Fred Smith Appointed Director of Legal Affairs for Veterans Chamber of Commerce, Orange County

June 27, 2025 | Orange County, CA - On Friday evening, Veterans Chamber of Commerce officially appointed Fred Smith as its Director of Legal Affairs.

The announcement was made directly by Chamber President Ernest Alonso.

In this newly established role, Fred Smith will serve as the primary liaison between Veterans Chamber of Commerce and the legal community across Southern California. His responsibilities will include:

Vetting attorneys and law firms who wish to work with or support veteran initiatives through the Chamber
Overseeing outreach and communication with legal professionals in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego counties
Establishing trust-based relationships between legal service providers and veteran-led organizations
Ensuring legal partnerships are both compliant and aligned with the mission and standards of the Chamber

About the Position

The Director of Legal Affairs role was created to ensure that as the Chamber grows, it does so with legal integrity, transparency, and structure. With thousands of veterans starting or running businesses in Southern California, legal infrastructure is a critical need.

Many of these veteran entrepreneurs face complex legal challenges; from structuring partnerships, to reviewing contracts, to handling compliance with local and federal law. The Chamber recognizes that strong legal alignment is not optional, it is essential for long-term success and sustainability.

Fred’s role is not to act as personal counsel to members. Instead, his function is organizational:

He ensures legal partners are credible, ethical, and properly aligned.
He creates legal structure around communications and partnerships that involve veterans and the businesses serving them.
And he provides guidance to the Chamber’s leadership regarding legal implications of sponsorships, events, vendor agreements, and external collaborations.

Statement from Fred Smith

“This isn’t a role I took lightly. The veterans in this Chamber have already carried their share of weight in service. My job is to make sure that weight doesn’t return in the form of legal missteps, predatory partnerships, or confusing contracts. I’ve spent my career simplifying complex systems, protecting reputations, and creating clarity where it didn’t exist. I intend to do the same here.”

About Fred Smith

Fred Smith is a Marine Corps veteran with a background in communications strategy, as well as decades of leadership in marketing, compliance, and organizational strategy.

He is the founder of The Power Agency, a digital consulting and infrastructure agency that builds client acquisition systems for law firms, business owners, consultants, and professional service providers across Orange County and Southern California.

His experience includes:

Directing narrative strategy in high-pressure government and competitive environments
Starting up and advising several multibillion-dollar automotive and finance and insurance organizations with scalable operations
Leading digital trust marketing and advertising campaigns for public and private-sector firms
Building systems that combine regulatory compliance with modern marketing and advertising standards

As Director of Legal Affairs, Fred brings both a legal mind and an operational eye to the Chamber’s next phase of growth.

About Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Veterans Chamber of Commerce is a national organization dedicated to supporting veteran-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and service providers through access to resources, networking, education, and advocacy.

The Orange County headquarters is among the most active and fastest-growing regional chapters in the country, with initiatives spanning business development, mentorship, public service, and community integration.

The Chamber serves as a bridge between veterans and the broader business ecosystem in Southern California, ensuring that those who have served have the infrastructure and support they need to thrive in civilian life.

Closing Statement

This appointment reflects the Chamber’s growing commitment to governance, structure, and professional integrity as it scales its outreach across Southern California, and nationally.

Fred Smith will begin his duties immediately and can be reached through Veterans Chamber of Commerce Orange County, or via SpeedScaling.com/vet.

For legal professionals, attorneys, and firms interested in supporting veteran-owned businesses or exploring collaboration with the Chamber, please complete the form below.

Submit Your Inquiry to the Veterans Chamber of Commerce Legal Affairs

For veterans, lawyers, and allied professionals requesting contact, guidance, or collaboration.

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