Grambling, La. – October 4, 2023 – Entrepreneur and Visionary D. Thanos Smith will visit Grambling State University on Thursday, Oct. 5, as part of GSU’s inaugural “Entrepreneur in Residence” series.
A lecture sponsored by GSU’s College of Business and Office of Student Affairs will begin at 11:15 a.m. Thursday in the auditorium of the university’s Nursing Building while Smith is also scheduled to visit with GSU President Rick Gallot, Provost Connie Walton, STEM Business, and other faculty members as well as holding a “fireside chat” with GSU student leaders.
Smith is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, holding multiple patents and patents pending while successfully launching multiple high-tech ventures ranging from consumer-packaged goods, oil and gas chemicals, and software development to mobility devices.
The Jamaican-born Smith was born at Up Park Camp, the headquarters of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) in Jamaica and migrated to the United States when he was an adolescent.
His most recent venture, Paragon VTOL, of which he is chief visionary officer and lead inventor, is focused on drone aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities for human transport.
Paragon VTOL is currently transitioning from smaller proof-of-concept models to working prototypes.
Smith is the founder and Chief Architect for the Green Tech Energy Company (GTEC), Clearport Worldwide, BTS Infralink, and the NV Motor Group, all of which were created to develop the necessary infrastructure for VTOL integration.
Obsessed with building aircraft since he was 6 years old when he built his first glider aircraft and launched it with a fellow neighbor on board, Smith flew single prop planes in his high school class and was obsessed with marine biology. His background in aviation and marine biology, and his adaptive learning style, have had a profound influence on the companies within the Paragon Universe to propel them to the forefront of innovation and sustainability.
Paragon VTOL is currently developing a nine-passenger VTOL to transport future passengers hundreds of miles using its proprietary technologies. Plans are underway to seek FAA certification once the technologies currently in use within the Paragon Universe meets or exceed the companies’ expectations. Various companies have been developing a portfolio of patented and patent pending technology within multiple sectors.
Some of the products of note range from carbon free energy to materials that melt ice on exterior surfaces, electrical current that is transmitted throughout the airframe that reduces the battery requirement by as much as 90%.
Smith has successfully developed several partnerships including a manufacturing relationship with the City of Brownsville Texas, research initiative with Virginia Union University (HBCU). a historically black college and university (HBCU), led by Dr Hakim Lucas to create the Paragon Universe Research and Technology Innovation Center which will create sustainable jobs within the Paragon universe and beyond. Smith plans to extend the HBCU collaboration to The University of the West Indies.
He has also pioneered technologies with global reach in the areas of disposal beverage carriers for fast food restaurants; divergent chemicals to increase oil well performance., low-speed electric cars, microgrid electricity for clean energy, and is working to develop flying cars to be used as taxis, saying he is determined to overcome bureaucratic barriers to giving back to his country.