Michelle White to Begin Tenure as Harris & Associates CEO in 2024

Home > News > 2023 > Michelle White to Begin Tenure as Harris and Associates CEO in 2024

Harris & Associates will officially welcome Michelle White as the firm’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on January 1, 2024. This is the culmination of a well-planned and purposeful succession strategy developed in 2021.

Michelle brings extensive experience and deep industry knowledge to the position, having successfully led various aspects of Harris’ business operations over the past five years. Since October 2021, she’s served as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Consulting Division President.

“We’ve been preparing for this transition for some time and are thrilled to see Michelle step into her role as CEO,” said current CEO Steve Winchester, who will continue to support Harris’ leadership on the Board of Directors until his departure later in 2024. “Her strong business acumen and commitment to our Purpose, Vision, and Shared Values make her the best choice to lead Harris into the future and enable us to continue to serve our clients as trusted advisors.”

“I’m excited for this opportunity to carry on the amazing leadership examples set by Steve, and by Lisa Larrabee before him,” Michelle said. “We will continue to live our Vision through our commitment to people––our own Harris team, the clients we work with, and the communities we all serve.”

Prior to her three-year tenure as Harris’ COO, Michelle served as the firm’s Chief People Officer for more than three years. In that role, she led the Human Resources, Information Technology, Learning and Development, Facilities, and Administrative functions.

“I strongly believe in servant leadership that is accessible to everyone, and I practice that every day,” Michelle explained. “I’m committed to building inclusive teams and advancing equity. As we move forward, Harris will continue to provide equitable, resilient, and sustainable solutions that align with the values and needs of our communities.”

“This thoughtfully planned succession helps us achieve a smooth transition for project teams and our clients,” said Winchester. “Crucially, our clients won’t experience any changes to their points of contact or dedicated project teams. We’re all excited to welcome the next phase of growth at Harris under Michelle’s leadership.”

About Harris

Harris is a 100% employee-owned company focused on helping communities solve today's complex challenges in planning, financing, environmental compliance, civil engineering, and construction management. Our offices and project sites span the West Coast in California and Washington with a staff of over 280 employee-owners. We focus on serving clients in the municipal, water, transportation, and education markets. www.WeAreHarris.com