Freeport LNG Founder and CSU Alum Michael Smith on Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Giving Back to CSU

Описание: How does a CSU chemistry student from New York end up leading one of the largest liquefied natural gas export facilities in the world? In this episode of The Next 150, President Amy Parsons sits down with Michael Smith, founder, chairman, and CEO of Freeport LNG. Michael shares the pivotal moments that shaped his path—from studying chemistry and math at CSU in the 1970s to founding Basin Exploration in Fort Collins to launching and leading Freeport LNG. The conversation explores what it takes to build companies that last, the role luck plays in success, and why giving back to CSU matters to him. His support has created full-tuition scholarships in the Colleges of Business, Natural Resources, and Natural Sciences, along with the Michael Smith Natural Resources Building and the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center. Plus, hear Michael's advice on following your passion, taking chances, and preparing for a changing world.

More about Michael Smith:

Michael Smith founded Freeport LNG Development, L.P. in 2002 and serves as the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Freeport LNG has become the seventh-largest LNG export facility in the world and the second-largest in the United States. The facility is the largest all-electric liquefaction plant of its kind, reducing carbon emissions by more than 90 percent compared to gas turbine-driven facilities.

Prior to Freeport LNG, Michael founded Basin Exploration, Inc. in Fort Collins in 1981, building it into a publicly traded oil and gas company and serving as Chairman, CEO, and President until its sale in 2001.

Michael has served on numerous business and community boards across Colorado, including National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Colorado Ocean Journey, and the Colorado Governor's Minerals, Energy, Geology Policy Advisory Board.

Colorado State University awarded Michael an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2008. His wife, Iris, also supports CSU through the Flint Animal Cancer Center and One Cure within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Key Moments
05:07-6:01 - Moving to Colorado
06:35-7:23 - Working Hard and Getting Lucky
07:03-9:00 - Real Estate to Liquefied Natural Gas
29:00-30:00 - Learning to Delegate
31:01-33:26 - Advice for Students: Follow Your Passion
35:01-35:46 - Adapt to Change