Plus is full of people that aren’t going to shortcut their way to success,” he said, “but rather do hard work with integrity to make sure the customer is satisfied. I know that I can rely on my fellow team members to have my back the same way they can rely on me to have theirs.”
One employee that Drew consistently counts on is his dad, Tim Smith. Drew shared that as Vice President, his father always leads by example and strives to ensure every employee is supported. He went on, “He is constantly helping me work through complex situations by listening and giving sage advice. He cares deeply for his employees and family and is the best dad a person could ask for!”
Family is a recurring theme throughout Copiers Plus. “There is a genuineness to the Copiers Plus experience,” Drew revealed. Whether it’s his grandfather personally greeting the Fayetteville team each morning or sending employees a congratulatory email for each work anniversary, Drew loves that employees are treated like family.
Drew contributes to the Copiers Plus team by acting as a brand ambassador across the state. He is constantly trying to connect workplaces with the solutions they need through presentations, networking opportunities, and in-depth research. No matter the task, he and his fellow co-workers aim to provide an outstanding customer experience through every step of the Copiers Plus journey.
“We are more than a copier company. We are a family of employees who take pride in what we do and want to make our customers as proud to work with us as we are to work with them,” he explained. “So, whether that is through our exceptional customer service or intuitive document solutions portfolio, we will work diligently to make their vision a reality and our partnership long-lasting.”
Outside of work, Drew is a huge Atlanta braves fan and enjoys supporting some of his favorite places in Wilmington – including Hell’s Kitchen and Wine Knot Sky Bar & Lounge – in his free time. He loves the summer season and relaxing with his all-time favorite TV show, The West Wing. When it comes to books, “Love Does” by Bob Goff is his must-read and his go-to music genre is 90’s country.
We’re so glad we’ve had the opportunity to help you get to know Drew and a few of the other members of our team through our People Behind The PLUS series. It’s an honor to call so many incredible individuals part of the Copiers Plus crew!