by Donna Shelley
John Edward Smith combines community service with image marketing and business development. His online SOMI Magazine and the SOMI Guide publications balance hometown interests while promoting South Miami’s retail and restaurant district in our town center.
The ability of this New Yorker to capture the essence of his adopted hometown arises from Smith’s love of place and devotion to place-making. For 50 years his service as a volunteer on countless city task forces and committees has enhanced the community. His marketing and image management skills continue to help define South Miami. Smith developed special and annual events such as the 1983 opening celebration of the South Miami Metrorail Station, the inception of the “Santa Parade of the Elves,” “Sundays on Sunset,” and “SOMI Artwalk,” to name a few. He also coordinated the South Miami 75th Anniversary Edition of the South Miami News and served as contributing editor for political and community affairs for the Community Newspapers.
An image marketing and business development consultant since 1982, Smith has represented institutions, organizations, businesses, and individuals. His skill set extends to international accomplishments as well. His work representing artistic talent includes Swiss concert harpist/EMI recording artist Markus Klinko, now famed fashion photographer, for whom Smith was worldwide personal manager. For some ten years, he was the marketing producer of Vizcaya’s annual signature event, the Italian Renaissance Festival, establishing cultural liaisons in Asti, Florence, and Venice.
He served as USA representative for Il Gruppo Sbandieratori del Palio d’Asti (The Flag-throwers of the Palio of Asti) and was named Honorary Ambassador of Asti (Italy); in recognition of his promotion and development of the Italian food culture throughout the United States, as executive producer of La Festa del Tartufo Bianco (White Truffle Festival) among other well-established gastronomic programs. In September 2023, he was inducted into the order of the Cavalieri della Terre di Asti e Montferrato (Knights of the Lands of Asti and Monferrato).
A graduate of Notre Dame, Smith brings a keen business background and a well-honed sense of giving back to everything he does. He has shared this sense of service as a member of cultural and civic boards such as Catholic Charities, Switchboard of Miami, the Miami Chamber Symphony, Spectrum Programs and Informed Families. He was selected for the inaugural class of Leadership Miami (1979) and co-lead the “Miami’s For Me” civic-pride campaign. In 1983 he founded Bike Miami and is a dedicated commuter cyclist. Since 1974 he has proudly considered South Miami “home.”