Kristen Leathers-Gratton, PE

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Kristen Leathers-Gratton is the president of Affinis. Committed to her clients, colleagues, and co-workers, she embraces our firm’s core values. Her collaborative, team-based approach is not unlike our founder’s – or her co-worker’s.

What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to be an architect or archaeologist.

What groups or organizations are you involved with in your community?
I have been a part of the American Lung Association’s (ALA) local leadership board since 2016. My connection to the organization is a personal one. In 2011, my first husband Hunter was diagnosed with and died from lung cancer. Watching him struggle to breathe and fight to live gave me a greater purpose for helping others. Working with ALA lets me share our story and support others who are living with lung disease. Hearing others’ success stories and how the ALA has made a positive impact on their lives motivates me to do more each year.

What would you have for your last meal?
Pot roast with mashed potatoes and brown gravy, carrots, homemade rolls and Grandma’s apple pie or chocolate pie – no salad!

What is your favorite way to move communities forward?
From a young age, I have been passionate about solving problems, and now, it is something I get to do every day as a civil engineer. In that role, you might see me working in local neighborhoods or backyards to repair stormwater systems, pave roadways, or reduce flooding. Those kinds of projects have an immediate, positive impact on the way people live, which I find rewarding. Often, these changes create a pathway for economic growth, increasing quality of life and safety. Helping to move communities forward through problem solving is something I feel lucky to do.