Shawna Smith is the Executive Director of Hope Builders. For more than twenty years, she has lead the development of numerous strategic initiatives including the organization’s nationally recognized model for workforce development and educational pathway programming. In 2011, she launched Hope Builders Construction Company, a successful employment social enterprise and licensed general contracting venture that created jobs for participants completing Hope Builders’ training programs. In 2018, she relaunched the enterprise as a talent pipeline resource for employers in southern California as a fee for service business. Hope Builders has grown significantly during her tenure, including expanding operations into Anaheim, California in 2015.
Shawna received her degree in English from Santa Clara University. Additionally, she served as a Marano Fellow with the Aspen Institute from 2006-2007. In 2012, she was named a 40 Under 40 Orange County by the OC Metro; and in 2015, received the Community Inspiration Award from the USC School of Social Work.