About Leslie
Leslie Ford is the Founder and CEO of Ofi Chito, a Fort Worth-based firm specializing in land use, entitlements, permitting, and project management for commercial projects nationwide. Having spent over twenty years in commercial real estate, Leslie built Ofi Chito to give developers and corporate brands a single, knowledgeable, turnkey partner for everything that happens before construction — and to give them back the most valuable thing in development: time. She has a deep track record in the entitlements business and a reputation for being the one to call when you need to get a project vertical or land ready for sale. Each year, Leslie and her team execute hundreds of projects, navigating complex zoning issues, municipal red tape, and the tight schedules that come with successful development. Now in its fourth year, Ofi Chito was recently awarded the number two spot on the UTA Mavs100, a designation honoring the fastest-growing alumni-owned businesses.
Leslie holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and an MBA from Tarleton State University, along with certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Level 2 designation from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. She has been named a Fort Worth Business Press Corporate Philanthropy Champion and a 40 Under 40 recipient. Giving back is woven into the fabric of her success and who she is. She is deeply involved in the Fort Worth community, having recently completed service as Community Vice President for the Junior League of Fort Worth. She is a multi-year member of Women Steering Business, runs the giving circle 100 Women Who Care Fort Worth, and is a past board President of the Fort Worth Forum and SteerFW.
Leslie has been married to her husband Randall for 15 years and loves learning about wine, playing mahjong, and her company's namesake Great Danes, Eleanor and Stetson.