Traditional accounting firms are probably not the place most people look to for an inspiring entrepreneurial story, but it is the very place where Jeff Smith planted the seeds that would establish a successful career and lead him in his current position as chief financial officer at Kodiak Building Partners, one of Colorado’s fastest growing companies.
Kodiak Building Partners operates in the building material sales and distribution industry. Founded in 2011, the company is a leading acquisition firm that enables independent building material companies to thrive locally by providing resources that help leaders grow their businesses while empowering employees and customers to build their American dreams.
After seven years with a large national CPA firm, Smith entered the private sector and realized that the key to success was not necessarily about linear movement up the ladder – it was more important to ensure he was leveraging each opportunity he was presented with in ways that would build his business fundamentals. He landed at Kodiak in 2016.
Smith’s accomplishments with the firm include leading the project to recapitalize the business with a new majority equity partner and has notably accelerated growth from about $400 million in annual revenue to over $3 billion annually by 2022.
“Jeff’s entrepreneurial spirit is a fortunate outcome of his passion for developing people,” said his staff. “He learned early on in his career how people enable businesses to be successful and he believes that corporate success is driven largely by basic leadership skills – give your team all of the credit when things go right and assume the blame and criticism when they don’t.”
Among his many accomplishments, Smith is most proud of his ability to cultivate and grow an exceptional team because he sees the people driving Kodiak’s financial team as critical catalysts in creating value for its investors and employees. “I believe that the strength of any organization lies in its people,” he said. “My superpower is not about singular feats but the collective achievements of the teams I’ve had the privilege to lead.”
Smith said that leadership is not just about making decisions; it’s about creating an environment where people thrive. “I lead with a people-first mindset, ensuring that every team member feels valued, supported and motivated to contribute their best to Kodiak’s success,” he said. “By investing in people, we create a ripple effect of success that goes far beyond any individual achievement.”
