Rocky Brands Appoints Board Member

Rocky Brands, Inc. appointed Dwight Smith as a Class I director on the company’s Board, effective January 1, 2023.

Smith has been the president and CEO of Sophisticated Systems, Inc. since July 1990, a company he founded to provide businesses with IT solutions in areas including cloud computing and cyber security. Before starting his company, Smith worked in various roles with Software Alternatives, Inc., Cullinet Software, Inc. and IBM.

Smith has served as a member of the Board of The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland since 2015 and currently serves as its Chair (his term expires on December 31, 2022). He has also served on the Board of SureImpact since February 2022, Nationwide Children’s Hospital since 2013, as a Board Member of the Highlights for Children Foundation since 2021, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of OCLC since November 2022. He previously served on the Board of Directors of State Auto Financial Corporation from 2020 to 2022, Choice Legal, Inc. from 2016 to 2022, State Auto Mutual Insurance Company from 2005 to 2022, and CTL Engineering, Inc. from 2005 to 2021. Smith has extensive civic charitable Board experience, including The Columbus Foundation, Columbus State Community College and Rev1 Ventures.

Jason Brooks, chairman, president and CEO, Rocky Brands, stated, “We are very excited to welcome Dwight to our Board of Directors. His executive leadership as the founder and CEO of a successful high-growth business, experience serving on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, along with other public and privately held companies, and expertise in the technology sector will be incredibly beneficial to our Board. His addition will strongly complement our existing board members and we believe his vision will be an asset to our company and our shareholders.”

Rocky Brands is also announced that Glenn E. Corlett and James L. Stewart have elected to retire from Rocky’s Board of Directors, effective December 31, 2022. Corlett has served on the company’s Board since 2000, including as a member of the Audit Committee, and as the prior chairman of the Audit Committee, and a previous member of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Stewart has served on Rocky’s Board since 1996, including as a Compensation Committee member, including as the prior Chairman of the Compensation Committee.

Rocky also acted to decrease the size of its Board from eleven to ten directors, effective as of January 1, 2023, in connection with the resignations and retirements of Corlett and Stewart.

Brooks said, “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the Rocky family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Jim and Glenn for their exemplary service to the company. Their impact and guidance over a combined 48 years will leave a lasting and positive impact on our company.”