[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 72 (Thursday, May 3, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CHERYL McKISSACK FELDER--ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ACHIEVEMENT

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 3, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to acknowledge 
the business achievement of Cheryl McKissack Felder and to enter into 
the Record an article from the Carib News.
  I am so proud to acknowledge the achievements of Cheryl McKissack 
Felder, descendant of Moses McKissack, a slave who became a master 
builder and one of America's first contractors. Ms. McKissack is a part 
of a family that has a long history of entrepreneurship and 
accomplished architects. She obtained a BS degree in civil engineering 
from Peabody Demon stration School and a M.S. degree from Howard 
University. Her career began at the Department of Defense where she was 
involved with quality assurance and control for government research 
projects. Later, she worked for firms in New York City as a civil 
engineer and estimator. A major project that she worked on involved the 
restoration of the Schomburg Theatre. Following in the footsteps of her 
ancestors, she opened the architecture and design firm McKissack and 
McKissack in 1999.
  Her firm has worked on several significant projects including the 
Lincoln Financial Field football stadium and the US Airways 
International Terminal both in Philadelphia. Most recently the firm was 
selected to oversee the reconstruction of the Vanderbilt Rail Yards as 
a part of the Atlantic Yards Project in Brooklyn New York. Being 
selected for this project is remarkable and I congratulate Cheryl 
McKissack and her firm.
  I'm extremely happy to know that minority owned firms are being 
selected for projects that will enhance the economic and residential 
life for New York City residents. The Atlantic Yards Project will 
provide much needed jobs, housing, and commercial real estate. For that 
I'm grateful and wish Cheryl McKissack and her firm well on this and 
other future projects.

Cheryl McKissack Felder, CEO Of The McKissack Group Inc. Takes On First 
                    Phase Of Atlantic Yards Project

       Construction crews recently kicked off the prep work needed 
     for the first phase of The Atlantic Yards project in 
     Brooklyn, a residential and commercial development that will 
     include an arena for the Nets basketball team. Under the 
     Atlantic Yards Community Benefits Agreement, negotiated with 
     Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), qualified minority- and 
     women-owned contractors were among the firms given due 
     consideration for execution of the project.
       Cheryl McKissack Felder, CEO of The McKissack Group, 
     confirmed to Carib news that her firm has been selected to 
     oversee the reconstruction of the Vanderbilt Rail Yards. A 
     firm with a proven track record of having successfully 
     executed similar projects, CEO Cheryl McKissack comes from a 
     family of architects that started with an enslaved Ashanti 
     ancestor in 1790.
       As a slave, Moses McKissack first became a master builder 
     under the tutelage of his owner, William McKissack, one of 
     America's first contractors. Grandfather Moses McKissack 
     founded the family business in 1905. Felder's father, William 
     DeBerry McKissack, took it over in 1968 and Felder's mother, 
     Leatrice Buchanan McKissack managed the business after her 
     husband died.
       Felder attended Peabody Demonstration School, earning a 
     B.S. degree in civil engineering in 1981 and M.S. degree in 
     1983 from Howard University. At the United States Department 
     of Defense, Felder provided quality assurance and quality 
     control for government research projects, including MX 
     missile silos, the United States Embassy anti-terrorist 
     program and a large space structures project for NASA.
       From 1985 to 1989, she worked as a civil engineer for 
     Weidlinger Associates and, in 1989, she served as an 
     estimator for Turner Construction, both New York City firms. 
     Felder also served as the estimation manager for the $2.5 
     million restoration/addition of the historic Schomburg 
     Theatre. In 1991, she formed The McKissack Group (TMG), a 
     full service construction management firm now with offices in 
     New York City and Philadelphia. In 1999, Felder launched 
     McKissack and McKissack Associates, an architecture and 
     design company.
       As The McKissack Group's chief executive officer, Felder 
     managed construction of the US Airways maintenance hangar in 
     Philadelphia. She also served as project executive for the 
     Medgar Evers Academic Building and Student Support Services 
     buildings in Brooklyn, New York. Felder was the principal in 
     charge of Philadelphia's $395 million Lincoln Financial Field 
     football stadium, the $450 million US Airways International 
     Terminal in Philadelphia and the $1.5 billion renovation and 
     reconstruction of the School District of Philadelphia.
       As Felder intimated, the prep work will involve the 
     reconstruction of the Vanderbilt Rail Yards and is expected 
     to extend for some two years into 2008, alongside the works 
     for construction of the arena. In her view, this represents a 
     great economic boost for Brooklyn in terms of the creation of 
     jobs. In spite of protest from some community groups, the 
     inclusion of an affordable housing component as part of the 
     plan will also ensure that not all of the residents will be 
     permanently uprooted.
       ``The At1antic Yards'' CBA is an important milestone for 
     New York's construction industry,'' she said. ``By including 
     diverse firms--and diverse individuals--from the start, I 
     think this project is living up not only to the extraordinary 
     standards of Forest City Ratner, one of the most committed 
     and progressive companies out there today, but living up as 
     well to the values of Brooklyn, where inclusion is a way of 
     life and diversity is a badge of honor.''
       In response to queries regarding challenges faced in the 
     industry, Ms. McKissack remarked that she is fully cognizant 
     of the myriad challenges faced by minorities with regard to 
     venture funding and career advancement. However, on the 
     strength of a stellar family reputation in the construction 
     field, her firm has acquired an excellent track record and 
     will continue to maintain the tradition and performance 
     standards commensurate with that of the oldest minority-owned 
     professional design and construction firm.

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