Meet the Team: Bill Smith

October 2, 2023

Bill Smith is the Founder and CEO of Red Rock Developments, and he is the Executive Managing Partner of Red Rock Investment Partners, the management Company of Red Rock Industrial Fund I. Bill has over 39 years of real estate development experience and leads the overall strategic direction of Red Rock. He has a broad and deep range of expertise, including deal structuring, equity raise, capital markets underwriting, site acquisition and entitlement, lease and legal structure, and construction oversight. Over his career, Bill has developed over 35 million square feet of industrial, office, and retail properties.

Well-respected by his peers and throughout his community, Bill learned many life lessons as a member of the 1981 Clemson University National Championship football team. Bill continues his relationship with Clemson University today as a Successor Trustee member of its Board of Trustees, serving as a Trustee since 1996, and has received the university’s Distinguished Service Award given by the Alumni Association and the Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award in football. His family established the William C. Smith, Jr. Family Scholarship Endowment for unrestricted scholarships at Clemson University. He has served on numerous Boards and leadership positions throughout his career, including the Columbia Urban League, EdVenture Children’s Museum, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and The Masters in Real Estate Development Board of Clemson University. In addition, Bill was the recipient of the 2008 March of Dimes Real Estate Award.

Born and raised in Duncan, South Carolina, Bill played several sports at James F. Byrnes High School before accepting a full scholarship to play football at Clemson University. He was a four-year letterman for the Tigers and a starting defensive end on Clemson’s 1981 National Championship team before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in administrative management in 1982.

One of the things Bill is most passionate about is continuing to create a culture at Red Rock Developments that fosters a legacy of honoring God and family in all that we do to serve, love, and encourage others to grow a profitable enterprise for our shareholders, investors and team members; to pursue excellence: and, to provide an environment for professional and spiritual growth. Another area of Red Rock that Bill takes great pride in is our Monday morning Bible Study. He truly believes in feeding the hearts and souls of our team members to help equip them to do the same for others.

Bill is married to Beth Black Smith, and they live between The Old Village of Mount Pleasant, SC, and Columbia, SC. They have one son, Cannon (wife Ashley), and one daughter, Catherine “Kaki” Smith Mac Lain (husband Eric). Kaki and Eric have a 10-month-old daughter, Amelia, who is the light of Beth and Bill’s lives! The Smith family grew up in Shandon Baptist Church, where Beth and Bill remain active members.