Rita M. Cortes
President
Hoffman Cortes Contracting

Rita Cortes is president and majority owner of Hoffman Cortes, a full-service general contracting company established in 1921 that provides complete commercial construction services across multiple industries throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. 

She also leads the three-person Hoffman Cortes executive management team that includes Scott Moffitt, vice president and director of operations, and Chuck Scammell, president, Hoffman Cortes Restoration, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoffman Cortes.

As president, Cortes oversees all company operations and directs the development and management of retail, office and commercial properties. She joined the company in 1994 as vice president and chief financial officer prior to taking over the management of the company in 1999.

The great granddaughter of company founder Morris Hoffman, Cortes previously was an attorney with Gordon, Estabrook, Yeonas & Pesner in McLean, Va., and served on the legislative staff for former U.S. Senator John C. Danforth. 

Cortes, a graduate of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Centurions Leadership Program, has received accolades for her outstanding business and civic involvement.  Honors include the Kansas City Business Journal’s 2002 Women Who Mean Business award and the Native Sons 2003 Scout Award, which recognizes future leaders of Kansas City.   The Women’s Intersport Network also named her 2002 Coach of the Year for her volunteer work with the Notre Dame de Sion girl’s varsity basketball team. 

In addition, she serves as school board chairman of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, is former board chair of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, is a participant in the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program and was appointed to the Kansas City Human Rights Commission by former Mayor Kay Barnes. She also is active with The Women’s Foundation of Greater KC, Congregation Beth Shalom and serves on the Advisory Board for Gold Bank.  

Cortes earned her undergraduate degree from Rice University in Houston, Tex., and a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.