MCA Officers Michelle Hooper, AIA and Merrill Messick, AIA will be stepping down from their positions and retiring from the firm on June 30, 2022. Many of us have known both Michelle and Merrill for decades and consider them close friends in addition to valued colleagues and mentors. It has been an honor to work alongside each of them and their contributions to the firm throughout their careers—and especially over their tenure as officers—cannot be overstated. Under their leadership as officers the firm has thrived and grown and they have left a legacy of good corporate management that will serve us well into the future. This change in leadership is well-planned and a succession plan has been in place for some time to ensure the continued growth and resiliency of the firm.
With a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia, Michelle Hooper, AIA, started with MCA in 1986 and has served as Principal and Board Member since 2001. She was elected Vice President/Corporate Secretary by the Board of Directors in 2013. Michelle has also actively dedicated her time and talent to multiple industry organizations over the years such as the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), the Building Congress + Exchange, the Construction Industry Education Foundation, and Women Build: Women in Construction. Michelle served as MCA’s first expert in the Behavioral Health arena and over her career successfully managed multi-year, multi-project relationships for large institutional, corporate and government clients such as Sheppard Pratt, the Procter & Gamble and U.S. Navy, for well over three decades. We are a much stronger firm now due to Michelle’s dedication and contribution.
A graduate of the Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Merrill Messick, AIA, who has served as MCA’s Vice President and Treasurer since 2016, has been an integral part of MCA since joining the firm in 2007. With a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute + State University, Merrill became involved with many professional affiliations including the Construction Specifications Institute, the Society of American Military Engineers, City of Aberdeen Architectural Review Committee, and the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company where he served as an active firefighter for over 25 years. At MCA, Merrill served as a Practice Leader for our Private Enterprise and Federal Government sectors and, in addition to his management of MCA’s short and long-range financial planning, Merrill also oversaw the implementation of MCA’s Quality Control procedures.
Please join us in expressing our gratitude to both Michelle and Merrill for their years of dedication and accomplishment and our hope for a happy retirement!
