Michelle Thomas - Woman of the Year

2009 Garden State Woman of the Year - Government
Michelle Thomas – Business Administrator, City of Newark
Nominated By: Maria Vizcarrando

Michelle Thomas is the Business Administrator for the City of Newark. Professionally, she navigates effectively in a complex and male dominated environment. Personally, she works hard to balance a high profile position with a family life. As a leader, she inspires the women in the administration to achieve their highest potential while never losing sight of serving the community. As a spiritual person, she reminds us everyday that our ambitions should be tied into how we live to serve others.

Ms. Thomas is the driving force behind the administration's agenda to transform communities. She does her work strategically, deliberately and without fanfare. In these difficult economic times, she has made the hard decisions that most leaders would shun from addressing.

Yet she has also been fearless in championing those initiatives that empower children and families. Under her leadership the City has expanded its Child Lead Poision Prevention Programs, raised its child immunization rates to national standards and expanded primary health care access through the City’s clinics. Today, families enjoy more community parks and recreational opportunities and seniors are thriving.