Smith’s Machine and Welding has received the Brookhaven/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Month award for August.

     Chuck Smith founded Smith’s Machine and Welding in 1970. At that time the business had one welding truck and did mainly small jobs.

     Co-Owner Chad Smith said he did not think his father envisioned the company growing into what it is now.

     “I don’t think my father ever expected it to get this big,” said Smith. “He was always proud of the business.”

     Since its start, the company has grown to having around 40 employees and doing business all around the world.

     After finishing his education, Chad Smith began working with the business in 1990, with his brother and co-owner Mike Smith being there since 1987.

     Chad Smith said the company does a variety of things, including welding, working with the energy market, building burners and doing ductwork.

     “We often do things like repairing people’s lawnmowers,” Smith said. “But we also do million dollar jobs that we’ll send around the world.”

     Smith said the industry is different now than when the business started, and even different than we he started in 1990.

     “The market has changed tremendously over the years,” said Chad Smith. “We quote a lot against overseas businesses. That’s very competitive.”

     Some may remember when Smith’s Machine and Welding was located on Highway 51. The business moved to its current location on Union Street Extension on the west side of Brookhaven in 1982.

     Over the years, Smith’s Machine and Welding remains a fixture in the Brookhaven community as it has for nearly 43 years.

     Chad Smith said the recession affected them just like everyone else, but things have picked up recently.

     “We’re busier now than we’ve been in the past four years,” he said. “We go after whatever part of the market is strong.”

     But when other businesses struggle, Smith said it also affects them.

     “We’re tied to larger companies, and they’re affected by the economy as well,” he said. “When it affects them, it affects us.”

     Smith said doing a good job safely has been a hallmark of their success and he attributes that to their employees.

     “We’ve always had very good, loyal employees with good skills,” he said. “We all work together well. We don’t sit around and gripe, we just get things done.”

     Chad Smith said being recognized by the chamber of commerce is a nice plus to remind them of their hard work.

     “Being recognized as Small Business of the Month is nice,” he said. “We think we contribute a lot to the community, as there are 40 families that depend on us.”