Kier + Wright elevates Marilynn Stratton to chief strategy officer

By AI, Created 6:05 PM UTC, May 22, 2026, /AGP/ – Kier + Wright has promoted Marilynn Stratton, CPSM, to chief strategy officer after six years guiding marketing, strategy and leadership development at the civil engineering firm and its KWRE affiliate. The move formalizes her role in aligning both companies, deepening client relationships and steering growth as the industry faces private equity pressure and AI-driven change.

Why it matters: - Kier + Wright is turning a marketing and strategy leader into a top executive role as the firm and KWRE push for a more unified direction. - The promotion signals a larger focus on client relationships, leadership development and long-term positioning in a changing engineering market. - Stratton’s new role comes as private equity and AI are reshaping how firms compete and deliver work.

What happened: - Kier + Wright elevated Marilynn Stratton, CPSM, to chief strategy officer. - Stratton joined K+W six years ago as marketing director. - The announcement also covers KWRE, where Stratton has played a strategic role. - The promotion recognizes her work across marketing, firm strategy and leadership development.

The details: - Stratton arrived at K+W with one marketing admin, Word-based proposals and no formal roadmap. - She helped build a marketing team around individual strengths and career paths rather than traditional roles. - She worked with firm leadership on a multi-year strategic plan. - She helped support a national launch for KWRE. - She helped create the emerging leaders seminar and senior leaders boot camp. - Chuck McCallum, PE, CEO of K+W and co-founder of KWRE, said Stratton’s ability to look at the company’s overall strategy, not just marketing, was critical. - McCallum said the new title recognizes the work Stratton has already delivered. - McCallum said the firm needed someone who could see the whole picture and help principals deliver the shared vision. - Ryan Amaya, PLS, senior principal, said clients rely on the firm to bring industry intelligence to them intentionally. - Emad Sarieddine, PE, chief operating officer, said strategy without alignment is only a plan on paper. - Stratton said the role reflects a commitment to client legacy, growth and future needs. - Stratton said her leadership style is rooted in mentorship as a daily practice. - Stratton said the appointment honors who she is and who she was created to be.

Between the lines: - The promotion formalizes a pattern already in place: Stratton has been operating as a cross-functional strategy leader, not just a marketer. - K+W appears to be using the role to connect client service, internal alignment and talent development under one executive umbrella. - The emphasis on culture suggests the firm sees differentiation as much about values and leadership as technical capability.

What’s next: - Stratton will focus on deepening client relationships from transactional to strategic. - She will work to align K+W and KWRE around a single direction. - She will continue investing in talent development for future leaders. - K+W says the leadership team is aiming to lead, not follow, industry change.

The bottom line: - K+W is betting that strategy, culture and client trust should sit at the center of its next phase of growth. - The company is placing that mandate in Stratton’s hands.