Gilbane Building Company’s Bakari Ballard recognized as a member of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 In Their 20s Class of 2024
Cleveland, OH – September 13, 2024 — Gilbane Building Company is proud to announce that Crain’s Cleveland Business has chosen Bakari Ballard as a member of this year’s class of Crain’s Cleveland Business 20 In Their 20s. This award recognizes young professionals for their dedication and talent within their careers.
“Bakari’s commitment to bettering his community and those around him has made a profound impact,” said Kyle Merrill, senior vice president and Cleveland business leader at Gilbane. “His dedication to students in the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland extends beyond his mentoring role and includes serving as a board member and leader of two committees. As the local leader of Gilbane’s employee resource group (ERG) UJIMA in Cleveland, Bakari consistently strives to foster an inclusive and supportive environment. I am thrilled to see Bakari recognized for all he does to improve the lives of those on our team at Gilbane and beyond.”
Bakari has been in the construction industry for three years and is a project engineer for the Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Innovation District project. He began his career as an intern on the state-of-the-art University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center Phase 2 project and joined Gilbane full-time in 2022. As a project engineer, Bakari implements project controls to deliver timely and accurate information to the team. During high school, Bakari developed his passion for the construction industry through the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland, where he gained valuable experience working with mentors from Gilbane. After graduation, he was awarded a scholarship from the ACE program and embarked on his studies in construction management at Kent State University.
Bakari continues his involvement with the ACE program by serving as the co-chair of the ACE Career Pathways Committee, chairing the Alumni Committee and serving on the executive board. Bakari is passionate about fostering growth in the community through ACE and assisting students in pursuing a career path that is right for them. His involvement as an ACE board member led to establishing an alumni committee, ensuring that graduates stay connected to the program.
“As a young adult, I was advised to become the person I needed when I was a child. While I still feel there is much more to achieve, being recognized as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business 20 In Their 20s signifies that I am on the right path,” expressed Bakari Ballard. “I am extremely grateful for this recognition. I hope to continue making a difference in my community and for those who follow. I know the younger me would be proud.”
Bakari also serves as the Cleveland leader of Gilbane’s UJIMA employee resource group, an internal community of Black/African American employees and advocates at Gilbane aimed at fostering an inclusive culture by attracting and supporting professional development, creating community engagement, and providing a voice across the enterprise. He contributed to projects such as building a horse shed at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center, providing meals for hundreds of families through the ‘Pack the Shack’ initiative, and participating in a food drive to support the Euclid community. For Juneteenth, Bakari organized a company-wide webinar featuring speakers Alexis Herman, former secretary of labor, and Michael Brown, Gilbane’s regional president for Midwest and Texas. This educational event helped raise awareness about Juneteenth and fostered discussions on enhancing representation for women and other marginalized communities within the construction industry. Bakari is planning a coat drive this fall to support families in need during the cold winter months.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane Building Company is a global leader in construction management, delivering high-quality projects for clients across various markets. Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services. Founded in 1870, Gilbane is still a privately held, family-owned company. With more than 45 office locations worldwide, Gilbane brings world-class experience to local communities. Gilbane has been providing construction management services in Ohio since 1957. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.