Marlene Smith

Marlene Smith. , Marlene Carlson married Willard Smith, founder of Plastic Products Company (PPC), in 1973. Following Willard's untimely death in 1975, Marlene assumed control of Plastic Products. She diversified the client base and turned the struggling company into a thriving award-winning business with nine factories in six states., PPC is now one of North America's largest manufacturers of custom plastic, metal and ceramic injection molding products. Marlene loved her employees and after she retired, she sold PPC to them through an employee stock ownership plan., Marlene became one of the earliest members of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. In 2014, she was inducted into the Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame. She was also a member of the highly exclusive Committee of 200 (C-200), an invitation-only membership organization of the world's most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders., Marlene Smith's influence on the Chisago Lakes Community extended beyond her business expertise. Her philanthropy is legendary. There wasn't a local cause that Marlene did not support financially when requested. Passionate about local history, for more than two decades she improved the community by preserving historic buildings and landmarks that attract thousands of visitors to the area. Her generosity turned Lindstrom's water tower into a Swedish coffee pot, a project PPC continues to maintain., Marlene's proudest accomplishment, however, was her four children, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and now great-great grandchildren. Marlene Smith had a life well-lived and it is appropriate that we now honor her with a landmark to be remembered for future generations., Dedicated on the 8th day of October, 2016