Tamika Smith, the Chief Operations Officer at NACDD, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in driving operational excellence, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership. She is a results-driven transformational leader who drives innovation and growth strategies to shape high-performing portfolios. With a proven track record of successfully implementing and executing business strategies, she is committed to optimizing the company’s operational performance, fostering innovation, and delivering outstanding results.

Tamika holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, GA. This degree has led to a rewarding career of over 18 years in commercial, hospitality, and residential design. In 2011 she joined NACDD to manage member services initiatives and led the creative direction for all marketing collateral for the Association. Moving from the corporate to the nonprofit sector inspired her desire for mission-driven work, leading her to pursue a Master of Science in Management and Leadership and an MBA from Western Governor’s University in Salt Lake City, UT, where she built a strong foundation in organizational management. Her academic background and natural leadership abilities have enabled her to drive operational efficiency while managing complex projects consistently.

In 2018 Tamika was selected to train other association management professionals at the Community Brands Annual Conference on practical techniques for tracking and measuring member engagement.

Throughout Tamika’s career at NACDD, she has held various leadership roles, honing skills that solidify her position as an exceptional leader in operations management, such as project management, strategic planning, business analysis, and process improvement. Furthermore, alongside extensive operational experience, Tamika excels at building high-performing teams by establishing trust with key decision-makers and solving complex problems while delivering on organizational goals through fostering diversity and inclusion within the team culture. Her ability to effectively align cross-functional teams has contributed to organizational growth and success.

Outside of work, Tamika is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and giving back to the community. She also enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with her family.