Ken Smith, Chief Executive Officer

Ken Smith is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Traders, Inc., a foodservice distribution company, in Temecula, California. Southwest Traders, Inc. specializes in providing Distribution Solutions within the foodservice industry.

Ken began his business career in the summer of 1976, as a one van operation delivering natural foods and fresh juices to customers in North San Diego County.

Today, Southwest Traders boasts 7 warehouse locations in 4 states, capable of handling 4 temperature zones, providing coverage to 17 western states, carrying 3,500 different products, and employing over 550 fulltime people.

Southwest Traders, Inc. services nearly 4,500 customer locations including Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Schlotzsky’s, Baskin Robbins, Church's Chicken, Cinnabon, Golden Spoon, Juice It Up!, TCBY, and many others.

Between 1986 and 2004, Ken Smith was a member of The Executive Committee (TEC 29). In 1999, Southwest Traders, Inc. won the coveted Ernst and Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award that honors entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, hard work, and perseverance have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures. Ken has been a member of the Executive Forum out of Riverside since 2006. Ken also seats on the Arsenal Football Club Board of Directors.

Ken founded Southwest Soccer Club, an elite youth soccer club, and built the John Blanche Soccer Complex both located in Temecula, California. Ken is also a strong supporter of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Wrestling Program and Temecula Valley High School Wrestling Program. Ken is proud of the support he provides the community in which his family and he both work and live.

Ken was born in Norfolk, Virginia and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Wheeling High School in Wheeling, Illinois. Between 1974 and 1976, Ken attended Louisiana State University on a wrestling scholarship.

In 1983, Ken married his wife Christina DeMatteis. Ken and Tina have been living and raising their five boys in Temecula, California since 1998. Kenny is a sales representative for SWT, Blaine is a recent graduate of the University of San Diego with a degree in business & finance. He is currently working in San Diego in the financial planning arena and he also works with Ken managing the families real estate holdings. Brad and Ryan attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Ryan wrestles on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Wrestling team. Keegan attends Temecula Valley High School and he is currently in the National pool for 1993 soccer players.

Both on and off the field and the wrestling matt, Ken's personal belief is that success comes from having clear stated goals, focused and measured sustained efforts and partnering with capable & good people.