Randy Smith was born in Okinawa, Japan and was raised in Richmond, Virginia where he attended public schools and graduated from Henrico High School. For the last 30 years, Lynchburg has been his home. 

In high school, Randy always had a part-time job (or two!) in addition to his school work.To help pay his way through college, Randy worked on nuclear submarines at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard through a Cooperative Education program. Upon receiving his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, he was recruited by B&W Nuclear Technologies (now Framatome) where he worked for 3 years in Alabama and 14 years in Lynchburg.

Ultimately, Randy’s working class upbringing and blue collar sensibilities led him to switch gears in 2008. He worked construction, renovating and remodeling homes, and then later started his own business – a woodshop that sells lumber to other woodworkers. His second business, The Craft Crucible, provides space to other artisans trying to turn their craft into a career. 

Today, Randy continues to own and operate both businesses and now counts no less than 10 small businesses directly supported by the shop space and surrounding buildings. During this time Randy developed his deep appreciation for work in the trades and its great potential to provide long lasting, stable, well paying jobs for those who aren’t financially able or interested in the college career path. 

With a heart for working class folks who may not have time, extra money, or a sense of belonging, Randy helps where he can. He has worked with local nonprofits to help neighbors secure better housing. He added large murals to his commercial building on Thurman Avenue, and developed an outdoor art gallery on Fort Avenue, making public art accessible beyond the downtown area. 

Randy and his wife, Jeanell, have been married for 30 years and share a daughter, Sophie, who was born at Virginia Baptist, attended Bedford Hills Elementary, Linkhorne Middle, and EC Glass. She graduated from George Mason University and currently resides in Forest.

Learn more about Randy and his policy priorities here.