McKissack& McKissack, one of the nation’s leading Black- and woman-owned architecture, engineering and construction companies, today announced the addition of two new members to its national leadership team in its Washington, D.C., office: Nijah Barley as Director of Information Technology. Barley is bringing amplified tech experience back to the MWBE where he started. He is a seasoned IT expert with a track record of implementing new technologies and systems to improve company productivity and profit.
Barley began his career at McKissack after graduating college, supporting the firm’s increasingly progressive IT systems to sustain cutting edge developments in program management and construction management, architecture and engineering. After four years at McKissack, Barley moved to the Washington office of McKinsey& Co., where he spent three years working with teams around the world and learning large-scale enterprise systems. His was there during the Covid-19 pandemic and helped transition 1,500 colleagues to virtual options for the shift to work-from-home. Throughout, he kept in touch with former colleagues and his mentor, McKissack’s former V.P. of IT Andrew Corn.
“McKissack was much more than just a job; the team and Deryl are my family. When I went to Mckinsey, it was always with the intention that I would return someday to bring back what I learned,” he said. “I knew that I needed to learn, have exposure to other industries and develop a broader skillset to bring back different tools and a growth mindset.” Now that he oversees McKissack’s IT department, he plans to build on the company’s existing cloud infrastructure to not only maximize productivity but also embrace vanguard technologies as they emerge. Priorities include innovation, cybersecurity and adhering to industry best practice. “I'm looking to increase the odds of our success for the work we try to win and make sure that the work we're putting forward is gold-star standard and leaves a lasting impression with clients,” he said.
Barley, who’s originally from Brooklyn and now lives in Silver Spring, Md., graduated from Howard University in Washington with a bachelor’s degree. While a student, he worked on Howard’s IT support desk. He recalled, “I'll never forget the day when I walked in for my first interview at McKissack & McKissack. I was just astounded by a fellow Howard University grad, Deryl McKissack, having an office in downtown D.C. and being the founder and CEO of such a thriving business with so much history. That has always stuck with me.”
About McKissack & McKissack: Founded in 1990, McKissack is a national woman- and minority- owned architecture, engineering, program- and construction-management firm dedicated to delivering industry-leading expertise and best-in-class services to a diverse array of clients in all market sectors. McKissack strives to work with clients to envision and deliver building and infrastructure projects that enrich people’s lives and empower communities to flourish. Based in Washington D.C. with offices in Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles, McKissack’s three services areas are architecture and interiors, program and construction management and infrastructure. It is ranked by Engineering News-Record among the top 50Program Management Firms and top 100 Construction Management For-Fee firms in the nation. Learn more at mckinc.com.
