Ethos | Calling
I was raised in Kentucky with a deep awareness of place—of land, community, and the responsibility that comes with both. Over time, that awareness has taken shape through the writings of Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold, whose ideas around local stewardship and land ethic continue to inform my work. Stewardship, to me, is not abstract; it is the practical, ongoing effort to care for the places and communities that sustain us. And when one has the ability to contribute meaningfully to that effort, there is a clear obligation to do so.
Professional Experience
Professionally, I work within an industry-leading civil engineering firm, contributing to large-scale infrastructure projects across water, wastewater, and environmental systems. My experience includes involvement in complex, high-impact efforts such as deep bedrock tunneling systems designed to reduce combined sewer overflows—projects that have prevented billions of gallons of untreated wastewater from entering public waterways. I have also supported wastewater system design and construction and the evaluation of infrastructure systems under demanding technical and regulatory conditions.
The Founding of The Kentucky Steward LLC
I established The Kentucky Steward in 2022 to more directly serve the communities and landscapes that first shaped my understanding of this work—particularly smaller towns, counties, landowners, and organizations that are often underserved in traditional consulting models. Through this effort, I provide independent technical guidance on infrastructure, environmental concerns, and development—ranging from assisting rural communities with complex projects such as large-scale industrial developments, to supporting legislative efforts that uphold the integrity of the Commonwealth’s waters and land. This work is conducted independently and in alignment with a simple aim: to support sound, responsible decisions that reflect long-term stewardship rather than short-term expediency.
Extracurricular and Additional Work Managed through TKS LLC
Outside of professional work, stewardship remains a daily practice—through my growing family, our small flock of sheep and chickens, and my continued writing across essays, fiction, and poetry centered on Kentucky’s pastoral life and sense of place. If you are working through a project, question, or challenge that would benefit from thoughtful technical perspective, I encourage you to visit the Services page to learn more. For general inquiries or initial conversation, please use the contact form below.
Fellow Stewards, keep stewarding the state!
R. M. True
Founder, Managing Director
The Kentucky Steward LLC
Please contact thekentuckysteward @ gmail ~dot~ com for all inquiries, or use the form below.