Tina Smith is Minnesota's 48th Lt. Governor. Since taking office in January 2015, Tina has focused on building an economy that works for all Minnesotans - championing issues including rural broadband internet access, expanding access to early learning, and supporting statewide job creation.
Tina leads the Destination Medical Center initiative - a multi-billion dollar public-private partnership to make Rochester America's City for Health. The DMC is expected to create 35,000 to 45,000 new jobs in southeast Minnesota, and attract over $5 billion in private investment over the next 20 years.
Before being elected Lt. Governor, Tina served as Governor Dayton's Chief of Staff. In that role, she managed the daily operation of state government, an enterprise with more than 35,000 employees. Tina led the Administration's Better Government Initiative to make government work better for people - speeding up permitting times, making government documents and forms easier to understand, and saving taxpayer money through more efficient, more customer-friendly services.
Prior to her state service, Tina served as Chief of Staff for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. After the 35-W Bridge collapse in 2007, Tina worked with the Pawlenty Administration and Minnesota's federal delegation to secure fast-track funding and rebuild the bridge in record time.
Tina moved to Minnesota in 1984 for a job in marketing at General Mills. She left General Mills to start a small business that served state and national businesses and nonprofits.
Tina graduated from Stanford University and earned an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Before attending college, she worked in Prudhoe Bay on the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline.
Tina and her husband Archie have been married for more than 30 years. They have two sons, Sam and Mason, who also live in Minnesota.
