Leadership
Milton A. (Chip) Smith, Jr. Owner and President
“Just as we realize building homes really is about the people inside the homes, we hope you’ll feel the same about our company. Blue Ridge Log Cabins is more than a company—it’s about people who care.”
With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, construction, and sales, Chip Smith’s passion and vision for Blue Ridge Log Cabins has been the driving force to his company’s meteoric growth over the last six years, propelling the firm to become recognized by homeowners, trade media and competitors as an industry leader nationwide.
Our goal has been to revolutionize the log home industry. “We knew if we could build log homes faster, more efficiently, and with a higher quality than had ever been done in the past, we could help more people realize their dream of owning a log home.” -Chip Smith
In 2003, after several years of small but incremental growth, Chip joined the organization and partnered with the founder of Blue Ridge Log Cabins, Earl Taylor. In January 2004, Chip acquired Taylor’s portion of the company and within three years, Blue Ridge Log Cabins was ranked in INC Magazine among an elite handful of companies named “Fastest Growing, Privately-held Companies in America” for two consecutive years (2008 and 2009).
In February of 2009, Chip was recognized by the local Chamber of Commerce as the “2009 Business Person of the Year.” His company has also received the Better Business Bureau’s “Gold Star Award” twice for having zero complaints for three consecutive years.
A lifelong resident of Spartanburg, he is passionately committed to being a personal and corporate community partner. Among the firm’s many community sponsorships and programs, Blue Ridge Log Cabins was instrumental in leading the renovation of the Glenn Springs Academy (formerly Spartanburg County Boys Home), which houses young boys from 5-17 who are abandoned or abused. Several log homes that would house up to 28 boys were donated to launch the project.
In 2011, Chip received a call from the producers of Emmy Award Winning television series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition asking if Blue Ridge would want to participate in one of the largest projects in their 9 season history. Blue Ridge accepted the challenge and in July 2011 BRLC along with the Extreme Makeover crew built a home for Barbara Marshall’s cause, the Steps and Stages Jubilee house which is a transitional home for homeless female veterans inFayetteville,NC. The episode aired in September 2011 and was the two hour series premiere for the final season of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which featured special guest First Lady Michelle Obama.
Through his work with Extreme Makeover Chip was recognized by many political figures here in our state ofSouth Carolinaas well as inWashington,DC. Governor Nikki Haley honored Chip on the steps of the State House in SC as he and members of the Blue Ridge team transported the final section of the house toFayetteville. The Spartanburg County Council proclaimed that September 26, 2011 (the day after the episodes airing) was the official “Blue Ridge Log Cabins Day”.
Congressman Trey Gowdy recognized Chip on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, applauding Chip and Blue Ridge for their humanitarianism. Afterwards a reception was thrown by the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) where SC Congressmen, trade publication editors and members of the NAHB gathered to congratulate Chip and the Blue Ridge team on being a part of such a life changing build and being a outstanding representative of SC as well as a home builder.
Chip has served on numerous local boards and is currently the Vice-Chairman for the Spartanburg County Commission on Higher Education. He was honored in 2007 by the University of South Carolina – Upstate with the University’s coveted Alumni of the Year award.
Chip and his wife Laura have three children.
Click here to view Chips’s Small Business Person of the Year Award »