Deryl McKissack

Deryl McKissack is a prominent figure in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. She is the President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack, a national architecture, engineering, program- and construction-management firm that she founded in 1990.12 McKissack is also the Founder and Chair of AEC Unites, an organization launched in 2023 to increase Black participation and leadership in the AEC industry.4

As a licensed professional engineer and the fifth generation of her family to work in the design and construction field, McKissack has led her firm to manage over $15 billion in projects nationwide.12 Some notable projects under her leadership include:

• The Museum of African-American History and Culture on the National Mall
• MGM National Harbor Casino
• Navy Pier Centennial Projects in Chicago
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC (architectural firm of record)

McKissack's company has grown to 170 employees with offices in multiple cities across the United States.1 Her firm is ranked by Engineering News-Record as one of the top Construction Management For-Fee firms in the nation.1

McKissack's background includes:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Howard University
• Work experience at Turner Construction and Dames & Moore before founding her own company
• Starting McKissack & McKissack in 1990 with a budget of $1,00013

Throughout her career, McKissack has faced and overcome challenges related to systemic racism and unconscious biases in the AEC industry.4 Her experiences have motivated her to create AEC Unites, which aims to increase diversity and create sustainable opportunities for Black professionals and businesses in the AEC sector.4