Who We Are

Cheryl McKissack Daniel is Chair of the Board for McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority- and woman-owned design and construction firm in the nation. A fifth-generation builder and author of The Black Family Who Built America (Simon & Schuster, August 2025), she carries forward her family’s 230-year legacy while shaping the future of infrastructure, equity, and generational wealth.

A civil engineer, author, and executive with more than 30 years of experience, Cheryl has led all phases of the design and construction industry, overseeing major projects across the commercial, healthcare, education, and transportation sectors. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, she represents the fifth generation of a remarkable family legacy that began with an enslaved Ashanti ancestor in 1790.

Her grandfather, Moses McKissack, founded the family business in 1905. Her father, William DeBerry McKissack, carried it forward in 1968, and her mother, Leatrice Buchanan McKissack, expanded it after her husband’s passing. Today, Cheryl leads McKissack & McKissack into its second century, building on her family’s history of resilience, ingenuity, and innovation.

Under her leadership, McKissack provides construction management, program management, and consulting services nationwide, with a primary focus on infrastructure, transit, healthcare, and education. With more than 150 employees, the firm has managed over $50 billion in construction during the past decade. McKissack has been central to some of New York’s most transformative projects, including the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Central Terminal Building Redevelopment, Columbia University’s Manhattanville Expansion, Coney Island Hospital Campus Renovation, and as Independent Engineer Consultant to the MTA—the largest transportation system in the nation.

Cheryl’s book, The Black Family Who Built America, is a sweeping narrative tracing her family’s journey from enslavement to entrepreneurship and modern-day business leadership. It not only highlights the McKissack’s’ pioneering contributions to American architecture, engineering, and construction, but also underscores the broader truth that Black families have been foundational builders of America’s physical, cultural, and economic landscape. Through this work, Cheryl inspires conversations around generational wealth, representation, and the power of perseverance.

Her leadership extends beyond her company. Cheryl serves on numerous corporate, civic, and philanthropic boards, emphasizing strategic planning, governance, and inclusive growth. She has been honored as a “Hero of Liberty” for her humanitarian efforts and was recently named the 2025 Corporate Global Citizen Award Honoree by Global Kids, celebrating her leadership and global impact.

A proud alumna of Howard University, Cheryl holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, as well as graduate coursework in civil engineering from Columbia University. With her unique ability to listen, ask the right questions, and lead with vision and preparedness, Cheryl continues to serve as a trailblazer—honoring her family’s 230-year legacy while shaping the future of infrastructure, equity, and generational wealth.

Carlo A. Scissura, Esq. is President & CEO of the New York Building Congress, a position he has held since January 2017.

The New York Building Congress is a broad-based membership association committed to promoting the growth and success of the construction industry in New York City and its environs. The organization – which includes members from across the building community – provides a unique forum to advance an industry-wide agenda focusing on economic and infrastructure investment, job creation, and professional exchange.

Carlo and his team have spurred tremendous growth at the Building Congress. With record membership, increased visibility across the five boroughs and the entire region, and a focus on securing infrastructure investment from the city, state and federal levels of government, the Building Congress is stronger and more influential than ever.

Prior to joining the Building Congress, Carlo was President & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Under Carlo’s leadership, the Chamber became one of New York’s largest business advocacy and economic development organizations, and its membership grew by more than 200 percent to over 2,200 members. During this historic period of growth, the Chamber’s efforts were widely recognized as creating national models for business development, outreach and technical assistance, and regional branding.

Carlo served both as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for nearly five years before leading the Brooklyn Chamber. During his tenure, he restructured operations at Borough Hall and served as senior advisor to the Borough President. He focused on driving the borough’s economic development agenda, working closely with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and served on the Boards of EDC, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and Brooklyn Public Library.

A graduate of both Pace University and Pace Law School, Carlo owned a thriving solo practice law firm in Dyker Heights prior to joining the Borough President’s Office. He previously served on the staffs of State Senator Vincent Gentile and Assemblyman Peter Abbate.

Carlo is the Chair of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations, where he has spearheaded the building of the new Italian Cultural and Community Center in Brooklyn. He is a member of the Boards of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., The New York City Regional Economic Development Council, ACE Mentorship, Salvadori Center and the Friends of the BQX. Carlo is a former member of Community Board 11 in Brooklyn and the District 20 School Board and Community Education Council. Carlo was the Chair of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway redevelopment panel, tasked with evaluating options for the replacement of the aging highway from the Atlantic Avenue interchange to Sands Street in Brooklyn. Carlo has also received numerous honors and awards for his work.

Born and raised in Bensonhurst, Carlo is a lifelong Brooklyn resident. He currently lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with his daughter, Teresa Rose.