There’s a certain kind of confidence that doesn’t need to announce itself. It shows up in steady decisions, long-standing relationships, and the kind of leadership that builds over time. That’s the presence Ora Reynolds brings to Kansas City.
As CEO of Hunt Midwest, Reynolds has helped shape not just the company, but the physical fabric of our city. Her path wasn’t linear but rather was built step by step, starting in banking in Florida, where she spent six formative years learning the fundamentals of business. “Banking is the best initial career,” she says. “You get so many unique experiences. You’re learning how to analyze financials, how to build relationships, and it’s always about asking the right questions.”
That foundation stayed with her when she moved to Kansas City and joined Hunt Midwest in the early 1990s. She stepped into a role focused on new business development, but what shaped her just as much as the work itself were the people around her. She speaks often about the mentors who influenced her early on, especially former CEO Lee Derrough. “He believed that you could do anything until you proved him wrong,” she says. “And he gave me opportunity after opportunity.”
That belief came with expectation. Early in her career, Reynolds admits she didn’t always feel ready for what was next. “I think women sometimes do a bad job of believing in themselves early on,” she says. “We have that ‘I’m not ready’ mindset, where someone else might already be raising their hand.” It’s something she’s worked to overcome, and something she now actively encourages others to push past. Growth, in her experience, often comes from stepping into roles before you feel fully prepared.
At 28, she did exactly that. Reynolds helped launch Hunt Midwest’s single-family residential development business, building it from the ground up. “I went out and found engineers to teach me what development looks like,” she says. “I found homebuilders, sourced ground, and went through the entire entitlement process.” What stands out to her most about that chapter isn’t just the scale of the work, but the meaning behind it. “When you do that business, you’re creating people’s worlds,” she says. “Where the park is, where the pool is, whether you can walk to school. Those are the things people remember.”
That perspective continues to guide her. Whether it’s residential communities, multifamily housing, or large-scale industrial projects, Reynolds sees each development as part of a bigger picture. Today, industrial work makes up the majority of Hunt Midwest’s business, and she has watched Kansas City grow into a national player in that space. “We used to be a flyover market,” she says. “Now we’re one of the largest industrial development markets in the country.”
Still, when she talks about Kansas City, she focuses on lifestyle. “What’s crazy cool about Kansas City is the diversity of how you can live,” she says. “You can have acreage and space, or you can be in a walkable urban neighborhood, or somewhere in between, and it’s still attainable.”
That sense of accessibility is part of what makes the city feel personal to her. It’s also why she has remained so deeply involved in the community beyond her role at Hunt Midwest. From her work with Starlight Theatre to her involvement with the Kauffman Center and the Nelson-Atkins Museum, her commitment reflects both passion and intention. “I’ve tried to be strategic about where I spend my time,” she says. “You figure out where you can add value, but you also have to care about it.”
She believes strongly that civic involvement is not optional for business leaders. It’s essential. “When you give back, the connections you make are incredibly important,” she says. “You learn so much from the people around you.” She encourages young professionals to think about engagement in terms of “time, talent, and treasure,” recognizing that those resources shift over time. “Early in your career, you might have the time,” she says. “Later, you might have more experience or resources. But you have to stay involved in a way that’s meaningful.”
Reynolds stresses the importance of being intentional about where you give your time. “If you’re not passionate about it, don’t do it,” she says plainly. She encourages young professionals to align their involvement with what matters most to them, whether that’s the arts, education, healthcare, or community development. It makes the experience more meaningful, both personally and professionally. “You get what you give,” she says. “And when you’re engaged in something you care about, you’re going to show up differently.”
Part of that, she says, is building your own support system. “You need your own mini board,” she explains. “Find a group of people who energize you, who guide you, and who push you out of your comfort zone.” It’s advice she has followed herself, surrounding herself with peers and mentors who continue to challenge her.
Her willingness to step outside of comfort zones has been a defining theme in her career. Whether it was taking on new areas of the business or stepping into leadership roles, Reynolds has learned to lean into that principle. “You’ve got to get out of your comfort zone,” she says. “That’s where growth happens.”
Outside of work, she finds balance in the things that have always grounded her. Time spent at Starlight Theatre, evenings at the Kauffman Center, walks through the Nelson-Atkins sculpture garden. “I love the arts,” she says simply. “That’s always been important to me.” She and her family also share a love of travel and new experiences, but there’s a clear appreciation for the everyday rhythms of Kansas City.
After decades in the industry, Reynolds has seen the city evolve in meaningful ways. From economic development wins to a growing national profile, Kansas City is no longer overlooked. “We just have to capitalize on all the things that are happening,” she says. And she believes the future is bright, not just because of growth, but because of the people shaping it.
Her own journey reflects that same steady momentum that is built on hard work, mentorship, volunteerism and pushing herself past the uncomfortable.
Her advice for those just starting out is refreshingly direct. “It’s grit,” she says. “It’s doing the same thing over and over, learning, building relationships. And believing you can do it.