Kathy Michalak Named Riverside’s Woman of the Year

In mid-March, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) proudly honored Kathy Michalak, Habitat for Humanity Riverside’s Executive Director, as the 31st Senate District’s Woman of the Year.

“Kathy has made a living out of being in touch with her community. Her work at the Los Angeles Times and Press Enterprise allowed Kathy to become intimately familiar with Inland Southern California,” said Senator Roth. After 35 years in the newspaper industry, she could have retired, but Kathy realized she had more to give, which led her to Habitat for Humanity Riverside.

Kathy first joined Habitat for Humanity Riverside in 2009 – becoming its Executive Director in 2014. Realizing that Habitat had no licensed construction personnel, Kathy earned her Contractor’s License and her EPA Renovator’s License, eventually becoming Habitat’s Construction Manager. Habitat’s home repair programs help more than 90 families each year. Kathy has been especially passionate about helping Riverside’s veteran community. Habitat is currently building 26 single-family homes in Jurupa Valley that will be open to any low-income veteran with an honorable discharge who works or lives in Riverside County.

“It is such an honor to be named Riverside’s Woman of the Year and to be included among such an extraordinary group of California women also honored,” said Kathy Michalak. “I envision a world where everyone can have a decent, safe, affordable place to live. This recognition means more attention will be on Habitat’s hard work as we strive to make that kind of stability possible for everyone.”