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Resident Loves Her Taxing Job

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Penny Smith, 55, and her husband, John, own three H&R Block franchise offices and three EXPRESSTAX outlets in South Shore.

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: January 14, 2009

RUSKIN - Penny Smith is well-known throughout the South Shore community, but she's especially popular this time of year.

She and her husband, John, a.k.a. the honorary mayor of Ruskin, own three H&R Block franchises in Apollo Beach, Ruskin and Sun City Center, plus three EXPRESSTAX outlets in Wimauma, Gibsonton and Summerfield. So she'll be seeing lots of old friends and making many new ones between now and April 15, when the regular tax season ends.

Smith was born in North Hampton and lived in England until she was 20-something. She came to Auburndale, Fla., in 1982 after vacationing in Apollo Beach a couple of times with her first husband. Four years later, she became a permanent resident and raised her daughter, Joannah, in the United States.

Prior to her association with H&R Block, Smith worked in retail management and kept books for a couple of law firms. While working at one of the firms in Lakeland, she earned a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Warner Southern College in Lake Wales, attending classes on Saturdays and one night each week.

Separated from her first husband in 1990, Smith met her future second husband through a mutual friend at a comedy club in Winter Haven in March, 1991. They married the following June.

Smith's relationship with H&R Block blossomed two years later, when she accepted a job with the West Central Florida franchise. She did taxes for a year, and then went into management. By 1996, she was the district manager for the Winter Haven area.

In 2002, Smith moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and continued climbing the corporate ladder with the company. She served as district manager for West Texas and part of New Mexico, then as regional director for five states in the Pacific Northwest, supporting 125 franchisees in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

Meanwhile, John Smith was working as a manager for a franchise owner in Seattle. In 2006, they planned to buy a franchise of their own in North Carolina, but the deal fell through. Instead, they bought the South Hillsborough franchise owned by Linda and Dennis Radnoti of Riverview.

"Owning a franchise was my long-range goal," Penny Smith said.

"I like this much more than corporate work because I'm able to help people directly by getting them in better financial positions for the next year."

During the tax season, her franchise employs 24 people, but Smith said her goal now is to build the payroll bookkeeping side of the business.

"That's so we don't have to be so dependent on the tax season," she said.

Smith, 55, said South Shore has been very supportive of the franchise.

"I love this community," she said. "It's a great place to build a small business. This is the first time in many years that John and I feel we really have friends.

"And I believe in giving back to the community," she said. "In a big city, you're one of millions. In a community like South Shore, you can really make difference."

Smith earned a master's degree in business communication online from Jones International University in 2006. She is president of the local chapter of the American Business Women's Association, a support group for professional women that helps them develop their skills and advance their careers. She is also a member of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the Mary and Martha House, a shelter for battered women and their children in Ruskin.

GETTING TO KNOW PENNY SMITH

AGE: 55

RESIDENCE: Ruskin

PROFESSION: H&R Block franchise owner

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, organizational management, Warner Southern College, Lake Wales; master's degree, business communication, Jones International University, online

PERSONAL: Married to John Smith; daughter, Joannah, 33; grandson, Ethan, 5; a dog, two cats and a kitten

HERO: Jim Elsigood, her dad, a retired policeman of 34 years

VANILLA OR CHOCOLATE: Definitely a "chocaholic"

MOST ADMIRES: Ethics; people who keep who keep their word

IDEA OF FUN: Spending time at the beach

BEST FRIEND: Diane Miramar

FAVORITE FOOD: Besides chocolate, "probably cheese"

Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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