About our company
We Design & Manufacture the Highest Quality Sweepers on the Market
With over 60 years combined experience in the industrial brush and sweeping machine industry, Smith Challenger Manufacturing & Services, Inc. utilizes the original quick-change brush system on the SCM 100 and SCM 400, which allows a brush to be changed in less than 5 minutes (approx.) on site. Keith Smith engineered and patented the innovative system that has created a paradigm shift for the industrial sweeping industry. The Smith Challenger lineup of sweepers are vigorous time and money savers due to our innovation and heavy duty construction – no other sweepers on the market compare.
We are growing rapidly out of Lakeland, Florida with customers having fleets of sweepers throughout the United States and abroad into Iceland, Japan and South Korea. Customers are blown away by our product and it is our sole pleasure to equip buyers with the most revolutionary, elite industrial sweeper on the market.
Meet The Smith Challenger Team
Betty Smith
CEO
With over 30 plus years of experience in the sweeping, paving, and industrial brush industry, Betty has lead Smith Challenger from the start. With experience in all aspects of the business, Betty has performed each key role within Smith Challenger. With customers and vendors alike, Betty has formed long lasting relationships, attributing to the growth and success of Smith Challenger. While Betty is involved in all departments within the company, her main role is leading the way for future growth and long-term strategic planning. In her spare time Betty enjoys spending time with her grandkids, cooking, gardening, and traveling out West.
Loni Smith
CFO
Loni has been part of the team since the founding of Smith Challenger in 2009. Loni graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Accounting from Florida Southern. In the beginning Loni gained experience in the industry by having responsibilities ranging from purchasing, marketing, inventory, and bookkeeping. Today Loni is responsible for managing the accounting, and HR functions. In her spare time Loni enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew, marathon running, and going to the beach.
Keith Smith
Head of Equipment Development
An innovator at heart, Keith holds the lead role in equipment design and development at Smith Challenger. With over 40 plus years of designing sweeping equipment, he knows the industry from the inside out. The focus in all designs is keeping the customer at the front by developing sweeping equipment that is reliable, long lasting, and easy to maintain. Keith instructs other team members on the manufacturing process of each model sweeper to ensure that each piece of equipment is manufactured to the highest level to ensure customer satisfaction. When not designing equipment, Keith enjoys spending time with his grandkids, and hunting out West.
Kyle Smith
Production Manager
Kyle has been part of the team since the founding of Smith Challenger in 2009. With over 20 years of experience in fabrication of road construction equipment, Kyle’s main role is to oversee the production process at Smith Challenger. Kyle plays a key role ensuring that each piece of equipment is manufactured to the highest standard to ensure customer satisfaction and being available to customers when an issue does arise. In his spare time Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and going salt and freshwater fishing, and hunting.
Jodie Smith
Purchasing Manager
Jodie has been part of the Smith Challenger team since 2017. Her main role is overseeing the purchasing and inventory for all models of sweepers so that production flows efficiently. Another key role is the management of the Parts Department by taking orders from customers and overseeing the order all the way through shipping. Jodie works with both customers and vendors to form long term relationships both critical to the success of Smith Challenger. In her spare time Jodie enjoys spending with her husband, two children, crafting, and spending the day at the beach.
