Senator Bradford Honors Michelle Smith-Ballard as 2019 Woman of the Year

SACRAMENTO ­– Yesterday, Senator Bradford honored Ms. Michelle Smith-Ballard, as the Woman of the Year for the 35^th Senate District. Ms. Smith-Ballard currently serves as the Vice President of Community and Citizenship for Turner Construction Company with over 38 years of construction experience. She is responsible for the diversity outreach program on the construction of the new, state of the art Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park in Inglewood where she is overseeing one of the largest diversity and local hire programs in the region.

“Each year we recognize the amazing accomplishments of outstanding women across our state and I could not be more proud of our 2019 woman of the year,” said Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena). “Michelle’s experience, leadership and commitment to increasing diversity and ensuring equity in the construction industry has and will continue to have an impact for generations to come. Her work on the Inglewood stadium is unprecedented. ” 

Joining Turner Construction Company in 1988, Michelle began an almost half century mission to advance procurement and inclusion in the construction industry. Most recently she oversaw the collaboration between Turner and John “Big John” Harriel and 2ND CALL, an organization that changes the lives of ex-offenders through personal development and careers in construction, while leading the outreach effort at the Kaiser Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Medical Office Building project in Los Angeles.

Inspired by strong female mentors and having a passion for working in the community, Michelle’s commitment to diversity goes beyond her work at Turner. She serves on several corporate and/or advisory boards of the following organizations: Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council, American Indian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Business Association, and Los Angeles African American Women’s Public Policy Institute.

“I am honored that Senator Bradford recognized me and the work women do on this day,” said Honoree Michelle Smith-Ballard. “It was so nice to see the other 37 women being honored. I am so proud to be a part of such a wonderful sisterhood of amazing women.”

The Woman of the Year ceremony is sponsored by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and asks each member of the legislature to invite one woman from their district to be honored for their immense contribution to California. 

For more information about the other honorees please visit: https://womenscaucus.legislature.ca.gov/woman-of-the-year

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Senator Bradford represents the Los Angeles County communities of Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, San Pedro, Torrance, Watts, Willowbrook, and Wilmington.