As senior vice president of business development, Russell (Rusty) Smith is responsible for companywide marketing and business development efforts, including growing brand awareness and enhancing customer engagement. Rusty joined LeChase in 2014 as regional director of business development for the Southern Tier region of New York, having previously served as vice president and partner of a construction firm in Ithaca, N.Y. Prior to that, he spent 16 years in business development and management roles at another construction firm in the region. He was promoted to corporate business development director in late 2016, became vice president in early 2018, and was named senior vice president in 2025.