I hope this message finds you well. After 38 years of dedicated service, I am writing to share a significant decision regarding the future of Charles Matsinger Associates.
With a sense of both nostalgia and anticipation, I am excited to announce that I have decided to retire and pass the torch on to Matthew Perna who took over as the firm’s Acting Principal in March. This decision marks a new chapter in the firm’s journey, and I am confident that it will continue to thrive under the guidance of its new leader. Matt will gradually transition into the role of Principal over the next few months, ensuring a smooth and seamless transfer of leadership responsibilities.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the enduring relationships we have built over the years. Your support, collaboration, and friendship have been integral to the success of our projects and the firm as a whole.
Matt brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role. Having worked with current leadership, the familiarity and mutual respect between them serve as a solid foundation from which our relationships will continue to grow. Matt not only knows well many of CMA’s clients, but also knows the diverse industries within which it works. His experience and interest in multi-family/mixed-use development and construction bring a new dynamic to the firm’s outlook, without diminishing its focus on the other sectors we serve. Matt started with CMA in 2004 and for 11 years was an integral part of our growth. He returned to us 9 years later, having built a body of work and rich experience. From his combined perspective of those recent experiences and initial tenure at CMA, he sees the firm’s potential for great success.
I am excited about the future of the firm and the opportunities that lie ahead. Please join me in welcoming Matt as the new face of our firm. I have full confidence in his ability to lead, inspire, and continue the legacy we have built together.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support throughout the years. It has been a privilege to work with you, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of our firm under new leadership.
Wishing you all the best,
Charles Matsinger
Introducing CMA’s New Principal
Matthew Perna, AIA, returns to CMA as Principal after having run a solo design/build practice, Mattersaw Architects, for the last nine years. Prior to that, he worked with CMA for eleven years. Taking the reins from Charles (Chuck) Matsinger, he aims to build on the legacy that Chuck and his dedicated team have built over 38 years in practice.
Matt holds degrees from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture and Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. While at Columbia, he combined his previous academic training in literature with his studies in architecture and forged a multi-disciplinary position on design that informs his approach today. After his graduate studies, Matt worked in the Design Department for the New York City Housing Authority, where he collaborated on community-driven planning and design. He grew up in a family of carpenters and stone masons with whom he developed the skills and understanding of construction as a laborer and apprentice. Matt continues to draw from his academic experience and time in the field to inform his work, professional and personal growth, and his relationships with clients and colleagues.
During his time as a solo practitioner, Matt served as designer, general contractor, and construction manager for his residential clients, carrying each project from inception to construction close-out and honing his skills and understanding of project delivery. During that time, he also expanded his knowledge of and appreciation for building science. He recently branched out into larger-scale residential planning as the developer of a multi-family/commercial project located in Phoenixville, PA, which is still in planning.
This is the tireless spirit and calculated pursuit of opportunities that Matt brings to CMA. Not only will he launch the firm into unexplored sectors, but he will also reinforce and expand CMA’s presence where it has had great success serving long-time clients, most of whom Matt knows from his previous work with CMA.
When taking a break from imagining where CMA’s future may go, Matt spends most of his time with his wife, Catherine, and their daughter, Lisette (mostly watching her dance and driving her to and from work and dance classes). He volunteers for the UCC Board of Appeals for Middletown Township, PA, where he lives, and is partner in a real estate holding company. He also continues working on their family home which he designed and built over the last few years, tending to the unfinished details upon which he never ceases to dwell.
Matt on his return to CMA:
“I feel privileged to take over for Chuck, who continues to advise me on business matters. I was welcomed by everyone in the firm and am grateful for their support and commitment to helping make the transition as smooth as possible. I’m encouraged by their enthusiasm and dedication to CMA’s continued success and look forward to developing strong professional bonds with each of them. Their contribution is vital to the success of this new venture, and with them I believe the firm’s potential is boundless.”
Spotlight On Our Team
The elements that combine to create CMA’s success come from our dedicated management, design, and administrative team.
A host of talent supports our accomplished and technically insightful studio, which provides creative vision and a commitment to quality for every project. Individual strengths contribute to the whole, whether by solidifying/forging new relationships, producing winning proposals, creating stimulating interior concepts, introducing advanced technical applications, or deftly managing crucial construction phasing.
Collaborative efforts are key to the team’s business and design processes. These efforts are fostered through team-driven professional development and learning opportunities as well as in-house meetings and presentations that promote mentorship and training for our newest staff.
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