On August 21, 2020, Amy (Smith) Hall '87 was recognized at the 2020 YWCA Milestones: A Tribute to Women virtual event as the honoree in the Business category.
Amy is a strong advocate and spokesperson for female contractors who participate in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program on both the federal and state levels. In 2007, she took on an issue that affected DBEs in Ohio and across the country with the support of major construction industry organizations. The initiative became known as the "Amy Rule.” In 2008, she testified in front of The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America and has participated in countless working groups with the Ohio Department of Transportation on behalf of DBE contractors. Amy currently serves as the Chair of the Ohio Contractors Association Board of Directors and a member of the Associated General Contractors of America National Executive Board; she is the first woman of color in the country to hold these positions. She is currently on both the Associated General Contractors of America’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the DBE Task Force.
Amy has identified the lack of gender diversity in the construction workforce as an issue and has created a training program that establishes a pipeline of skilled and qualified women into the construction industry. Her volunteerism on local, state, and national boards helps to knock down the pervasive barriers that women face in entering and remaining in construction industries. She also speaks at various symposiums and conferences about empowering women and maintaining a healthy life balance while embracing their inherent gifts. Additionally, Amy is a certified life and business coach who specifically works with women who are either entrepreneurs or striving to be such.
Amy's mother, Josie Grant, started Ebony Construction in 1986 without any federal assistance. In 1988, Amy's father, Billy Joe Smith, came on board to secure the MBE status. Upon Billy Joe's death in 2003, Amy took over as President. She has built upon his legacy of service and dedication to the community by volunteering and being a champion for DBEs in Ohio and nationwide.
—Information source: YWCA of Northwest Ohio
- Awards and Recognitions