ERIC SMITH

Eric Smith serves as Principal Chair with C12 Business Forums in Seattle, Bellevue, and the North Puget Sound region. C12 is the world’s largest peer-learning organization for Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives, serving 4,000 members throughout the United States and internationally. Eric has been serving as a C12 Chair since 2025 and is proud to be laying the groundwork for a new chapter of Christian business leadership in Western Washington—an area that has not had a C12 presence in the organization’s 30-year history. Plans are underway to build CEO and Key Player forums in the Seattle/Bellevue area as well as in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Forum members are envisioned to represent businesses with $10 million in gross revenue and/or 50 employees—benchmarks that help ensure rich peer learning and deep engagement with C12’s robust curriculum. Prior to joining C12, Eric served as an HR leader across start-up, SMB, and publicly traded companies—most notably within the professional services and IT solutions industries, including Lenati, PK (ProKarma), and Concentrix Catalyst. Under his leadership, Lenati grew from 25 to 150 employees, and PK expanded from 2,500 to 6,000 employees. He led people strategy across a variety of ownership structures including private, private equity, and publicly traded organizations. Notably, Eric guided a team of 150 consultants through a major acquisition by PK, developing and executing change strategies around onboarding, branding, and talent practices to preserve employee retention—critical to the success of a people-based business. Later, when PK was acquired by Concentrix, a 300,000-employee global enterprise, he coached leadership through complex change management and operational transformation, all while maintaining strong employee engagement. Eric is also a trained executive coach, sought after for his expertise in people strategies, corporate communications, and navigating technology-driven transformation. In addition to professional work, Eric has served for over a decade on the leadership team of Joni & Friends Northwest, helping to plan and facilitate events for families affected by disability. He lives in Snohomish, WA with his lovely wife of 32 years, their 22-year-old daughter with special needs, and their horse-loving 17-year-old daughter. Their eldest daughter and her family—including two cherub-like granddaughters—live close by. Life on their hobby farm includes a pig, dogs, chickens, rabbits, and space for Eric’s dahlia garden. Eric’s life verse is, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” —Hebrews 4:15