Mouser Electronics, Inc. today announced the 40th company anniversary milestone of Glenn Smith, Mouser’s president and CEO.

In 1973, Pong was cutting edge in the world of video games, music came on eight-track tapes, TV viewing was limited to three networks and Glenn Smith was a college kid who went to work part-time in the warehouse of what was little more than a mom and pop electronics catalog start-up in San Diego. Smith was one of just 12 employees.

With strategic vision, Smith has built the company into a global corporation that today – four decades later – has 1,200 employees, 400,000 customers, more than $600 million annual revenue, and 19 offices on three continents.

Mouser Electronics’ president and CEO Glenn Smith stands in the hub of the company’s distribution warehouse.

Not long after Smith started at Mouser, his foresight and leadership qualities were evident. From the warehouse, he moved on to management positions at every department, including technical sales, marketing, purchasing, operations and information technology. In 1985, he was promoted to senior vice president and general manager with responsibility for day-to-day operations.

In 1986, Smith was instrumental in moving the operation to Mansfield, Texas, placing Mouser near the DFW International Airport for expanded distribution capabilities. Two years later, Smith was named company president. Fort Worth-based TTI, Inc. acquired Mouser in 2000 and by 2004, Smith was named president and CEO, a position he retained in 2007 after Mouser and TTI were acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

With his corner office door open, Smith impresses with his dedication to the industry, the company and the employees. As a small token of his thanks, Smith treated all employees to lunch to commemorate his anniversary. In attendance was TTI Chairman Paul Andrews who presented Smith with his 40-year service certificate.

“I would like to congratulate Glenn on this important milestone and for your leadership in building this successful company,” said Andrews. “Your outstanding 40-year career with Mouser has impacted the entire electronics component industry. Thank you for your commitment and dedication.”

Glenn Smith thanked employees for their devotion to their jobs and the company.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank all of the Mouser employees who have been part of this company throughout the years,” Smith said. “Each of you plays an important role. There was a time when I could ship all the orders by myself. Then and now, it takes every employee and every job to make this company work. I would not be standing here today, celebrating 40 years, without all of you. When I look back to what we were then and what we are now, I can’t help but feel a great sense of satisfaction…and we aren’t finished yet.”

Smith’s commitment to the electronics component industry led him to receive the 2011 Distinguished Service Award from the ECIA. Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors of ECIA (Electronic Component Industry Association). In 2012, Mouser Electronics received an Employer of Excellence Award from the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County for the company’s significant economic and community impact on the North Texas area.

Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is a semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 3 million products online from more than 500 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 375,000 customers in 170 countries from its 492,000 sq. ft. facility south of Dallas, Texas.