Cheryl McKissack, founder and CEO of The McKissack Group, Inc., has more than 20 years of experience in all phases of the construction industry, including major project work in the commercial, healthcare, education and transportation sectors. Born in Nashville to architect William D. Berry and teacher Leatrice McKissack, Cheryl represents the fifth generation of the McKissack family’s century old business, McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority and woman-owned professional design and construction firm in the nation.

The McKissack Group provides comprehensive architectural, engineering, construction management and consulting services for various project types throughout the East Coast and the United States. The McKissack family of services extends into areas of expertise beyond traditional A/E/C disciplines, broadly supporting client needs related to their facilities. Over the years, Cheryl has built upon the success of her firm’s fore parents by fostering long lasting relationships and by providing innovative solutions to complex projects. Her success stems from her unique ability to listen, ask the right questions, lead through expertise, and always being prepared.

To each project her firm undertakes, Cheryl brings capabilities drawn from her staff of architects, engineers, and construction professionals. Her company currently employs over 100 employees and has contracted more than $50 billion dollars in construction over the past decade. Within McKissack clients find a mastery of talent blended with commitment, resources, and implementation skills, all under the leadership of Cheryl McKissack.
As president and CEO, Cheryl serves as Project Executive on all of the firm’s high profile projects. In this capacity, she provides executive leadership and ensures that diversity is implemented during each phase of a project or program. Her skills include expertise in estimating, scheduling, design review, document control, construction inspection, and developing and implementing quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) programs. Some of Cheryl’s most distinguished clients include Columbia University, the Dormitory of the State of New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Housing Authority, and Philadelphia International Airport.

Cheryl is also an active community leader, and serves on various community boards including the Philadelphia Authority of Industrial Development and the National Liberty Museum Board, where she was recently honored as a “Hero of Liberty” for her support of humanitarian initiatives and for promoting the responsibilities of a free and diverse America. Cheryl served as co-chair on Philadelphia Mayor John Street’s Transition Committee for Small Business, and is an active member in the New York Building Congress, Women in Transportation (WTS), and other professional organizations.