Judy Smith
The lead actress of the ABC political thriller, Scandal, is Kerry Washington and her character, Olivia Pope, is partially based on former George H. W. Bush administration press aide, Judy Smith.
Ms. Smith, who serves as the television series co-executive producer, will visit the Scenic City on Feb. 4 to keynote the Bessie Smith Cultural Center’s Anniversary Luncheon. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel.
"This will be Ms. Smith first visit to Chattanooga and we are extremely thrilled and fortunate to have her,” said Stacy Lightfoot, vice president of College & Career Access at the Public Education Foundation and Event Chair of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center’s Anniversary Luncheon. “We are anticipating a great turnout due to her overwhelming popularity of being the inspiration behind ABC’s hit series, Scandal. We encourage the community to join us as we celebrate the achievements of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and to meet the real Olivia Pope.”
In addition to her being the co-executive producer of ABC’s Scandal, Ms. Smith is the founder and President of Smith & Company, a leading strategic and crisis communications firm with offices in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Over the last 25 years, Ms. Smith has brought her combination of communication skills, media savvy, legal and political acumen to clients facing a wide array of issues and challenges throughout the United States and abroad.
Ms. Smith honed her skills through her experiences with some of the most historic and sensational events of our time, including the Iran Contra investigation, the 1991 Gulf War, the Los Angeles riots, the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas, the congressional inquiry of Enron, the General Petraeus CIA scandal, and the United Nations Foundation and World Health Organization response to the SARS epidemic.
Tables are now available for purchase along with a limited number of tickets for general seating. To purchase tickets, tables and to learn more about corporate sponsorships – including an exclusive meet-and-greet with Ms. Smith, call 266-8658 or visit www.bessiesmithcc.org.