Perkins+Will’s Zena Howard Honored for Outstanding Leadership

Zena Howard has been recognized by the Triangle Business Journal for her outstanding contributions to the local business community. The 2019 “CEO of the Year Awards” recognize the region’s top business leaders — from members of the C-suite to others in executive management positions. As Managing Director of Perkins+Will’s North Carolina practice, Howard leads a team of more than 70 architects, urban planners, and designers in the firm’s Durham and Charlotte studios. She is known nationally for leading visionary, complex, and culturally significant architectural projects across the state and North America.

Chosen by peers in the Triangle business community, Howard — along with 19 other award recipients — were recently honored at an awards gala at the Umstead Hotel in Cary.

“It’s an especially gratifying honor to be recognized by one’s peers and to be among such an accomplished group of honorees,” Howard said. “The award is truly a testament to the work of our Perkins+Will team here in North Carolina, and to our fantastic clients who inspire us every day.”

Howard is involved in several community and professional organizations in the Triangle, including the Cultural Advisory Board of the City of Durham; Downtown Durham, Inc.’s Board of Directors; and the North Carolina State Building Commission. She is an Associate Professor of Architecture at NC State University, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects, and a LEED Accredited Professional.