Leadership

Joe Pazdan, a Greenville, South Carolina native, is an enthusiastic community leader and advocate recognized for a hands-on approach and dedicated level of service. He is an avid member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is actively engaged in economic development and private investment initiatives across the Southeast. Joe has overseen the planning and design of retail, hospitality, mixed-use, office, and industrial projects for the firm’s Corporate and Community Studios. He currently sits on ULI’s National Sustainable Development Council and has also served as Vice Chair for South Carolina’s District Council.

Brad’s role includes staff development, continuous integration of firm culture and internal communications. Brad has a diverse background of project experience including higher education, healthcare, commercial, civic, and community projects. A gifted facilitator, Brad often guides planning, programming, and design charrettes to engage stakeholders in the creative analysis of needs and effective solutions.

Ron Smith, a western North Carolina native, operates out of the Spartanburg office and focuses on the needs of community, K-12, and higher education clients. He was the original founder of McMillan Smith & Partners, a predecessor of the current firm, and is an entrepreneur at heart. A former collegiate football player with NFL experience, Ron is an avid sports and recreation enthusiast and has worked on more than 60 college campuses in the Southeast. Ron has received numerous award and publication opportunities centered on planning and design of effective educational environments.

As the Chief Executive Officer, Chad directs the firm’s strategic initiatives with an emphasis on firm operations, project management, and technology. He focuses on business leadership, processes, and financial performance guiding the firm’s growth across the Southeast. Chad has served in numerous leadership roles in the design, construction, and technology industries.

Karen oversees business development and marketing initiatives, identifying potential client needs and the appropriate strategic response to meet them. With decades of experience, she has guided the successful geographic and market sector expansion of five studios and multiple office locations.

Danielle has extensive human resources experience in the financial services, consulting, and healthcare industries, prior to joining MPS. She has a B.S. in Business Management from Florida State University. In her role, Danielle leads our Human Resources efforts and is passionate about providing a unique and valuable employee experience — including promoting employee wellness and a culture of inclusion while supporting the firm’s long-standing community partnerships. A native of Hobe Sound, Florida, Danielle has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina since 2005. She enjoys spending free time with her family, exploring all that the city and Carolinas have to offer.

Mark brings extensive experience to MPS in the role of Chief Operating Officer. He is a licensed CPA and received his MBA in finance and accounting from Boston University. Mark was previously the President of a manufacturing company and has also worked in finance, operations, and general management for several global companies. At MPS, Mark focuses on financial management, team development, and support services optimization firmwide. He loves using his experience to be a part of the positive impact MPS makes in all of the communities where we operate. Mark and his wife Katie have lived in South Carolina since 2008. They have four children.

K.J.’s professional experience in a broad range of project types has resulted in a distinctive collaborative style. He works closely with both public and private sector clients throughout South Carolina and North Carolina, with a primary emphasis on developer-led projects. K.J. has overseen some of the firm’s most significant projects and continues to manage all office, retail, restaurant, adaptive reuse, hospitality, and industrial manufacturing design work.

As Director of Project Delivery, Anne works closely with firm leadership and project management teams. She provides guidance, direction, and increased training opportunities in a continued effort to support effective project planning and management. Through these initiatives, Anne further reinforces the firm’s commitment to design delivery success and client satisfaction. She also brings over 30 years of project design and management experience to firm. Upon McMillan Pazdan Smith’s asset acquisition of McKellar & Associates in 2012, Anne served as the Director of Operations for the firm’s Charleston office. In this role, Anne demonstrated consistent professionalism in her practice, with attention to project and operational organization, leadership, and excellence.

As Director of Design Engagement, Cary provides direction and focus to further our firm’s design culture. She works to support the creative process in all offices and studios by promoting diversity of thought, cross-pollination between creative teams, and regular critique as a cultural objective. She also helps to develop design talent firm wide toward an ever-deepening culture of design excellence and innovation. Cary’s efforts extend to the communities McMillan Pazdan Smith serves through forums that encourage community engagement, external feedback, and idea-sharing. Prior to being named Principal and taking on this role, Cary served as a Project Architect and Project Manager in the Community Studio where she primarily focused on educational, non-profit, and cultural spaces. Her strengths in communication, design, and commitment to quality and excellence in the finished product have allowed her to play a key role in many of the firm’s notable award-winning projects.