Smith Street Dedicated to Honor Longtime Ave Maria Contributor

A residential street in Ave Maria’s Gatherpoint neighborhood has been renamed Smith Street in recognition of Tammy Smith, a longtime team member of Ave Maria Utility Company (AMUC). The dedication took place on February 22, marking one year since her passing, with colleagues, friends and family gathering to honor her contributions.

Tammy was part of AMUC from its early days in 2007, working in customer relations and development support as the community continued to grow. Known for her knowledge and reliability, she worked closely with builders, consultants and development partners to help keep projects moving forward. “She was our go-to person,” said development coordinator Danielle Turrubiartez. “She had the answers and was someone everyone relied on.”

Her work played a steady role in supporting the infrastructure behind Ave Maria’s growth. Renaming the street reflects the impact she had over the years and the respect she earned within the organization and broader community.

Outside of her day-to-day role, Tammy was also interested in creating more opportunities for local students. That idea is now continuing through the Tammy Smith Immokalee Foundation Legacy Scholarship. The program offers paid internships for Immokalee High School students, giving them exposure to different areas of AMUC, from engineering to customer service.

The street dedication included the unveiling of a handcrafted sign made by the AMUC plant team. Attendees, including her husband Brent, gathered for a simple ceremony to recognize her time with the company and the role she played in Ave Maria’s development.

While the work she contributed continues behind the scenes, the naming of Smith Street offers a visible reminder of someone who helped support the community from the start.