Smalley has worked at the board since 2001 and held the vice presidency beginning in 2012. He takes over as president following the death of former president Ronald M. Donatucci in November of last year.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney congratulated Smalley for his latest achievement, calling him “a good man and a great Philadelphian.”
“He and I worked together on the Octavius Catto Monument project at City Hall several years ago, and I look forward to working with him and the entire Board in the effort to improve the lives of our fellow citizens,” Kenney said.
Smalley is the son of a West Philadelphia barber and grew up in the 1960s around “some of the city’s greatest legal minds,” who frequented his father’s barbershop, the BDCT said.