Hunt Midwest CEO Ora Reynolds to retire after 36 years of transformative growth; Mike Bell named next president

Kansas City, MO — Nov. 11, 2026 — Hunt Midwest President and CEO Ora Reynolds has announced she will retire at the end of 2026 after a 36-year career in which she helped transform the Lamar Hunt family’s real estate business into a diversified national development company.

Reynolds will continue serving Hunt Midwest as a senior strategic advisor and member of its board of directors, focusing on pursuing new investment opportunities and advancing the company’s long-term vision.

Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Executive Vice President Mike Bell will succeed Reynolds as president, which completes a planned succession process that began in early 2026. 

A legacy of growth

Reynolds joined Hunt Midwest in 1991 and worked her way through senior leadership roles, becoming president in 2010 and adding the CEO title in 2012. Under her leadership, Hunt Midwest has grown more than fivefold. The company has expanded its industrial, residential, multifamily, self-storage, and senior living sectors, and has completed more than $3 billion in developed projects across the Midwest, Southwest, and Southeast.

Her impact began early in her career. In 1993, Reynolds started Hunt Midwest’s residential division through land acquisition, entitlement, infrastructure development, and relationships with homebuilders and sales professionals.

Hunt Midwest’s industrial platform has expanded dramatically under Reynolds’ leadership as well, with almost 10 million square feet developed at SubTropolis, the world’s largest underground business complex, and more than 50 million square feet of completed or planned development projects. She also led the company’s expansion into data center development, further diversifying Hunt Midwest’s strong portfolio.

“Ora’s leadership has transformed Hunt Midwest, and her vision has expanded the company into new businesses and markets,” said Clark Hunt. “But her greatest contribution is the exceptional team and enduring foundation she has built for the future. Ora has enhanced the legacy of Lamar Hunt and contributed so much to the Kansas City community in the process. We are grateful that her experience, perspective, and relationships will continue to benefit Hunt Midwest for years to come.”

Forging lasting relationships has always been Ora’s greatest strength, said Lee Derrough, retired Hunt Midwest chairman, her mentor, and predecessor as Hunt Midwest President & CEO.

“So much of Hunt Midwest’s success over so many years is a direct result of the strength of Ora’s relationships within the industry, throughout the community, and between every member of her team,” Derrough said. “It’s incredible to see how much she and the company have accomplished, and she has laid the groundwork for the company to flourish for decades.”

Beyond the development projects themselves, Reynolds built the leadership team and organizational structure needed to support Hunt Midwest’s continued growth. She recruited senior leaders across the company, developed and retained talent, established shared construction capabilities, advanced the Hunt Midwest brand, and opened the company’s Crossroads office to support its market presence and talent strategy.

“The most rewarding part of my career has not been any one building or development. It has been helping grow a company, a team and a culture capable of turning ambitious ideas into lasting places,” said Reynolds. “I am proud of the communities we have created, the markets we have entered, and the people who will carry Hunt Midwest forward. Mike has been a key driver on some of our significant growth initiatives. He is the right leader for this next chapter, and I look forward to supporting him and the team as a senior strategic advisor and board member.”

Positioned for the future

Mike Bell brings more than 30 years of construction and development experience, including more than 15 years at Hunt Midwest, where he helped lead the company’s industrial expansion across Kansas City and the Southeast.

During his tenure, SubTropolis has doubled in size to almost 10 million square feet, including the creation of SubTropolis Technology Center. Bell has overseen nearly 4 million square feet of build-to-suit facilities for Fortune 10 and leading international companies, and expanded Hunt Midwest’s industrial presence into Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia.

His combination of strategic vision, deep technical knowledge, and industry relationships makes him a uniquely capable leader to steer Hunt Midwest into its next chapter.

“Ora has built an incredible foundation for Hunt Midwest, and I am honored to follow her as president,” said Bell. “Ora’s vision, leadership, and commitment to people have created a company positioned for long-term success. We have a talented leadership team, a diversified development platform, and significant opportunities ahead. My focus will be on building upon that momentum while remaining true to the values that have defined Hunt Midwest.”

An impact beyond real estate

Reynolds’ influence extends across Kansas City’s business and civic communities. Ora serves on the Commerce Bank Advisory Board, and she is the past co-chair of the board of directors of the Kansas City Area Development Council, the past chair of the Starlight Theatre board of directors, and previously served on the board of directors for the KU Advancement Board and the National Association of Home Builders.

She has also championed mentorship and opportunities for the next generation of women in business and commercial real estate, including through the Kansas City Business Journal’s Women of Influence program and the Centurions leadership program through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership and Hunt Midwest’s success have received prestigious industry accolades, including the 2025 Kansas City Executive of the Year award from RE Journals, the 2023 Power Player Award from the Kansas City Business Journal, the 2020 Bernard Powell Award from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and inclusion in the 2010 inaugural class of the Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame.

“Real estate is ultimately about people and the environments we help create for them,” Reynolds said. “I am deeply grateful to the Hunt family for the opportunities and trust they have given me. Our ability to leverage our reputation, resources, and relationships is what makes Hunt Midwest such a special place. I am excited about the company’s future and am honored to remain a part of it.”

About Hunt Midwest

Hunt Midwest is a Kansas City-based, privately held real estate development company with six decades of expertise in industrial, self-storage, residential, multifamily, and senior living communities, with more than $3 billion of developed projects in multiple geographic markets. Hunt Midwest leverages its reputation, resources, and relationships to create successful real estate solutions. Hunt Midwest is one of the pillars of the Lamar Hunt Family’s holdings, which include interests in real estate, sports/entertainment, energy/natural resources, and private equity. Other marquee brands include the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, FC Dallas, Hunt Southwest, and Unity Hunt. Learn more at www.HuntMidwest.com.