Eric Smidt

Husband and dad of twins. VP, Marketing & Communications @AmesAlliance. Editor of TRACTION magazine. Documentary filmmaker. AREA Pod host. Bass guitar blues.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

This weekend was our 23rd wedding anniversary. We do life together in a big way, and when it feels a bit crazy at times, and highly scheduled most of the time, there is no one else I’d rather to take a selfie with. Happy anniversary, Karen!

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

A fun delivery showed up this week: our Communicator Awards statue for the AREA Podcast from the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. Thank you to everyone who has joined us as a guest, listened to an episode, or supported the project along the way.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Went to check out a robot yesterday that’s still under development with Invasive Removal, currently located at the Iowa State University Research Park. Once finished, the robot will serve as a smart solution for identifying and removing invasive species.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Thanks to Grace Larkey, Community Affairs Advisor at Chevron, for recently joining me on the AREA Podcast. One of the biggest topics we talked about is getting involved in the community and how it can shape a career. The new episode next week.
https://t.co/NZ13EuKHr6

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

The annual last day of school party was a big success Friday night. Here’s to summer beginning!

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

That's a wrap on seventh grade for these two!

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Thanks to KHOI Community Radio and host Anne Kinzel for having me on this morning to talk documentary filmmaking, the Ames Documentary Film Festival, and our new "Doc Talk" collaboration.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Check out part of my conversation with Paul Shirley on episode #023 of the AREA Podcast from the @AmesAlliance. One common misconception about the arts or the creative process is that people are simply born talented at what they do. https://t.co/NZ13EuKHr6

[Ames Regional Economic Alliance @AmesAlliance]

Paul Shirley, a Former Iowa State Cyclone basketball player turned author, talks about the hard work behind the creative process on Episode #023 of the AREA Podcast. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! https://t.co/FI13pHTkzM

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

TRACTION Issue 15 from the @AmesAlliance is officially off to the printers! New leadership, community projects, business profiles, and highlighting why Ames is a great place to live, work, and play, are all part of the upcoming edition, out in mid-June!
https://t.co/dO0UjuLuVd

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Episode #023 of the AREA Podcast is live! Thanks to former Iowa State basketball player turned author, Paul Shirley, for taking the time to join me on the podcast. This was one that resonated with me as we talked about loving the process to be creative. https://t.co/NZ13EuKHr6

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

I’m excited to share that our short doc, Urban Mining, has officially been accepted into the 2026 Interrobang Film Festival, part of the Des Moines Arts Festival. The film will screen June 26–28. We’ll share more details as they become available.
https://t.co/cWoNZ71ilF

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Over the past year, we’ve brought the brand to life through print publications, large banners, social media content, and even wrapping a Fareway semi trailer. Seeing the platform grow to more than 300K social media views has been exciting! Cheers to year two!

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

One year ago today, we launched the Live Work Play in Ames brand, a concept adapted after our visit to Fargo, ND. It has been an incredibly fun brand to work on from a design and content development standpoint, while also creating a new avenue for @AmesAlliance storytelling.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Thanks to former ISU Cyclone basketball player Paul Shirley for recently joining me on the AREA Podcast. One of my favorite parts of the conversation was discussing the discipline and consistency it takes to be creative. Habits and focus matter. The new episode drops next week.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Night one of Pizza Pie Looza is in the books with Fuel rocking Nevada. Karen and I first saw the band in 2001, and although some of the members are different, including their lead singer who was on The Voice, it was a lot of fun.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

It was some serious work and a lot of fun at the Heartland Red Foundation Charity Golf Tournament.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

On location recently at Technical Services of Iowa with Vice President Grant Simpson. We toured the entire manufacturing facility and got a behind-the-scenes look at how they custom design machines and parts in a high-mix, low-volume environment. Traction story coming in June.

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

It was an absolutely beautiful morning for the opening day of the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market!

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

Episode #022 of the AREA Podcast is live! Thanks you to Brent Shanks, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Pyrone Systems, for taking the time to join me on the podcast. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
https://t.co/NZ13EuKHr6

[Eric Smidt @esmidt]

It was great to connect with Iowa State Football players yesterday to talk marketing and communications at their annual Professionalism Pro Day. We had a great conversation about life after football and they had some really engaging questions.