Marc Smith is a government relations and public affairs professional with 28 years of experience in federal, state, and nonprofit sectors, specializing in water, wildlife, and conservation policy. As Policy Director for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Marc leads water and wildlife conservation programs from the Great Lakes office in Ann Arbor. Marc has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, the Michigan and Ohio legislatures, and multiple state and federal agencies on Great Lakes and natural resource issues.

Beyond policy work, Marc manages partnerships across the region, building strong conservation networks with NWF’s state affiliates. Previously, he directed NWF’s public lands program in Washington, D.C. In 2019, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Marc to the Great Lakes Commission.

Earlier in his career, Marc served as Senior Legislative Assistant to the late Congressman Bruce F. Vento and Congressman Robert A. Underwood, focusing on natural resources, environmental cleanup, and military land management issues.