Anthony (Tony) Thompson

Career Summary:  Anthony (Tony) Thompson is the Chairman/CEO of Kwame Building Group, Inc. (KWAME), the first African American ESOP corporation in the state of Missouri, which he founded in 1991. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, KWAME is a construction management/program management firm that serves as an independent agent to the client/owner.   KWAME provides, along with other services, exceptional project management, scheduling, estimating, contract/claims administration and document controls.

Professional Experience:

• Project Engineer - Anheuser-Busch Companies
• Mechanical Engineer - Monsanto Chemical Company
• Construction Engineer - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Education:

• Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering / Construction Management - Washington University
• Master of Business Administration Degree in Finance - Webster University
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Engineering – University of Kansas
• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Design - University of Kansas

Community Involvement / Board Member: 

• Founder, Kwame Foundation
• St. Louis Regional Business Council, Vice Chair, Executive Committee, K-12 Education Committee, Diversity and Inclusion; Government and Public Policy; Workforce Development
• St. Louis Police Foundation
• Maryville University Board Member
• Missouri Baptist Foundation Board Member
• St. Louis Sports Commission Member

Abbreviated Listing of Special Achievements:

• Named the Top 100 Leaders to Watch in 2001 - 2003
• 2002 Mayor Francis Slay Business of the Year Award
• 2002 St. Louis American Salute to Excellence Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• 2003 Mayor Francis Slay Spirit of St. Louis Award
• 2003 Webster University Distinguished Alumni Award
• 2004 Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award
• 2004 Saint Louis Council of Construction Consumers MBE of the Year Award
• 2005 & 2006 Saint Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Leaders
• 2007 University of Kansas Distinguished Alumni Award
• 2008 Kappa Alpha Psi Professionalism Award
• 2010 – 2012; 2015 – 2018 Salute to Excellence Top 25 Minority Firms in St. Louis
• 2011 Salute to Excellence in Education – Stellar Performer
• 2011 Character of Courage Award
• 2011 FBI Leadership Award
• 2012 ENR Top 100 Construction Management For-Fee Firms
• 2012 St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association Top 50 Businesses
• 2013 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Maryville University
• 2013 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Harris Stowe State University
• 2019 Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award
• 2021 Construction Forum Leadership Institute Award
• 2021 St. Louis American Person of the Year
• 2022 St. Louis Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Award