"We may not be the biggest, but we have a firm conviction that we can be the best"

-Legendary Athletic Trainer Horace Pieri

Company History


Smyth Industries, Inc. has been serving the water and reclamation industry throughout Arizona and the southwest since the company’s inception as Smyth Steel Manufacturing in 1980. We’ve grown from our steel tank fabrication and specialty manufacturing origins, into a full-service water and reclamation industry General Contractor over those years. Self-performing the majority of construction disciplines on our projects allows us to provide our clients continuity from engineering through construction and final commissioning.
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Smyth Industries is named after the company’s founder, Gary Smyth, a talented builder and creator, who is a fixture in the water resources industry. He was supported in growing the company by many long-time Smyth Industries employees who are subject-matter experts in their fields of specialty.

Gary handed over the reins to the next generation in 2018, when Thomas A. Martinez, PE and Ryan Benavides, MPA, both industry experts in their own right, took over management of the company. Under their leadership and that of their talented team of co-creators, the company continues to grow in capacity and expertise every year. 

The leadership/management team and employees at Smyth Industries are excited to “build the future” of the water and reclamation industry, and we look forward to working with our esteemed clients every day.

Meet Our Team

Thomas A. Martinez, P.E.

President/Owner

Thom joined Smyth in 2017, after a long and successful career in engineering consulting. He brings a service industry mindset to the construction industry, which has fundamentally changed the way Smyth communicates with clients and runs projects. Thom is an Arizona native, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in downtown Phoenix, before moving to Tucson to pursue his Civil Engineering degree and career. ​
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Ryan Benavides, MPA

Vice President/Owner

Ryan joined Smyth Industries in 2017, after a career in public works as the City of Willcox Director of Public Services and Works and Town of Marana Director of Public Works. He brings this administration and contracting expertise to Smyth projects and to company operations. Ryan grew up in Willcox Arizona and served honorably in the United States Marine Corps for nine years.​

Jodi Benavides

Corporate Administrator

Jodi has over 20 years of experience in administrative management, and joined Smyth Industries in 2019. With a background in banking, accounting, and business operations in various industries, she oversees all aspects of the company administrative operations and keeps the back-of-house running smoothly. Jodi grew up in Willcox, Arizona and traveled the country during Ryan’s military career before settling in Tucson.    ​

Steve Stratton

Director of Field Services

Steve has more than 35 years of civil construction experience, and uses that experience to oversee all construction projects for Smyth. Steve was the Public Works Director for Gila County for 12 years, and the City Administrator and Public Works Director for the City of Globe. Steve managed heavy civil construction projects for Sundt and worked in the construction and construction materials industries for a number of years.

Kara D. Festa, P.E.

Director of Engineering

Kara joined Smyth to provide support in various aspects of engineering and business operations. She has been a consulting engineer in the water and reclamation industry for more than 25 years, and was an owner at an engineering and environmental consulting firm prior to joining Smyth. Kara grew up in Sierra Vista and attended the University of Arizona, getting a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Environmental Engineering.

Don Sawade

Well & Pump Division Manager

Don brings more than 30 years of professional experience related to the groundwater industry to Smyth clients. He is the qualifying party for Smyth’s Arizona Department of Water Resources well permit and is a National Ground Water Association Registered Water Well and Pump Contractor. Don has extensive experience in groundwater resources, drilling, and well and pump maintenance, rehabilitation and repair. Don grew up and worked in the well industry in Michigan and moved to Tucson for the weather and opportunities.  ​

David Allen

Safety Coordinator

David has 8 years of experience in safety management and training for construction and mining organizations throughout Arizona. His experience and full-time presence and guidance has brought Smyth’s safety culture to the next level. Prior to his career in health and safety, Mr. Allen was a sheriff’s deputy in the Graham County Sheriff’s Department. David grew up in Willcox, Arizona.
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Michael Maserang

Shop Division Manager

Michael has been working at Smyth since 2005. He oversees the vessel manufacturing operations and is responsible for the quality control program for the ASME ‘U’ stamp. Michael has more than 40 years of experience in the ASME code field, is Certified ASME 6-G, and has worked in the water resources arena for the majority of his career.  Michael lived and worked in Texas for the first part of his career, working in the tank construction and vessel construction industry, and then moved to Tucson. ​

Lucien Forger

Tank Division Manager

Lucien has been with Smyth Industries since 2005 and is ASME 6-G Certified and NCCCO Certified. He has an extensive background in the coordination, execution, and oversight of storage tank construction activities including storage tank fabrication, tank layout and appurtenances, above and below ground piping and non-destructive testing and metal fabrication. Lucien moved to Tucson in 2005 to leave behind the snowy winters of Syracuse, New York. 

Rudy Munoz

Industrial Coatings Division Manager

Rudy joined Smyth in 2017 and founded the Industrial Coatings Division. Rudy’s expertise in a wide variety of industrial coatings systems comes from more than 15 years of experience in the coating and sandblasting industry. Rudy oversaw painting crews at two other local companies before joining Smyth. He is a native  Tucsonan and attended Palo Verde High School. 

David Hom

Electrical Division Manager

David joined Smyth in 2021 to provide leadership to the electrical and controls system installation team at Smyth. David worked for Gila County for 25 years in facilities management, including being the assistant facilities manager for the last 5 year. He also has maintained a commercial and residential electrical contractor's license for 27 years. David is a native Arizonan and comes from the Globe area.​

Nicholas Hazen, P.E.

Engineering Division Manager

Nick oversees the civil and construction engineering services for Smyth. He joined Smyth Industries after acquiring his Civil Engineering degree from the University of Arizona in 2017. Prior to getting his engineering degree, Nick worked for many years in the pool construction industry, gaining valuable experience in managing unique commercial and residential projects. He is a native Tucsonan, and Salpointe Catholic High School graduate. 

Mario Chavez

Construction Manager

Mario has a broad background in construction, and provides bidding and construction services in all aspects of water and reclamation projects. His critical eye for detail and creative mechanical solutions provide value on unusual site and construction challenges. Prior to joining Smyth in 2010, Mario owned and operated a welding business in Bonita Arizona.

David Kirkendall

Construction Manager

David has almost 30 years of experience in heavy civil and underground construction, serving as foreman and acting superintendent for projects ranging from highway construction, concrete structural elements, and underground utilities. For Smyth, David manages all aspects of construction for a wide range of water and reclamation projects. David grew up in Arizona and has lived in Willcox for most of his life.  ​

Thomas Tress

Mechanical Engineering

Thomas has been with Smyth since 2012, and worked part-time in the shop and the field while getting his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Arizona University. Thomas specializes in mechanical design, specification and estimating for ASME hydropneumatic vessels and storage tanks, and provides construction engineering for a wide variety of projects. Thomas is a Tucson native and attended CDO High School before university.

Garrick Fafard

Virtual Construction Specialist

Garrick has more than 30 years of experience in CAD design for civil engineering and water and reclamation projects. He develops comprehensive engineering plans in support of Smyth’s engineering and design-build projects, and detailed shop drawings for the Engineering Division for construction projects. Garrick is a Tucson native.