2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The St. Louis Division is pleased to honor Mr. Anthony Thompson for his dedication and commitment to helping young people become successful adults. Mr. Thompson is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of KWAME Building Group, a construction management firm headquartered in St. Louis.

One of the principles upon which KWAME Building Group was founded was to provide opportunities for growth, development, and leadership for young professionals. Mr. Thompson is proud that 75 percent of his firm’s workforce is made up of minority and female professionals working as construction managers, engineers, architects, attorneys, and support staff.

The non-profit KWAME Foundation, Inc., endows more than $150,000 in academic scholarships which enable minority students to pursue higher education. KWAME is recognized as one of the top 48 supporters of schools of engineering at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Every Wednesday for the last seven years, Mr. Thompson and many of his employees participate in a mentoring program at Calahan High School in St. Louis. Mr. Thompson even established a “Gentleman’s Club” at the high school. The club is intended to help guide young men into becoming successful adults and leaders.