Thirty Under 30: Tyler Smith

Meet Tyler Smith, one of the outstanding young professionals of NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2021, in this exclusive series.

By Donna Heiderstadt

Tyler Smith

Fisher & Paykel, DCS Appliances

Southern California Chapter

Tyler Smith, Experience Center Manager at Fisher & Paykel in Costa Mesa, Calif., starts his day at 8 am with a freshly-made Americano from one of the company’s coffee systems and then typically meets with designers, architects or consumers in the midst of a remodel. At some point, he also heads to a job site to review appliance orders or check on installation. It’s all part of a job he views as integral to making his customers’ dream kitchens come true. “I love that they value my opinion and trust me with what I think will work,” he says. “There’s nothing like visiting a home once the project is completed and seeing the huge smile on the client’s face.”

“There’s nothing like visiting a home once the project is completed and seeing the huge smile on the client’s face.”

But it’s the initial sale that keeps Tyler, who describes himself as “competitive,” motivated. “It might not be the most glamorous trait, but I think it’s helped me get to where I am today,” he says, noting that he played soccer growing up and got as far as semi-professional. “That is where the trait comes from. If I see a new project coming up, I want my company’s appliances in there and will give it everything I have to make that happen. I love the thrill of getting our product specified into a job.”

When he’s not scoring sales — a favorite project was a 312-unit luxury high-rise in La Jolla — Tyler can be found coaching youth soccer, going for runs (he’s training for a half Ironman) with his high-energy maltipoo Leo and refueling during dinner with his wife. “I love to cook. I just finished three months of culinary school,” he says. “There’s nothing better than seeing people happy and enjoying your food.” Tyler and his wife also enjoy traveling and count Barcelona, Thailand and Cabo San Lucas as favorite destinations. His life goals are equally compelling: working in a commercial kitchen, visiting every National Park, skiing in France and taking a world cruise. “The list,” he says, “will never end!”