M I D - A M E R I C A O P T I C S P A S S I O N A N D P A Y C H E C K S 7 G E T I N T O U C H ADDRESS 420 Main Street, Zelionople, PA 16063 EMAIL [email protected] PHONE 412.231.7961 WEBSITE thefinancialoutfitter.com 7 The constant desire to be outside and his love for hunting and fishing found him searching for a more suitable path. When he discovered a posting for a Legislative Liaison for the PGC, he felt it could be a natural fit. An opportunity to work with law, politics, and hunting seemed too opportune to ignore. When the then Executive Director called him with the offer, there was no reason to hesitate. For the next seven years, Steve worked as a Legislative Liaison between lawmakers and the Game Commission. Then, he was asked to hold a “temporary” position as Bureau Chief of Information and Education. A position that he temporarily held for the next ten years. His primary focus and responsibilities included communicating to the public about what the Game Commission does. Steve was born in Burks County and that’s where he called home for 20 years. It was there that he would follow his dad through the woods on his Sunday scouting sessions. Learning about rubs lines and scrapes as they search for just the right spot for a deer stand. Now married and raising two boys, the traditions continue. From hiking to scouting, hunting squirrels or whitetails, the current Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Game Commission still finds time to recreate on Pennsylvania State Game Lands. After high school, he headed to Cumberland County to obtain a law degree at Dickenson School of Law. After four years of pursuing a career in law, Steve realized it wasn’t his calling. In early 2024, he stepped into the Deputy Executive Director, a new position created by the PGC. But in April, the board asked him to accept the post of Executive Director. Steve has identified two primary areas of focus in his new role. A focus for which he is well suited. First, to develop better relationships with the members of the general assembly. Second, it is important to ensure that the spending of the PGC’s reserve fund is done in a prudent manner and shows financial responsibility. Then showing the general assembly what it is they are doing. Providing evidence that the PGC is indeed allocating resources to support its primary objective of preserving and protecting wildlife in Pennsylvania. Stephen Smith Executive Director, Pennsylvania Game Commission Steve serves as a great example of how someone has turned their true passion into a paycheck, blending what they do with who they are. It may not have been a direct path, but it was one that allowed him to gain the experience and expertise for his current role as the head of one of the most respected Game Commissions in the United States.
