Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates (MCA), a national, award-winning commercial interior design firm, announced today the promotion of Josh Kassing from vice president, design development to senior vice president.
In his new role, Kassing will focus on leading the firm’s continued growth, together with MCA founder and president Mary Cook. This includes working to enhance and develop MCA’s design practice while also cultivating and winning business opportunities through existing and new client relationships across national markets.
“Josh’s talent, passion and enthusiasm has been invaluable in our growth as a fully integrated interior architecture, procurement and installation firm tackling increasingly complex projects nationally across commercial, multifamily and hospitality sectors,” said Cook. “His ability to build relationships and connect with people, whether colleagues or clients, has allowed Josh to spearhead our business development efforts and grow his leadership responsibilities to shape the daily operations and culture of our firm.”
Kassing joined Mary Cook Associates in 2017 as creative director. The following year he was promoted to vice president, the youngest in MCA’s 37-year history. In 2020 Kassing became the first head of MCA’s Concept Studio, which he helped envision as an organizational structure to synthesize business development and design strategy during the earliest stages of a project. He has also been integral to MCA’s business development efforts, helping to expand work with current clients to encompass additional business divisions and geographic markets, as well as identifying and landing opportunities with new clients in a variety of sectors and product types.
“At Mary Cook Associates I’ve had the opportunity to carve out my own path and create a niche where I can use my passion and skills to bridge our design work and the marketing and business development side of this industry,” said Kassing. “I’m incredibly excited to fuel the trajectory of this company by continuing to explore the many different opportunities there are to bring our design approach to real estate projects, engaging with clients to create spaces that are tailored to the end user and ultimately deliver tangible business results – which we call Return on Environment.”
Throughout his tenure with MCA, Kassing’s expertise has guided the design of projects across the country, including work in East Coast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern markets as well as several Southeast and Southwestern states. Kassing’s ability to grow business relationships with clients has allowed MCA to expand into new markets and build a diverse client roster that features 30+ firms including Toll Brothers, M/I Homes, CIM Group, Golub & Company, BNE, Lombardo Homes, and others. To help reach existing, new and potential clients in non-conventional ways, Kassing was instrumental in drafting a series of white papers to share trends, ideas and insights via the firm’s website, social media and email marketing.
Originally from Eau Claire, Wisc., Kassing received his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Iowa State University, where he also served as a studio instructor for the College of Design. Before joining Mary Cook Associates, Kassing worked at global architecture and design firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and The Gettys Group, a global design firm with a hospitality focus.
For more information about Mary Cook Associates, visit www.marycook.com.
About Mary Cook Associates:
Established in 1986, Mary Cook Associates (MCA) is a fully integrated interior architecture and design firm nationally known for creating innovative interiors for leading owners and developers of real estate. The firm’s projects include multifamily, model homes, student living, senior living, clubhouses, restaurants, and hospitality environments. MCA’s work emphasizes functionality, showcases possibilities, and delivers a measurable Return on Environment (ROE℠).
MCA’s team includes more than two dozen designers and architects that are strategic, imaginative and skilled at designing a wide variety of spaces that respond to demographic, geographic and lifestyle influences of target markets. Smart, functional spaces that establish immediate connections with their users and boost Living Better by Design℠, increase property value, and accelerate sales and occupancy rates are the hallmarks of the results MCA consistently achieves. In its 37th year, the firm continues to expand its national presence with award-winning work across the country.
