Steve Lefton is an accomplished executive with more than 28 years of experience at Kimley-Horn, showcasing a progressive career from a staff landscape architect to Executive Chair of one of the nation’s most respected transportation, infrastructure, urban design, and planning firms. After stepping into the President and CEO position in 2018, Kimley-Horn experienced phenomenal growth, expanding from an $800 million to a more than $2 billion company, recognized as Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) fourth largest pure design firm and landing at number eight on ENR’s Top 500 AEC Design Firms.

During this time, Kimley-Horn substantially increased its personnel, currently employing nearly 10,000 professionals in more than 150 offices across the country. In 2025, the company celebrated its eighteenth year on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list, and is regularly ranked as a Fortune Best Workplaces for Women and one of the Best Workplaces for Millennials, all of which acknowledge an unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and dynamic company culture.

Steve is a founding Board Member of the ACEC Research Institute and currently serves as the Board Chair.