Rene Smits: From Dutch Welder to American Business Owner

In this episode, I share the inspiring journey of my dad, Rene Smits, the founder of Smits International. Originally from the Netherlands, he began welding at just 16 years old where he mastered advanced welding techniques used on large ships. After graduation, he started working across Europe building greenhouses and leading crews at a young age. One day, he was offered a short-term job in Virginia. However, his skill and work ethic impressed a major greenhouse owner, who encouraged him to start his own company in the United States - despite not speaking English at the time. So Rene did just that - he started his own business and through hard work, word of mouth, and commitment to quality, Rene’s reputation was able to spread nationwide across the greenhouse businesses.