Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith began his career as an entrepreneur and tech CEO at the age of 23. Between 1998 and 2009, he co-founded three tech companies and exited each via private and public exists. Lauded for his entrepreneurial prowess and investment acumen, Andrew is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Savory Fund, an innovative private equity firm that invests in emerging restaurant brands.
Under Andrew’s visionary leadership, Savory has grown to oversee assets exceeding $750 million by investing in category-defining brands such as Swig, Mo’ Bettahs, Houston TX Hot Chicken, South Block, and Hawkers Asian Street Food. In 2017, Andrew was conferred with the esteemed EY Entrepreneur of the Year® award, closely followed by honors like KPMG’s Quantum Award, BusinessQ’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and the UV50 Triple Crown Award in 2018. A family man at heart, Andrew has been happily married for 26 years to Shauna Smith. Together, they are proud parents of two boys and a wonderful daughter-in-law.
Sponsored by
Interns
Dalton Klinger
A recent graduate of Utah Tech University, previously served as the intern for Elkington Founder Speaker Series, where he helped create meaningful opportunities for connections across campus. During his time with the Series. Dalton, focused on event coordination, community outreach, and student engagement to help make each event, impactful and memorable. Now working at the St. George Area Chamber Of Commerce, he continues to foster collaboration, strength, and Community relationships, and promote growth across southern Utah.
Moani Iokia
Moani Iokia is a freshman at Utah Tech University studying Hospitality and Tourism. She is passionate about community building and meaningful connection, and she strives to create memorable experiences through her work with the Elkington Speaker Series. Inspired by her love of travel and cultural exploration, Moani is dedicated to delivering compassionate customer service and maintaining strong attention to detail in every interaction. She enjoys working closely with both speakers and students to foster a welcoming and engaging atmosphere, and she looks forward to helping create impactful and engaging events throughout the series.
Meet Elkington Student Intern - Eddy Ryan
Eddy Ryan, is a Senior Finance student at Utah Tech University, is dedicated to creating opportunities for dialogue and growth through the Elkington Speaker Series. His academic interests and professional goals center on investments and wealth management, and he is enthusiastic about collaborating with speakers and students alike. Eddy values the chance to help make the series a memorable and impactful part of the university experience for every student!
Events
Spring 2026
Andrew Smith, Savory Fund
January 22, 2026