Terry Leeds named to Ingram's 50 Missourians You Should Know list

Ingram's Magazine has named Terry Leeds P.E., Garver’s Kansas City Area Water Team Leader, to its 50 Missourians You Should Know list, an annual recognition honoring influential Missourians making a lasting impact across the state through their professional achievements, community service, and leadership.

For more than 40 years, Leeds has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure in the Kansas City region. His selection reflects not only an exceptional career in public service and engineering leadership, but also a lifelong commitment to improving the communities he serves.

"Terry's impact on Kansas City's water infrastructure and quality of life is difficult to overstate," said KS-MO Business Team Leader Mark Dolechek, PE. "His leadership has helped define how the region approaches water quality, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. We are proud to have him on the Garver team and thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved recognition."

Before joining Garver, Leeds served for more than a decade as Director of KC Water, the region's largest water utility. He led development of the city's Long-Term Control Plan to reduce sewer overflows and successfully negotiated a landmark 25-year, $4.5 billion federal consent decree. The agreement became the first federal consent decree in the nation to incorporate green infrastructure as a primary strategy for managing stormwater and reducing combined sewer overflows.

Under Leeds’ leadership, Kansas City also launched the Target Green Marlborough Project, the city's first green infrastructure initiative designed to address combined sewer overflows. The project demonstrated how investments in sustainable infrastructure can extend beyond environmental benefits to improve neighborhood appearance, walkability, flood resilience, air quality, and property values.

Recognizing the importance of cultivating future generations of water professionals and environmental stewards, Leeds partnered with local educators to develop KC to the Sea, an experiential water quality curriculum now taught to fourth- and sixth-grade students throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. The program helps students understand stormwater, pollution prevention, water quality, and the importance of protecting local waterways.

Today, Leeds brings that same passion and expertise to Garver, where he leads water projects and strategic initiatives that support communities throughout the Kansas City region.

His influence extends beyond his professional responsibilities. Leeds has held leadership roles in numerous local and national organizations, including the Association of Missouri Cleanwater Agencies, the Wet Weather Partnership, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, where he served as president. He currently chairs the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce Planning and Development Committee.

Throughout his career, Leeds has earned numerous honors recognizing both technical excellence and community leadership. Among them are the Missouri Water Environment Association's Golden Manhole Award, the Blue River Watershed Association's Ripple Effect Award, the Missouri and Associated Rivers Coalition's Eagle Award, and induction into the Missouri University of Science & Technology Academy of Civil Engineers. He also played a key role in efforts that helped bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal flood control funding to the Kansas City region.

Outside of work, Leeds remains deeply engaged in community service. He volunteers with organizations such as Feed Northland Kids, mentors students at his high school alma mater, and has dedicated time to Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together KC, City Union Mission, the Adopt-a-Highway program, and youth sports coaching, among many other initiatives.

His commitment to serving others has earned additional recognition, including induction into the Winnetonka High School Alumni Hall of Fame, the Historic West Bottoms Association Darby Trotter Award, the UMKC Vanguard Organization of the Year Award for KC Water's support of STEM education, and the Kansas City Industrial Council Brick-by-Brick Award.

The distinction of being named one of Ingram's 50 Missourians You Should Know is a fitting tribute to a career defined by innovation, leadership, service, and a steadfast commitment to improving quality of life for the people of Kansas City.