Shirley Gordon
State Farm Insurance Companies
Vice President-Operations
As Vice President of Operations, Shirley is currently responsible for the CA Zone Human Resources, Administrative Services, Learning & Development, California Leadership Academy, Agency Services, Finance and Management Planning & information Departments. She is the executive sponsor for CA Continuous Renewal, Diversity & Inclusion and People Development Strategy.
A native of Alabama with a BS from Hampton University and MBA from Illinois State University, Ms. Gordon began her career with State Farm in 1973 as an accounting intern at the company’s home office in Bloomington, Illinois. Over the past 32 years she has held numerous operations positions including accounting, management planning & information, service and systems and property and casualty division management.
Ms. Gordon is active in the community and currently serves on the boards of the Northern California Center for Wellness, and the School of Business and Economics Advisory of Sonoma State University. She is an immediate past trustee and Vice chair for the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Board and the past chair of the Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake Counties United Way. Shirley is a Sunday school teacher and Director for the Rites of Passage Mentoring Program at the Santa Rosa Community Baptist Church. Shirley is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Kappa Beta Omega Alumni Chapter and life-member of the NAACP.
Her passion is in helping to build stronger communities and families. “The youth are important to me … they are our future. As a community leader, I am committed to being a positive role model for our young people. Together, we can influence their lives by providing experiences and tools to help them realize their full potential.”
Shirley is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2002 Sonoma County Women in Industry (WIN), 2003 Leadership California Community Award, 2003 North Bay Insurance Professional Award and the 2004 Rev. James E Coffee Human Rights Award of Sonoma County.