Mike Smith was born in Baumholder, Germany in 1957. His father was in the United States Army at the time. Both of his parents were middle Tennessee natives and MTSU alumni. Mike graduated from Fort Knox High School in 1975. Meanwhile, his father was assigned his last duty assignment as the Professor of Military Science at MTSU. Mike’s older brother John was already enrolled at MTSU and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Mike enrolled at MTSU with a fellow high school buddy from Fort Knox, Jay Simpson. In the Spring of 1976, Mike and Jay entered rush and became pledge members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Mike describes his pledge class as a family within a family. What he liked most about SAE was the huge sense of tradition, a sense that the members were winners. The chapter knew how to have fun but also had a purpose of brotherhood. Although he did not fulfill a leadership role for TN Beta, Mike was very active in the chapter. To this day he has great respect and appreciation for the TN Beta leadership when he was an undergraduate.

On ROTC scholarship, Mike graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management. The day after graduation he reported to Fort Benning, GA as a Second Lieutenant. Mike spent five years on active duty and eight years as a reservist. In 1984, Mike started his career in the transportation industry, and spent the next sixteen years with various transportation companies.

In January of 2000, Mike started Somerset Logistics. Somerset Logistics has gone from a one man show, to a company with over 50 team members, and exceeding $30 million in revenue. In 2006, Mike’s high school buddy, college roommate, pledge brother, and brother-in-law, Jay Simpson retired as a Colonel in the Army. Mike convinced him to join Somerset Logistics. Jay moved his family to Murfreesboro and has been an integral part of the company’s sustained growth ever since. Mike’s brother John, an SAE, is also a team member with Somerset Logistics and has contributed significantly.

Mike and his wife Tammy, Western Kentucky graduate, have two daughters, Shelby and Maggie. Shelby is an MTSU graduate and is enrolled in the College of Charleston MBA program. Maggie is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee. Mike is all about family, and he is proud to be a part of the SAE family.

Please join the Alumni Association in congratulating Mike Smith on his personal and professional success.

ΣAE TN Beta Alumni Association