06.15.2022 — Shelley Clark’s colleagues, friends, and family gathered on June 15 to celebrate her nearly 40-year career at MKA during a retirement party at the Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle. In honor of Shelley, MKA donated $20,000 to the ACE Mentor Program in her name—which Shelley matched!  It was a fitting gesture for someone who blazed a trail as a woman in engineering throughout her career. Shelley encouraged others to contribute and even floated the idea of an endowment scholarship to benefit girls who graduate from the ACE program. Many thanks and congratulations to Shelley for her years of contributions to MKA and the engineering industry!

» Shelley Clark’s Career Celebration

01.10.2022 — With heartfelt sadness, we share the passing of our friend and colleague, Bill Ward. Bill joined our firm in June 1954 as the firm’s name was transitioning from W.H. Witt Company to Worthington & Skilling and served in many capacities until his retirement at the end of 1991.  His influence can still be felt in the culture of our firm.  He was known as an engineer’s engineer and a very kind, fair, and considerate person.

Bill earned his BSCE at Santa Clara University in 1950.  When Bill joined the firm there were 13 employees.  He was a very versatile engineer with the ability to work on both structural and civil engineering assignments.

In 1978, Bill was promoted to Partner and was responsible for firm operations as COO.  He brought a new, more progressive approach to the human resources part of firm management.  Many of his initiatives still benefit the firm today. In 1983, Bill was elected President and COO and served in that capacity until his retirement.  At the time of his election to President, the firm name changed to Skilling Ward Rogers Barkshire.

Bill was active professionally in both the Structural Engineers Association of Washington and the American Council of Engineering Companies – Washington.  He was elected as the SEAW Seattle Chapter President in 1973 and was selected as the SEAW Engineer of the Year in 1985.  He was also named ACEC-Washington Engineer of the Year.

For those that knew Bill, we all share the sadness of losing a great friend.  We are better people having known Bill Ward.

» Honoring Bill Ward, 1926-2022