KC engineering firm with global reach earns Chamber equity award for its community-focused blueprint
June 14, 2024 | Taylor Wilmore
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program.
Equity is infused in everything Taliaferro & Browne engineers, said Leonard Graham, accepting the KC Chamber’s Small Business Equity Award alongside co-owner Hagos Andebrhan.
One of Kansas City’s largest minority-owned multidisciplinary firms, Taliaferro & Browne Inc., on Thursday earned the honor at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon at the Crown Center Westin. The event also crowned the Small Business of the Year or “Mr. K Award.
RELATED: Firm with deep KC ties wins Small Business of the Year thanks to tenacity, hyperlocal focus
Leonard Graham, Taliaferro & Browne, accepts his company’s surprise Top 10 finalist award in April; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
“Our company is the most diverse engineering firm in Kansas City,” said Graham. “We believe in people’s individuality in terms of where they are, where they come from, what their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is, and we believe in respect; that’s the bottom line for us.”
The firm specializes in civil and structural engineering, surveying and inspection, and landscape architecture. Its work has significantly improved the city with major projects, KC Chamber officials noted, including the new Kansas City airport terminal, One Light and Two Light towers, Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums and the T-Mobile Center.
Taliaferro & Browne also was one of the Top 10 finalists for the Small Business of the Year for 2024.
The equity award was among five specialty honors revealed Thursday.
Making it a point to give inner-city students engineering projects to work on with the firm, Graham and Andebrhan believe their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace comes naturally when you provide equal opportunities and a place where people want to work.
“T&B has been a place where people could be comfortable,” said Anderbrhan. “We are not looking over people’s shoulders; we depend on their integrity to do the work, and I think that that’s why they stay.”
“Because we are part of the community, you have to give back to your community,” said Graham. “I have dedicated personally and on behalf of the firm lots of time helping Kansas City be what it is.”
Leonard Graham, Taliaferro & Browne, speaks during a panel conversation featuring the KC Chamber’s Top 10 small businesses for 2024; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
The company’s main goal for this year is hiring new faces, Graham said, noting “we’re trying to regrow our company from the inside out. We’re bringing in new people and elevating the people from within.”
The two owners are also actively involved in the Downtown Council and Downtown Community Improvement District.
Taliaferro & Browne Inc. has also contributed to various projects such as constructing tiny houses for the Veterans Community Project, Berkley Riverfront Park, Science City in Union Station, The Paseo bridge, as well as pro bono work for the 18th and Vine project.
“One of the things that I think that may come out of that is an understanding that small firms and minority owned firms can perform and can do excellent work just like anybody else does,” said Graham.
From the archives: Global talent builds success for Taliaferro & Browne
Featured Business
Taylor Wilmore
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Lula bets on responsible growth to hit profitability; why the startup’s most valuable property is room to scale
Lula opened 2025 by announcing a hefty funding round; the momentum has only continued to build, founder Bo Lais shared. On top of its $28 million Series A round in early February, the Kansas City-based proptech startup expanded to more than 50 markets nationwide and had eight straight months of record gross merchandise value and…
World Cup hosts launch KC Game Plan for entrepreneurs; heat map, cultural insights on global visitors warming up next
Kansas City boasts no better roster of ambassadors than the region’s small business owners, said Tracy Whelpley, announcing a new KC2026 “Game Plan” for entrepreneurs who are eager to put cleats to streets ahead of the incoming FIFA World Cup. “There’s so many entrepreneurial people out there and they really represent what our community is…
Just funded: Trio of startups join Digital Sandbox KC, emerging onto competitive innovation scene
Not only will proof-of-concept funding from one of Kansas City’s most pivotal startup supporters help CEO Gharib Gharibi rapidly iterate development of his company, the Archia founder said; Digital Sandbox KC connects him to a thriving local tech ecosystem at a crucial inflection point for his artificial intelligence-based solutions. “We are excited to leverage both…
Check out the entrepreneur winners of this library pitch competition (and beyond-the-shelf resources)
Overwhelmed and excited to make a bigger impact, Rasheedah Villarreal expressed joy and gratitude Thursday after her name was announced as the top winner among a wide-ranging catalog of entrepreneurs pitching for cash prizes, community support, and serious momentum. Her business, Social Emotional Yoga with Mrs. V, also earned “Crowd Favorite” honors, sending the founder…