Working on local political, workforce and community initiatives for hospitals, Ron Smith is currently regional vice president of the Hospital Council representing all public and private hospitals in Northern and Central California.

Before joining the Hospital Council, Smith was a leading political consultant in California for 30 years, managing more than 150 political campaigns in California. Smith worked on the campaign staffs of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was executive director of the independent campaign for George H.W. Bush. He was the consultant for moderate Republicans, including Congressmen Pete McCloskey, Ed Zschau, Tom Campbell, State Senator Becky Morgan, and Assemblyman Jim Cunneen. In non-partisan races he also managed campaigns of Dianne Feinstein and other notable Californians. Smith has been active in several statewide California initiatives including as a state chair for the campaign against the anti-gay marriage initiative.

He serves on the board of directors of GLASS, which operates group homes for adolescent wards of the court; a board member, oversight board, McMillan Sobering Center; Coordinator, San Francisco African American Health Disparity Project; Chair, North Bay Nursing Workforce Taskforce, and Advisory Board Member, San Francisco “School to Career” Partnership.

Smith is the former president of the Junior Statesmen Foundation and has served for decades on its boards of directors and trustees. He is a graduate of Stanford University and the Junior Statesmen Summer School.