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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2026 · Fort Worth, Texas
Ofi Chito, LLC Appoints Randall Ford as Chief Operations Officer
Industry Veteran Joins National Commercial Entitlements Firm to Drive Continued Growth and Operational Excellence
FORT WORTH, Texas — Ofi Chito, LLC, a nationally recognized commercial land use planning and entitlements firm, today announced the appointment of Randall Ford as Chief Operations Officer. Ford joins Ofi Chito as a partner alongside founder and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Ford, bringing more than 25 years of commercial construction, operations, and compliance expertise to the firm’s leadership team.
Founded in 2022, Ofi Chito has established itself as a premier entitlements partner for commercial developers and corporate real estate teams across the country. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of pre-construction services, including land use planning, site development, permit expediting, utility coordination, environmental permitting, and project management, delivered with a reputation for tenacity, precision, and client-first service. Under Leslie Ford’s leadership, Ofi Chito has grown rapidly, earning recognition as a Best Place for Working Parents in 2024 and 2025 and being named to the Mavs100, a recognition of the 100 fastest-growing businesses founded or led by University of Texas at Arlington alumni, for three consecutive years, including a #2 ranking in 2026. The firm has built a national client base that includes major Quick Service Restaurant brands, institutional developers, and corporate real estate teams.
“Randall brings something we’ve needed as we’ve grown, deep operational expertise and a field-first perspective that complements everything we do on the entitlements side. This partnership has been in the making for a long time, and I couldn’t be more excited about what we’ll build together.”
— Leslie Ford, CEO, Ofi Chito, LLC
In his role as Chief Operations Officer, Randall Ford will lead the firm’s internal operations, with a focus on building the systems, processes, and team infrastructure necessary to support Ofi Chito’s continued national growth. His responsibilities will include operational oversight across the firm’s service lines, business development support, project management infrastructure, staff development, and the advancement of the firm’s utility coordination capabilities. Ford’s deep background in owner’s representation and construction management additionally positions the firm to broaden its client advisory capabilities as Ofi Chito continues to expand its national footprint.
“Leslie built something extraordinary here, a firm with a national reputation, a loyal client base, and a team that genuinely delivers. My job is to build the operational foundation that lets this company grow to the next level without losing what makes it great. I’m under no illusions about what it takes to earn your place in a firm like this. I’m looking forward to the work.”
— Randall Ford, COO, Ofi Chito, LLC
ABOUT RANDALL FORD
Randall Ford brings more than 25 years of experience across the full commercial construction lifecycle, beginning as an architectural draftsman producing construction documents for retail tenant build-outs before transitioning to construction management at RadioShack, where he oversaw tenant build-out and remodel programs at national scale. He subsequently served as a general contractor focused on retail and restaurant construction, ground-up and tenant build-out, nationwide. Most recently, Ford served for nearly eight years as Vice President of Operations at Westmoreland Builders, LLC, where he managed business operations, business development, and preconstruction services for the commercial general contracting firm, reporting directly to the CEO.
Ford holds a Texas Registered Accessibility Specialist license (RAS #1671), Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater (QCIS) certification, and licensure as a Qualified Preparer of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater: Texas, both issued by TCEQ. He is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Community Engagement
An active member of the Fort Worth civic and commercial real estate community, Ford serves as a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, and Fort Worth Forum. He was selected as a mentor for the 2026 Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth Young Leaders Council Mentor Series and volunteers with the Chahta Foundation, Lena Pope, the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation, and The Welman Project.
ABOUT OFI CHITO, LLC
Ofi Chito, LLC is a national commercial land use planning and entitlements firm offering a turnkey pre-construction solution for developers and corporate real estate teams. Founded by Leslie Ford in 2022 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Ofi Chito specializes in land use planning, site development, permit expediting, utility coordination, environmental permitting, and project management for commercial projects nationwide.
The firm is recognized as a leader in the entitlements industry, named to the Mavs100, the 100 fastest-growing businesses founded or led by University of Texas at Arlington alumni, for three consecutive years, including a #2 ranking in 2026, and recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents in 2024 and 2025. Ofi Chito is a majority woman-owned business serving clients ranging from national Quick Service Restaurant and retail brands to institutional developers and corporate real estate teams.
Philanthropy & Community
Ofi Chito is deeply committed to giving back to the communities it serves. The firm supports the Chahta Foundation through the Ofi Chito Opportunity Scholarship, providing financial assistance to Choctaw Nation students pursuing higher education. Ofi Chito additionally supports the following Fort Worth-area nonprofit organizations:
The Junior League of Fort Worth · Center for Transforming Lives · Recovery Resource Council · Lena Pope · The Welman Project · ACH Child and Family Services · The Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate · Women Steering Business
ofichito.com · Fort Worth, TX · (817) 207-7144 · info@ofichito.com
