About The Speaker
Smokie Sizemore, CPCC, sold to an international resource group in 1997, the business she founded 14 years earlier and grew to 25 employees. During that time, her creativity and innovations marked the flag industry forever. She is the originator of the popular sized, affordable house and garden banners that are made and sold today around the world.
Besides being a published author, trainer and angel investor, Smokie is an executive coach and motivational speaker. To meet client needs she facilitates corporate strategic planning meetings and succession knowledge transfer, and conducts retreats and workshops for corporations and individuals. Care is taken to creatively customize all services which are delivered professionally and humorously with important management perspectives and tools. Lightness and a quick pace combined with practical ‘nuts and bolts’ application for everyday use in clients’ professional and personal lives are Smokie’s signature.

Her reinvention continued when Smokie was designated a Certified Professional Co-active Coach in 2000. The most recent certification Smokie has received is in Communication. Her workshop "Can You Hear Me Now?" has been given to numerous audiences including bankers and health care professionals. Her entertaining delivery style and hands on approach with this workshop proves that learning is fun and lasting.

In 2004 her angel investor experience served to co-found The Eighth Floor, a venture capital program, matching entrepreneurs and their businesses with venture capitalists. As an adjunct faculty member for the Community College Workforce Alliance, a joint venture with several Virginia community colleges, she knew the need business owners had for non traditional ways to finance their businesses. The Eighth Floor’s success rate is well known throughout the region.

Smokie is featured regularly on the local NBC affiliate as the coach for lifestyle changes. She also was the coach to volunteers participating in the Dr. Phil Weight Loss Program to lose a total of 110 lbs.

The Retreat "How to Get What You Want" Smokie created and hosts to help executive women refresh, renew and re-energize themselves. This "for women only" program is held twice yearly with a full house of participants who experience extraordinary life changing results, getting what they want.

Smokie’s "Knowledge Transfer Process" is a signature service for clients dealing with highly sensitive, classified information that is rarely written down or mentioned within company walls. Clients appreciate the professionalism, sensitivity, discretion and confidentiality that are the benchmarks for this elite service.

Always seeing opportunities and providing a solution for the need that coaches throughout the region had, she founded the Richmond Area Coaches Association, an area chapter of the International Coach Federation. The first International Coach Federation Southeast Regional Coaches Conference she co-founded and co-hosted in 2001.

Smokie is known for her quick pace, insights and creativity that revolutionize business practices. Her innovative products, ideas, fun spirit and practicality are the keystones of her work. All services are delivered with high energy, humor and entrepreneurial wisdom, combined with important ‘nuts and bolts’ solutions to dilemmas facing your organization. Smokie’s life is a model of walking her talk and practicing what she preaches for others to step into their greatness and have the life they want.

Professional affiliations include International Coach Federation; National Speakers Association, Virginia Chapter; The Richmond Venture Capital Club; Richmond Area Coaches Association; River City Express Network of the American Business Women’s Association; and Virginia Foundation for Women.