McMillan Pazdan Smith has promoted Ben Thompson to Chief Practice Officer
October 26, 2026
A new leadership role focuses on delivering excellent client value across all the firm’s design practice areas.
McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) has promoted Ben Thompson from its K-12 Practice Area Leader to Chief Practice Officer. This role will steward the firm’s core architectural practice, focused on quality, strategy, and delivery in each of the firm’s specialized practices and markets.
Over the past several years, MPS has expanded purposefully in its national reach and deepening expertise with educational, healthcare, commercial, industrial, civic, and cultural clients.
“Our growing MPS team is positioned for continued excellence and expansion in architecture, planning, and advisory practice,” said Chad Cousins, CEO. “Ben has demonstrated highly successful leadership in delivering thoughtful, high-quality, and forward-thinking design outcomes for the clients, campuses, and communities we are so appreciative to serve.”
A Record of Growth and Client Service
For the past eight years, Thompson led the K-12 education practice at MPS. During his tenure, the practice area grew steadily, rising to 20th in national firm rankings, according to BD+C’s Top K-12 Architecture Firms. Seven of MPS’ K-12 designs have been honored by A4LE chapters since 2020. The team has expanded its reach and service offerings, helping over 50 school districts complete nearly 400 projects while securing billions in funding through successful capital planning for system-wide school improvements.
Thompson was instrumental in the creation of a proprietary tool that provides strategic guidance to help school district leaders navigate complex planning, facility, and capital investment decisions.
The successful MPS approach to planning and design has been shared widely by Thompson and the firm in various education industry publications, including American School & University, K-12 Dive, School Administer Magazine, and School Construction News.
MPS recently expanded its K-12 practice beyond the Southeast with the acquisition of SEI, a Rockville, Maryland-based firm with an established reputation for leading award-winning and sustainable K-12 planning and design for over 14 jurisdictions in the Mid-Atlantic.
MPS named Michelle Smyth as its new K-12 Practice Leader, joining market leaders and principals in key K-12 leadership roles in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Maryland.
In his new role, Thompson is looking forward to helping all MPS’ practice areas grow their impact, share their knowledge, and continue to consistently deliver the highest level of services and design quality at scale.
“We are a practice-led business, deeply embedded in the communities and with the clients we serve,” Thompson said. “We bring value, regardless of scale, through our advisory services, design excellence, and project delivery—working collaboratively to create the greatest possible impact.”
About McMillan Pazdan Smith
McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) is a leading architecture, advisory services, planning, and interior design firm. A community-based presence since 1955, MPS is driven by a collaborative culture, creative and expert client solutions, and design excellence. With over 100 AIA awards since 2000, the firm’s purpose is to reimagine what is possible and create meaningful and lasting impact for the good of all.
