WebSmith, Inc. was founded by Ruth Smith in 1998. Ms. Smith is a Master of Science Candidate, Forest Products Marketing, University of Minnesota. She earned a B.Sc. degree in Forest Products Marketing from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Her graduate work has focused on the development of distance education programs delivered via the Internet and CD-ROM.

In addition to her work at the University, she has extensive leadership experience as President of the University of Minnesota's Forest Products Society Student Chapter (1995-96), Chair of the College of Natural Resources Student-Faculty Board (1995-96), Treasurer of the University of Minnesota Council of College Boards (1996-97), and Chair of the Student Program for the Forest Products Society National Annual Meeting (1996). She is now president and CEO of WebSmith, Inc. and co-author of the CD-ROM The Nature of Wood and Wood Products. She has previously worked in particleboard manufacturing facilities with Weyerhaeuser Company in Klamath Falls and Springfield, Oregon and traveled widely in Asia, including trips to Hong Kong, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea, and made an around-the-world trip to 15 countries in 1997.