Jermaine Reed has spent most of his life involved in public service, through community advocacy, elected office, and civic entrepreneurship. Following a youth marked by service in community and national leadership organizations—which prompted The Pitch to name him Kansas City’s “Best Student Activist”—he would become the youngest person ever elected to the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council. In his two terms, Reed spearheaded more than $300 million worth of investment in the 3rd District, including new grocery stores, a new police campus, increased public transit, and other major infrastructure projects. Citywide, he was directly involved with developments such as the new downtown convention hotel and the expanded streetcar line, and served as the chair of the selection committee for Kansas City’s new $1.5-billion airport terminal, the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history. While on the Council, he also served on the boards of multiple local institutions and national organizations, from the Mid-America Regional Council to the Young Elected Officials and the National League of Cities.

Following his time on the City Council, Reed founded KGR Consultants, LLC, through which he leverages his city-government expertise to help a range of clients develop government-relations strategies. He also continues to serve in elected office, as a trustee of Metropolitan Community College and on the national board of the Association of Community College Trustees. Reed holds a degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and earned his Executive Master of Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He serves as a trustee of Victorious Life Church, and as VP of Public Affairs for Kansas City Fashion Week, as part of the national Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Connects program. Above all, Reed values the relationships he works hard to build and maintain, with colleagues, friends, and most of all family—with whom he gathers for dinners, holidays, ballgames, and family trips. He also travels frequently for his professional and public-service roles, as well as for his love of live events. Everywhere he goes, he brings his community with him, proudly representing Kansas City.