Copyright By Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation
143 Pelican Cove Dr. Rockwall TX 75087
214-256-4071 or email us at jj@lilliansmith.org
Meet J.J. Smith
Foundation founder and president J.J. Smith is a veteran advertising and public relations consultant, with a 30+ year career in media and marketing in Texas, Louisiana and Wisconsin. During that time he's worked with some of the nation's leading brands, including Exxon, General Motors, Macy's, Six Flags Over Texas, Southwest Airlines and The Dallas Cowboys.
During his career he's written and placed literally thousands of broadcast and print news stories in leading newspapers, as well as local and national radio and TV stations, including CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN.
He's created and produced hundreds of radio, TV and print ads, plus sold and negotiated over $9 million worth of broadcast ads, while managing accounts for Chevrolet, Houston's Republican Party, ReMax Realtors, The Houston Astros, The Houston Chronicle and The Houston Rockets.
For 15 years he worked as a radio/TV advertising sales/promotions account manager in Dallas and Houston. In "the Big D," he worked for The Dallas Cowboys Radio Network, "Lite Rock" 103.7 KVIL and "Classic Rock" 92.5 KZPS. In Houston he spent eight years at Warner Cable TV, plus worked at 100.7 KILT "Country," 93.7 "KLITE," "Oldies" 98.7 KFMK and "NewsTalk" 950 KPRC-AM.
He currently owns and publishes the leading headline news and information service in Rockwall County TX called TheRockwallNews.com - "First with the News You Want to Click!"
Established in May, 2009, the state-of-the-art website now has a monthly readership of over 7,000 people, generates over 35,000 page views per month and is growing fast. It is a content partner with The Dallas Morning News, Rockwall/Rowlett/Heath Neighbors Go and PegasusNews.com.
When J.J. was just 10-years-old, he witnessed his abusive father break into their apartment in the middle of the night, shoot and kill his mom and then turn the gun on himself and commit suicide (see news articles below). This concluded years of abuse experienced by their family.
Fortunately, little "Johnny," as he was then called, had four loving older brothers and sisters who arranged for immediate psychiatric care, plus provided much love and support as they all worked together through the shock and grief they experienced.
As a young boy there was little he could do to protect his mother. But, beginning in 2000, he realized there was something he could do to assist other victims.
After reading about the deaths of numerous women and children, he began volunteering for the Family Place women's shelter in Dallas. Soon after learning from leaders of DFW women's shelters how much public awareness and education about the subject were needed, J.J. began putting his years of marketing and media experience to work.
After bringing together several family violence surivivors, he spearheaded a multi-media public information campaign across Dallas-Ft. Worth to teach domestic violence victims how and where to find help. Their efforts generated over $200,000 worth of news reports and PSAs. Over 40 volunteers joined him, including many of the survivors.
Unfortunately, the tragic events of 9-11 caused so many funding sources to dry up that J.J. had to disband the non-profit until the economy improved.
Never losing his passion, he established the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation in 2006, focusing their efforts instead on increasing awareness on where they now lived in fast-growing Rockwall County, east of Dallas, rather than targeting the entire six million people across the DFW Metroplex.
In 2009, they began branching out again across Northeast Texas to persuade and empower more and more people to put a stop to family violence.
In he hosted a local talk radio show called "When Love Hurts," with survivor Katie Clemens, interviewing dozens of community leaders in Hunt and Rockwall Counties about efforts to prevent and stop family violence
plus organize and speak at special events across Dallas-Ft. Worth.
For his efforts "to make family violence a community issue rather than just a women's issue" he was nominated and a finalist for The Family Place Women's Shelter award in 2008 for the "Man of Distinction," which ultimately went to the CEO of Parkland Hospital.
As a result of these relationships, he feeds stories to major DFW media. He also blogs regularly at Rockwall Rocks! and heads his own advertising/public relations agency for Rockall/Rowlett area clients.
He began his career as a newspaper reporter and award-winning sports editor after graduating from Brigham Young University in Provo UT with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He also attended the University of Colorado in Boulder.
During his college years, he converted and voluntarily served in Germany for two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Throughout the years he's continued to serve in the church, plus been active in communities where he's lived in Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Club and as a youth basketball coach for his sons' teams.
J.J., his wife, Roxana, and teen-age daughter reside in Rockwall, just east of Dallas. He has eight older children from his first marriage and ten grandchildren.
COPYRIGHT 2010 Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation. All rights reserved.
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