Meg Smith ’12 Named a ‘40 Under 40’ by The Roanoker Magazine The chief operating officer for MKB, Realtors was recognized for her significant impact on the real estate industry and community in Southwest Virginia.

By Laura Lemon
February 11, 2025

Meg-Smith-headshot-plaid-scaled-e1739288379286 Meg Smith ’12 Named a ‘40 Under 40’ by The Roanoker Magazine

The Roanoker Magazine highlighted Meg Smith ’12 on its “40 Under 40” list for 2025. The annual list acknowledges the young professionals and leaders who are making an impact in Virginia’s Roanoke Valley and shaping the future landscape of the region.

Smith, who grew up in Roanoke, works as the chief operating officer for MKB, Realtors, which is the largest independent brokerage company in Southwest Virginia with 215 Realtors, seven offices and approximately $450 million in annual sales. In addition, she was the youngest president to be elected to the board of directors for the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors, and she currently chairs the Virginia Realtors Member Communications Committee and acts as vice chair for the MLS Policy and Credentials Committee. She’s active professionally on the local, state and national levels, serving as a member of the National Association of Realtors Consumer Communications Committee and the Realtors Political Committee Fundraising Trustees, and is a graduate of the Virginia Realtors Leadership Academy and a member of the City of Roanoke Board of Zoning Appeals.

In 2023, to celebrate MKB, Realtors’ 50th anniversary, Smith spearheaded the “50 for 50” campaign, which encouraged MKB agents to volunteer at least 50 hours of community service to local nonprofits. She also worked with MKB to host a gala to fundraise for Renovation Alliance, which seeks to improve the homes and lives of low-income residents in the area. The gala raised more than $131,000 for the organization.

“I’ve been lucky in a lot of ways that have brought me to a position with a voice in the community,” Smith told The Roanoker. “Not everyone has the blessings that I have been afforded, and I would be remiss if I don’t use my position to make an impact outside of the normal course of business. I hope that I’m able to use that to benefit people beyond myself.”

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Daily W&L Reminders

Meg Smith graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2012 as a business administration and philosophy double major. And W&L, she said, continuously weaves into her daily life.

“In small ways, I’m reminded of my time at Washington and Lee nearly every day,” she said. “I still feel giddy each time I see the W&L emblem on a bumper sticker or meet someone wearing Generals attire; there’s an immediate sense of connection. And in larger ways, parts of my life revolve around my time spent at the university. Some of my very best friends are still the ones I made in my college days; we talk on the phone often, travel together, celebrate each other. I’ve also had recent and lasting business connections with fellow alumni, which I anticipate will continue to grow. I’m proud of my alma mater and will always enjoy the thread it draws through my future.”