Episode 239. Angela Leet – Businesswoman & Metro Council Member 2014-2018
Angela Leet is an engineer, community leader, mom, and Metro Council member.
Angela grew up in Louisville’s Hikes Point area as the adopted daughter of 2 working class parents. Her parents modeled hard-work & determination. At a young age, Angela understood the importance of her own hard work & determination to create opportunities.
During the late 1970’s, Angela’s father, a United Auto Worker, was impacted by layoffs, forcing the family to make sacrifices in order to keep their family home. Angela’s father impressed upon her the importance of education as the gateway to success & Angela became determined to be the 1st in her family to graduate college. Working 3 minimum wage jobs to pay for her education, Angela saw that dream come to fruition in 1991 when she earned a Bachelor of Science from the J.B. Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville. She went on to earn a Master of Engineering degree in 1992 and in 1997 earned her MBA from the University of Houston. After graduation, Angela left Louisville. to pursue career interests in Texas and later in Indiana. In addition to her work as an environmental engineer, Angela trained as an industrial firefighter at Texas A&M & was previously certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in Texas. Angela met her husband, Lee, at the age of 18 while they were members in the Air Force ROTC at the University of Louisville. Lee, who grew up in South Louisville, is an engineer, entrepreneur & Air Force veteran. They have been married for 15 years and have 2 sons – Zak & Brennan.
After many years of hard work & dedication, Angela & Lee built QSR Automations Inc., a restaurant technology company & Chamberlin Enterprises. Today, these businesses employ over 100 local men and women. Having achieved her American dream, Angela is dedicated to helping others achieve theirs. She has used her engineering background as a construction volunteer, funding and building Habit for Humanity homes. She also served as a Habitat Board member & Chair of Women for Habitat. Angela currently serves as a Board Member of the Fund for the Arts, a Spalding University trustee, & a member of the WaterStep Advisory Committee. In 2014, Angela became a Metro Council member for District 7. Since her election, she has utilized her engineering & problem-solving skills, to push for more innovation in reducing crime & increasing the city’s budgeted resources for addiction services. Angela believes in an accountable government and has negotiated changes to state law to create more transparency in local government.