Smitty's Supply Inc. demonstrates commitment to Southeastern through sizeable donation
Thursday, March 5, 2020 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
SOUTHEASTERN RECEIVES DONATION FROM SMITTY’S – Southeastern Louisiana University is getting support in multiple areas thanks to a $250,000 donation from Smitty’s Supply Inc. Located in Roseland, La., Smitty’s Supply is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of lubricants and greases in the world today. The contribution will benefit four specific areas of the university – business, supply chain management, accounting, and the recently established professional sales program. From left are Smitty’s Supply Board of Directors members Luiz Macedo and Charles Brister, Smitty’s President Chad Tate, Smitty’s Owner and CEO Ed Smith, board member Steve Hoover, Southeastern Senior Director of Development and Advancement Services Katherine Rose, and board members Brad Berner, James Ballard, Joe Miller, and David Padgett. Not pictured is board member Jack Baker.
HAMMOND –Southeastern Louisiana University is getting support in multiple areas
thanks to a $250,000 donation from Smitty’s Supply Inc. Located in Roseland, La.,
Smitty’s Supply is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of lubricants
and greases in the world today.
The contribution will benefit four specific areas of the university – business,
supply chain management, accounting, and the professional sales program.
“This generous donation demonstrates Smitty’s Supply Inc.’s commitment and partnership
with Southeastern,” said Senior Director of Development and Advancement Services Katherine
Rose. “Smitty’s investment in Southeastern is an investment in transforming the lives
of students.”
Rose said that four endowments were created as a result of the donation - the
Edgar R. Smith, III Endowed Professorship in Business, the Christina Smith Leto Endowed
Scholarship in Supply Chain Management, Smitty’s Supply Inc. Endowed Scholarship in
Accounting, and the Christina Smith Leto Sales Program Endowment. Part of the donation
also includes funds to build the Smitty’s Supply Inc. Executive Conference Room in
Southeastern’s Professional Sales Training Center.
“Supply chain management is one of our fastest growing programs at Southeastern,
and it offers students excellent career opportunities,” Rose said. “Our accounting
program has a long history of providing students with the knowledge and skills needed
to meet the needs and challenges of today’s businesses. Smitty’s has a long history
of hiring accounting students as interns and employs numerous accounting graduates.”
The funds for the Professional Sales Program, Rose explained, will be used to
complete the construction of the executive conference room in the Professional Sales
Training Center and
create annual funds to support unexpected program needs. Additionally, two of Smitty’s
management team members have volunteered to serve as sales student mentors.
For more information about the endowments, contact the Southeastern Office of
University Advancement at 985-549-2239.
