Arcturis Names Traci O'Bryan President and CEO, Pat Whitaker Becomes Chairman of Firm

All-Female Management Team Is Believed to Be Region’s First

ARCTURIS, one of the region’s largest woman-owned businesses, announced that Traci O’Bryan has been named president and CEO effective immediately. She replaces Patricia Whitaker, the firm’s founder, who will remain active in the firm's business development and client relationships as Chairman of ARCTURIS. The move completes a two-year leadership succession planning process at ARCTURIS, which has resulted in what is believed to be the region’s first all-female leadership in an architectural design firm.

"I am honored to lead our talented and experienced team of professionals," O’Bryan said. "Pat Whitaker has built this company into one of St. Louis’ most successful companies. I look forward to continuing the legacy of client service and creativity that she has crafted."

O’Bryan has worked in the architectural field for the past 24 years, having earned a bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture from Kansas State University. She joined ARCTURIS in 1993 as a project manager focused on large corporate projects before being named a principal of the firm in charge of employee relations. In July 2010, she was promoted to president, and she has managed the day-to-day operations of the firm since then.

The ARCTURIS leadership team now includes six female principals,(all of whom are stockholders) including Mary Kay January, Julie Keil , Margaret McDonald, and Megan Ridgeway, AIA. Last year, Arcturis received certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

"We did not set out to build an all-female leadership team, but it does provide us with a perspective and an approach to business that is unique in our field," explained Whitaker. "I am confident that, under Traci’s leadership, ARCTURIS will continue to grow and enhance our reputation as client-oriented, high performing company."

Whitaker founded the business in 1977 as a one-woman interior design company. Today, ARCTURIS has more than 50 employees specializing in architecture, interiors, graphic design, facilities services, technology solutions, planning and landscape architecture.