Cheryl McKissack Daniel

Chair of the Board, McKissack & McKissack

Cheryl McKissack Daniel is the Chair of the Board of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority- and woman-owned design and construction firm in the United States, and the Chair of the New York Building Congress, one of the construction industry’s most influential organizations. A fifth-generation builder, civil engineer, and author, Cheryl represents a living legacy of American builders and leadership that spans more than two centuries.

With more than 35 years of experience in engineering, construction management, and infrastructure development, Cheryl has led some of the nation’s most complex and transformative projects. Under her leadership, McKissack & McKissack has overseen more than $50 billion in construction projects in the past decade, including the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, the LaGuardia Central Terminal Redevelopment, JP Morgan Chase Corporate Headquarters, Columbia University’s Manhattanville Expansion, the Coney Island Hospital Campus Renovation, and oversee the capital program for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the largest transportation system in the United States.

Cheryl’s leadership reflects a family story deeply woven into the fabric of American history. Her family’s journey began with an enslaved Ashanti ancestor in 1790 and continued with her grandfather, Moses McKissack III, who founded the family engineering and construction firm in 1905. The company was later led by her father, William DeBerry McKissack, and expanded by her mother, Leatrice Buchanan McKissack. Today, Cheryl carries that legacy forward as a steward of both the firm and the broader narrative of builders whose contributions helped shape the nation’s infrastructure and economy.  

She is also the author of The Black Family Who Built America (Simon & Schuster), which traces her family’s extraordinary journey from enslavement to entrepreneurship and modern-day business leadership. Through the book, Cheryl shines a light on the often-overlooked contributions of Black builders, engineers, and architects who played a foundational role in constructing America’s cities, institutions, and infrastructure.  

A respected national voice on infrastructure, leadership, and generational wealth, Cheryl’s insights have been featured across major media platforms including CBS Mornings, ABC, Bloomberg, and nationally syndicated radio. Her work and perspective have also been highlighted in The New York Times, Forbes, and LinkedIn, and she has appeared on cultural platforms such as The Breakfast Club, bringing the conversation about legacy, leadership, and the business of building to broad audiences.

In recognition of her impact, Cheryl has been named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50 list, the National Urban League, BLACK ENTERPRISE: BE Top 100s list, EBONY Power 100, among numerous other honors. She serves on several corporate and civic boards dedicated to infrastructure innovation, workforce development, and inclusive economic growth.

As both a builder and storyteller, Cheryl McKissack Daniel continues to shape the future of infrastructure while honoring a legacy that proves builders—often unseen—have always been among the architects of America’s progress.