Michael great is stepping into the role of Vice President of Architecture, succeeding Murray Jenkins, who was recently named President. As part of the succession plan established by the firm’s founders, this milestone elevation reflects Ankrom Moisan’s commitment to inspiring and empowering people to explore beyond the expected.
Michael Great, Ankrom Moisan’s new Vice President of Architecture.
Starting at Ankrom Moisan as a summer intern in the year 2000, Michael Great has served in various positions throughout the firm and its many studios, including Project Designer, Managing Principal, and, most recently, Design Director of Architecture.
“I had no idea how transformative that first step as a summer intern would be,” he shared. “Each role I’ve had since then has deepened my understanding of design excellence, our various disciplines, and how our business strategy works best when they’re deeply connected. That’s the mindset I’m bringing into this next chapter.”
Knowing the ins and outs of all levels of the firm firsthand, Michael sees his new role as a rare and meaningful opportunity to influence how we design, lead, and evolve.
Empowering Future Design Leaders
Building on our integrated architecture and interiors model, Michael will enhance collaboration across the firm, deepen community engagement, and expand mentorship and professional development opportunities. Investing in people is central to his vision.
One of his first orders of business is to meet with every architect to discuss their hopes, dreams, and visions. He sees it as a way to actively pivot with the industry, moving forward positively while elevating design through our designers.
Michael chats with colleagues in the Ankrom Moisan Portland office.
“I want every team member to feel both creatively fulfilled and professionally empowered,” he said. “Trying to make work flows easier for our practice groups and designers is my priority. When people feel supported, they create their best work.”
Michael hopes to support the professional growth of both architects and designers at the firm through mentorship, training, and purpose-built career pathways. “We’re identifying emerging leaders, pairing them with the right guidance, and giving them room to grow. I want to create a culture where people feel inspired and supported every step of the way,” Michael said. “When we do that, great design becomes inevitable.”
“I’m excited to build new systems of support where studio leaders are empowered, mentorship is intentional, and design is consistently elevated,” he said. “What drives me most is shaping a firm culture that champions creativity, accountability, and innovation in equal measure. These values will be the foundation as we continue to grow and redefine the future of Ankrom Moisan.”
Nurturing a Great Design Firm
Michael’s vision for the future of Ankrom Moisan coincides with the firm’s goal of providing great design to our clients, while nurturing a great place to design for our staff. “That’s not just aspirational – it’s operational,” Michael emphasized. By reinforcing design principles, optimizing workflows, and embedding diversity and mentorship across teams, this transition is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen both our creative output and our internal culture.
“My immediate focus is optimizing how we work,” he revealed. “By aligning our project processes with real-time performance insights, we can clearly see where our time is going and how it’s influencing project deliverables. The aim is simple: free up more time for thoughtful, creative design and reduce the burden of repetitive tasks.”
Optimizing Housing Architecture: Leveraging Mass Timber & Sustainable Design
According to Michael, the largest opportunity for optimizing, innovating, and elevating our design work lies within the housing market. “We’re looking at developing a dual-track model that combines bespoke architecture with scalable solutions – leveraging mass timber, modular systems, and a kit-of-parts approach,” he shared. “This allows us to serve both high-design and high-efficiency markets, while maintaining our commitment to sustainability and regional impact to housing needs.”
Michael Great sits at his desk in the Portland office.
Michael’s vision – along with the firm’s vision – for the future is in-line with Murray’s efforts while he served as Vice President of Architecture.
“Murray set a powerful precedent for collaborative leadership and has established many of the foundational systems that the firm relies on today,” Michael reflected. “I plan to build on that legacy by scaling our impact – taking what he’s built and amplifying those systems to support small growth, enhanced creativity, and operational clarity. That’s what this role is about – leading with vision, building momentum, and inviting others to join in a future that’s bold and full of possibility.”
“This isn’t a handoff,” he added. “It’s a progression. And I’m proud to be part of it.”