Smitty has served as state director of Public Citizen since 1985 and serves on the boards of Clean Water Action, the Texas Wind Power Coalition, Texans for Public Justice, Campaigns for People, the Clean Energy Project of CEERT, a nature preserve, and a solar energy company.   He has recently received the Thomas Paine award from Campaigns for People, 2001 Austin Chronicle's critics choice award for "Best People's Lobbyist" as well as an U.S. EPA "Environmental Excellence Award."