Smita Shah

Smita Shah is an entrepreneur and civic leader with a commitment to excellence and improving lives. She is the Founder and CEO of SPAAN Tech, Inc., a multidisciplinary firm with 25 years expertise in public and private infrastructure projects including transportation, aviation, facilities, and telecommunications systems. She has an extensive business and technical background, earning her Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University, a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from M.I.T., and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management Studies from Oxford University.

In recognition of Ms. Shah’s leadership and commitment to the community, she was appointed by President Biden to the President’s Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Her additional civic engagement includes M.I.T. Visiting Committee for Civil and Environmental Engineering, Co- Chair of the ChiCook Workforce Partnership, Chairman of the Loyola University Council of Regents, Board Member of the Museum of Science and Industry, Trustee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, and Harris School Council at University of Chicago. She was the recent past Vice Chairman of Chicago Plan Commission, supporting the development of this great city for the past 15 years.

As the daughter of immigrants, she has been honored to support the democratic process through serving as an Intern in the White House Chief of Staff’s office in 1994. She has served in the last six Democratic National Conventions as a delegate (1996, 2004, and 2012) on the Rules Committee (2000 and 2004), the Platform Committee (2008), as Parliamentarian (2012), and as Vice-Chair of the Rules Committee at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In 2013, Smita was recognized alongside Lilly Ledbetter, with a Women of Achievement Award by the Lake County, Illinois YWCA.

In addition, Ms. Shah serves on the board of MacLean Fogg Company and is a member of the audit committee. She also serves on the board of Inventrust (NYSE: IVT) and ComEd. She is a Co-Chair of Young President’s Organization (YPO) Chicago, and a member of the Economic Club and Commercial Club of Chicago.

Ms. Shah has received numerous recognitions for her business and civic work, including from Crain’s Chicago Business (40 Under 40, 19th Most Connected, Notable Leader in Construction and Design, and Notable Leader in Philanthropy), American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Consulting Engineers Council. She served as a U.S. delegate for the APEC Women and the Economy Forum (WEF), and is a recipient of the congressionally recognized Ellis Island Medal of Honor.