Smith Optics has appointed JP Collett to the position of Surf Promotions Manager. Collett comes from a long and illustrious relationship with Smith Optics which began as an intern and team rider back in the 1990s. JP methodically crawled his way up the ladder seeing his role in Smiths Southern Californian operations grow from BBQ and megaphone operator to regional team surfer and snowboarder to ultimately becoming a merchandising/marketing specialist supporting Smiths visual presentation and in-store promotions in the SoCal surf market.
“JP has been a part of the Smith team since he was a grom intern with our Southern California office and were very excited about this new opportunity for him. His personality, intelligence, humbleness and drive make him a perfect fit for the position and for our brand. I look forward to JP putting his fingerprint on our surf marketing and promotions,” said Smith Optics marketing director, Tag Kleiner.
In his new position, Collett will not only manage Smiths stacked roster surf team athletes but oversee promotional events and projects and act as a key liaison to the endemic surf and action sports media.
Collett grew up in Newport Beach, CA and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder earning a degree in marketing. After graduating, JPs passion for surfing and the Smith brand brought him back to SoCal where he rejoined the Smith team and worked alongside then-surf promotions manager, Scott “Pod” Banuelos, assisting in promoting the brand in the Orange County, San Diego, and Los Angeles area markets.
Collett takes over the reigns from Pod who has left Smith with an enviable team of young up and coming rippers as well as a solid core of established WQS and WCT surfers including Pancho Sullivan, Bobby Martinez and CJ Hobgood. “Poddy Dukes” has moved on to Rusty where he is director of marketing, and everyone at Smith would like to thank him for his dedication and wish him great success in his new role.
