Joe Waters

Joe Waters started his career in architectural consulting and facilities management. A University of Kansas grad, he would go on to work as an architect and Assistant Director in the Facilities Planning Office at his alma mater. Waters served as the Johnson County Director of Facilities for nearly 20 years. Under Joe’s leadership, Johnson County built more than 20 new buildings and remodeled another 21 buildings. His final decade of service to Johnson County was as the Assistant County Manager overseeing central county services and infrastructure, and liaison, to the District Court, Election Office, Library Board and Park & Recreation Board. Joe was instrumental in the development and implementation of the County Leadership Empowers All People (LEAP) program, teaching for many years and championing the High-Performance Organization principles in theory and in practice. Joe is an alum of the University of Virginia’s LEAD and Senior Executive Institute programs, as well as the University of Kansas Certified Public Management program.