Smith Warren CFO Kevin Smith announced he would be retaining an attorney one day after his husband, Keith Warren, said he was stepping down as CEO of the occupational licensing management firm.
Smith told 1819 News in an interview on Thursday he’d been with the company for seven years but stepped away briefly last fall after having a nervous breakdown and again in June to take care of his family.
“I haven’t done a darn thing wrong,” Smith said.
Smith said he was retaining an attorney to “protect myself.”
“I have retained an attorney to protect myself this morning. Depending on what happens with the company over the next week, I’ll make my decision on where I want to go,” Smith said.
Smith said there was recently an “insinuation” from one of the boards the firm manages that he was embezzling money.
“There was an insinuation in a board meeting with the electrical contractor's board and their attorney, and there was an allegation in the conversation about me embezzling money,” Smith said. “I wasn’t asked any questions. I wasn’t asked to defend myself. All I could say was, ‘I didn’t do it.’ The Examiners of Public Accounts, their audits showed that I didn’t do it. So, I’m kind of passed that. Now, the next page is they’re saying that Keith has done something wrong. We may be married. We may work together. I don’t think that he has done anything wrong. He may have not have done something as quickly as somebody wanted. I believe that’s the case with the Massage Therapy Board. I think the Sunset Committee made some recommendations last year. Twelve months rocked along, things didn’t happen, and I think that was why it was pulled from our company. He hasn’t done anything wrong. Maybe he’s been a little slow.”
According to one legislator, a legislative committee in 2023 endorsed ending the Board of Massage Therapy after an audit found a “laundry list” of issues. Smith Warren manages 14 occupational licensing boards.
Smith said criticism of the company was due to “a lot of jealousy.”
“I think, unfortunately, some of these people see these contract amounts, and they think that we’re sitting over here in our house counting $2 million a year. Well, the reality is $120,000 of that went to Blue Cross, $100,000 of that went to payroll, we have a mortgage on Zelda Road. We’re not sitting over here counting $2 million,” Smith said.
Warren said in a statement on Thursday that his resignation as CEO while still being the company's owner and president would “allow me to focus on high-level strategic and crisis-related matters that the Boards often face.”
“To clarify, my role as Executive Director will remain central to our organization and the service we provide to the boards,” Warren said. “I will concentrate on attending agency board meetings, participating in contract planning and RFP proposals, and interacting with board members to ensure your needs are heard and addressed. The only significant change is that our capable licensing managers and staff will now handle minor issues, freeing me to address higher-priority concerns. Historically, I have been occupied with simple licensing inquiries, which has prevented me from performing other crucial duties expected of a board director. My goal is to utilize our staff more efficiently, creating a hierarchy of duties that aligns with everyone’s roles. My strong language to the staff, sharply delineating internal duties, was intended to ensure that my service to the boards is no longer distracted by licensing issues that our staff is fully capable of handling.”
He continued, “Mr. Brannon Littleton, in his expanded capacity, will handle day-to-day corporate operations, including personnel concerns, corporate finances, and the accounting services provided to the boards. This division of responsibilities ensures that our experienced and knowledgeable staff can effectively field calls and manage routine inquiries, allowing me to focus on critical issues. Brannon has extensive financial and management experience and has my full trust and confidence, as does every member of my experienced staff.”
“Our objective with these changes is to enhance our service delivery, build a stronger team, and be more responsible to the needs of the boards we serve. We are committed to maintaining a high level of service and support and continually striving to improve our operations for the benefit of these boards, their members and licensees, and the people of the state of Alabama. All of our contracts are public record and will be provided as requested,” Warren said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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