09 Sep Mary Cook Associates Appoints Four New Directors
Mary Cook Associates Appoints Four New Directors
New roles advance next generation team-based leadership
CHICAGO (June 8, 2026) — Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates (MCA), a national, award-winning commercial interior architecture firm appointed four emerging leaders to Directors: Katie Schelinski, Director, Studio Operations; Sara Murray, Director, Innovation; Jaben Temple, Director, Design; and Ann Marie Kiener, Director, Procurement.
The appointments coincide with the firm’s 40th anniversary and reflect the firm’s revitalized commitment to integrated client service, part of Founder and CEO Mary Cook’s and recently named Managing Principal Josh Kassing’s course for future growth.
The directors bring decades of combined industry experience and involvement with a comprehensive range of MCA’s services and capabilities to the newly created leadership roles. Under the shared leadership model, the team will collaborate on both strategic and day-to-day initiatives while working closely with the firm’s senior executives.
“Elevating the roles and responsibilities of the directors creates a strengthened band of operational and project-level leadership that plays to each of their strengths,” said Josh Kassing. “By empowering these leaders, we are expanding the strategic thinking and hands-on stewardship that help our clients create environments that perform beautifully and deliver measurable results.”
Katie Schelinski, Director, Studio Operations: With more than a decade of design, project management, and leadership experience, Katie oversees successful project delivery through strategic staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and operational processes. She seamlessly bridges creative vision with operational strategy to develop innovative solutions that support both design excellence and project execution. Katie has been with MCA since 2012.
Sara Murray, Director, Innovation: With a primary focus on innovation, Sara combines design leadership with forward-thinking strategies that elevate both the creative process and the client experience. In addition to overseeing MCA’s Innovation Studio and serving as a design director across a wide range of projects, she guides project teams from early concept through execution while shaping the firm’s approach to visualization and emerging technology tools and platforms. Sara has been with MCA since 2021.
Jaben Temple, Director, Design: Managing a formalized design process that is rooted in MCA’s proprietary approach – The 7 Fundamentals – Jaben brings a decade of diverse design experience and architectural know-how to ensure the highest quality across MCA projects. He provides strategic design direction to the studio, and regularly collaborates with leadership, operations, and innovation teams to guide design strategy throughout all project phases. Jaben joined MCA in 2018.
Ann Marie Kiener, Director, Procurement: With a robust understanding of what clients and teams need throughout the life cycle of a project, Ann Marie brings more than two decades of experience in real estate and interior design to serving the procurement needs of MCA clients. She leads the Procurement team in providing the tools, resources and training needed for successful project execution while also overseeing Procurement’s multifaceted operations. Ann Marie began her tenure with MCA in 2019.
As MCA continues to mark its 40th anniversary, the newly appointed Directors along with the firm’s entire team of talented professionals will actively participate in its next phase of growth by building on its legacy of delivering exceptional design solutions.
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 ROE® (Return on Environment).
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 40th year, the firm continues to expand its national presence with award-winning work across the country. www.marycook.com.