Biography Lee A. Smith III Director, District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development Lee A. Smith III serves as the Director of the District of Columbia’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). In this capacity, he oversees the agency charged with fostering the economic growth, development, and retention of District-based businesses. Mr. Smith is the chief advocate for small businesses in the city. He advises the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the Mayor on all programs, policies, and issues related to the local business community. Mr. Smith is an accomplished public servant and experienced operations and government relations professional with in-depth knowledge of the policies and procedures of both the executive and legislative branches of District government. Prior to his appointment at DSLBD, Mr. Smith served as the director of administration and government affairs for the Washington Convention Center Authority, where he provided overall direction and coordination of the Authority’s human resources, contracting and procurement, and business services departments. Mr. Smith previously served as chief of staff for the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, directing senior staff, managing the daily operations of the Commission, and assisting the CEO in overseeing the on-time completion of Washington Nationals Ballpark within the mandated cost cap. Mr. Smith also has occupied numerous positions within the Council of the District of Columbia. He served as a policy analyst for the Committee on Public Works and the Environment. He was legislative director and counsel for the Office of Councilmember Carol Schwartz, where he developed and implemented Schwartz’s legislative agenda and strategy and served as the councilmember’s primary public liaison and spokesperson. During the final stint of his Council tenure, Mr. Smith served as clerk and senior counsel for the Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations, where he directed committee staff and managed the Committee’s oversight of 32 agency budgets totaling approximately $455 million. Mr. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a law degree from Howard University. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland. He has lived in the District for 15 years and currently resides in Ward 7.