Hilton O. Smith is a retired Senior Vice President for National Community Affairs for Turner Construction Company.
In this role, Smith was responsible for managing the company’s corporate and national community affairs, minority and woman owned business enterprise program, equal employment and educational programs. He coordinated business development and strategic marketing programs with senior executive officers within the company.
Smith actively led Turner’s efforts in awarding over $22 billion dollars to thousands of minority and woman owned business enterprises. Smith began his career in Cleveland working for Mayor Carl B. Stokes in the Health Department.
Smith is the former president of the Cleveland Branch NAACP; past Board chair of Saint Augustine’s University, Cuyahoga Community College Board of Trustees and Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Smith served on the boards of United Way, Cuyahoga Community College Board of Visitors, University Hospital, The NAACP National Foundation and re-elected Board Chair of Saint Augustine’s University. He is an ordained minister at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist church and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology & Political Science from St. Augustine’s University. Later, he attended Cornell University’s School of Labor Relations and received a Doctorate of Human Letters from David Myers University.
Smith is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Cleveland Cavalier’s Black Heritage Month for Community and National Leadership, National Urban League Hall of Fame, University Hospital Case Medical Center’s resolution for years of service, Martin Luther King Memorial Lifetime Pioneer Award and 2004 Black Professional of the Year. He has been inducted in numerous Hall of Fames for his outstanding work in the construction industry and community involvement. He has received from six different major cities the Key to the City award. He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi, Ambassadors and golden life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Smith is married to Marsha, a retired principal.