Professional photo of Brian Smith

Plante Moran Realpoint has a depth of experience and an innovative spirit unparalleled in our industry. That’s how we guarantee our clients’ success.

Brian Smith
Principal

Experience

As a principal on Plante Moran Realpoint's (PMR), formerly Plante Moran Cresa's, project management team, Brian has been involved in more than $1.8 billion of commercial, residential, and governmental development. His areas of expertise include contracting, governmental construction, planning, and management.

Brian has a background in structural engineering, architecture, and construction management. His project management knowledge spans the entire process, from inception and needs assessment to development and operations.

Prior to joining Plante Moran Realpoint, he helped plan and design, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $80 million in facilities on Fort Wainwright in Alaska. Then, as mayor of a 6,000-soldier forward operating base in eastern Iraq, he was responsible for the base’s operation and security, where he helped obtain the resources to develop the facilities to an acceptable level of safety. Brian oversaw more than 70 civilian, military, and local Iraqi construction and infrastructure projects during this time, and he managed an annual operating budget in excess of $60 million. These projects utilized the skills and services of both Iraqi contractors and the U.S. Army Core of Engineers, which lead to the Department of State’s Provincial Reconstruction Team recognizing Brian’s efforts in partnering with Iraqi venders to foster local economic development.

Brian is a commissioned Engineer Captain in the U.S. Army and a licensed attorney in Michigan. In addition, he has clerked for Chief Justice Robert Young of the Michigan Supreme Court. He has a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture (with an emphasis in structural engineering) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also has a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit’s Mercy School of Law.