Michelle Ballew is a graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia and works as a structural engineer and IT manager with Christy Cobb, a consulting firm. She has been active with the Birmingham section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for over 20 years, holding a variety of leadership roles including serving as president. She has partnered with Girl Scouts on many occasions to make STEM programs available for girls and is also active with the Engineering Council of Birmingham (ECOB), where she wears a number of hats including serving as the scholarship chair, secretary and treasurer. Ballew has also been active in the Alabama Society of Professional Engineers (ASPE) and was awarded with the Distinguished Service Award. She has held many roles for ASPE, including president of the Birmingham chapter and state board of directors. Ballew gives her tables to the Alabama State Conference, Pilot Project for Engineers and to local and state Math Counts competitions.
She has developed a strong relationship with the Girl Scouts in the Birmingham area as she has organized engineering workshops and hands-on activities for the girls. “I think the most valuable lesson I have learned is that to be a good leader one must have learned what it takes to follow,” says Ballew.
Ballew cites her proudest accomplishment as raising three beautiful, successful daughters who will continue to carry on a sense of service to others through their talents and our experience being Girl Scouts together as a family.
Ballew will be honored at the Central Alabama Women of Distinction Luncheon on March 4. You can purchase tickets online at www.girlscoutsnca.org/wodcentral.
