Boston, MA Bergmeyer, the award-winning design collaborative based in Boston and Los Angeles, announced the election of its first-ever woman president, Rachel Zsembery, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Having most recently served as Bergmeyer’s vice president on its board of directors, Zsembery succeeds past-president Mike Davis, FAIA, LEED, who will take on a newly created role with the collaborative to lead its sustainable and philanthropic initiatives as director of corporate social responsibility. Zsembery assumes the office of president after nearly two decades of service to Bergmeyer.

“I’m truly honored to step into the role of Bergmeyer’s President, with a focus on empowering our diverse team of talented designers to fulfill their potential and continuing to nourish our relationships with the clients, partners, and communities that we serve,” said Zsembery. “As we look towards the future at Bergmeyer, we do so with a collective optimism that fuels our creativity, connectedness, and curiosity and a self-awareness that allows us to practice with purpose.”

The election of a new president further emphasizes Bergmeyer’s mold-breaking evolution throughout its 40 year history in the architecture and design industries, much of which is directly attributed to Zsembery and Davis’ collaborative working relationship as vice president and president. During Davis’ tenure as president, they led the company through several of its transformational initiatives, as well as through the challenges of an unprecedented global pandemic.

Under their guidance, Bergmeyer’s leadership team successfully expanded its national presence by opening its first west coast office in Los Angeles and extended Bergmeyer’s design expertise across several new market sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, and multifamily. They also led the company through its iconic rebrand, including a fully realized departure from a traditional architecture and design firm to a multi-disciplinary design collaborative.

For Davis, his new role and next chapter in his career comes at the perfect time. Widely celebrated within the architecture and design industries for his influential work as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Davis serves as chair of the AIA’s government advocacy committee as a key leading figure in the fight against climate change at the local and global levels.

“Rachel Zsembery is an extraordinarily gifted executive,” said Davis. “I have every confidence that she will lead Bergmeyer to even greater levels of design excellence and organizational evolution. Having her as our president will allow me to focus 100% of my efforts on meeting our goals to contribute generously to our communities, create opportunity by driving equity and inclusivity in our practice, and work with our business partners to fight the climate crisis.”

Over the past 20 years, Zsembery has transcended expectations, working in multiple roles across Bergmeyer and leading design and strategy teams on many award-winning retail projects. The power of her influence carries even further into the operational focus of Bergmeyer’s strategic business goals. Zsembery emerged early in her career as a leading voice on gender equality in a systemically challenged industry, impressively leading Bergmeyer’s employee makeup to over 60% women, a testament to her unwavering dedication to mentorship. As Zsembery puts it best, “When an opportunity arises that looks challenging, potentially messy, and definitely not straightforward, put your hand up,” and put her hand up she does.

Beyond her transformative accomplishments, Zsembery is active in numerous causes and associations focused on consumer environments, community connectedness, and empowering and expanding opportunities for students and emerging professionals. Zsembery is the vice president of the board of directors of PAVE (The Planning and Visual Education Partnership), serves as co-chair of the Boston Society of Architects’ Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Network, is the chair of the Arlington, MA Redevelopment Board, and recently completed a tenure on the SHOP! Association Board of Directors.

In addition to Zsembery, Bergmeyer’s shareholder election welcomed new and returning faces to its board of directors, including: Matt Hyatt, principal, as its new vice president; Brian Perlow, principal, who continues as treasurer; Jen Shiminsky, senior associate, as board secretary; returning directors Stan Kubinski, principal and Eric Kuhn, associate; and newly elected board member Emily Bowers, senior associate.