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The region's most experienced outreach and engagement partner

MJA has led the way in shaping how government agencies and their consultants engage with communities, stakeholders, and the public.

Who we are

A partner primes and agencies can rely on

Melissa Johnson Associates was founded on a simple belief: infrastructure works better when the people affected by it have a real voice in how it's built. What began as a single practitioner's commitment to that idea has grown into a firm trusted by agencies and prime consultants throughout the Northeast, not by chasing every opportunity, but by doing the work of public engagement well, project after project. We exist to be the bridge between complex public projects and the communities they serve.

MJA team members Kaitlin and Francisco on site in hard hats
The Melissa Johnson Associates team
Our culture

People-first, by design.

We are a people-first firm devoted to a practice of outreach and engagement. Our team of leaders and innovators brings local knowledge and lived experience to every project. Diversity is our strength: it's how we build trust with stakeholders and meet people where they already are.

Meet the team
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Years serving the Northeast
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Projects completed and underway
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Team members
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M/W/DBE certifications
What we do

Strong communications for every project and agency initiative.

We provide our clients with public involvement, construction community outreach, M/W/DBE program support, grassroots outreach, resident engagement, and relocation support, with full-service public relations, marketing, graphics/visualization, and event production capabilities.

Public Involvement & Stakeholder Engagement

We design and run planning and design phase engagement programs on behalf of government agencies and their engineering and architecture teams, gathering input so community feedback shapes project decisions.

Construction Community Outreach

We manage community engagement on large construction and design-build initiatives, including high-level program oversight as well as dedicated public outreach managers and community construction liaisons.

M/W/DBE Program Support & Diversity Compliance

As a certified WBE/DBE/SBE firm ourselves, we help primes connect with and track certified subconsultants to meet participation goals, and help agencies design and administer their own M/W/DBE and workforce diversity programs.
All services
Our work

We shape, deliver and oversee outreach and engagement on the region's most complex projects

From rail, transit and transportation projects to coastal resiliency, public housing and mobility initiatives, our communications keep high-stakes, transformative work on track.

East Side Coastal Resiliency
Construction · NYCDDC
East Side Coastal Resiliency
 Penn Station Access
Design-Build · MTA
Penn Station Access
 Hartford Shared Mobility Study
Planning · City of Hartford
Hartford Shared Mobility Study
 Meadowlands MAP4S
Planning · NJSEA
Meadowlands MAP4S
 Manchester Flood Study
Planning · Town of Manchester
Manchester Flood Study
All projects
Certifications

M/W/DBE Certified Regionally

Melissa Johnson Associates is certified as a WBE, DBE and SBE with various agencies and authorities throughout the Northeast and with the federal government.

In 2026, MJA was recertified as a DBE under USDOT's new eligibility standards.

New York

  • NYC Small Business Services · WBE
  • NYS Empire State Development · WBE
  • NYSDOT · DBE
  • NYC School Construction Authority · WBE
  • MTA · DBE
  • DASNY · WBE & SBE
  • Niagara Frontier Authority · DBE
  • Westchester County · WBE
  • Nassau County · WBE

New Jersey

  • State of New Jersey · SBE, WBE & SEDB
  • Port Authority NY & NJ · WBE & DBE

Pennsylvania

  • PennDOT · DBE
  • PA General Services · SBE & WBE
  • City of Philadelphia · WBE

Connecticut

  • CTDOT · DBE

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island DOA · DBE

Federal

  • U.S. SBA · WBE, SDB, EDWOSB & WOSB
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

A proud graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which supports the growth of small businesses across the country.

Locations

One strong, connected team.

Local knowledge and region-wide reach. We are a team of 35 people based throughout the Northeast. Tap a city to find us on the map.

Let's Work Together

Have a project in mind, or already underway? We're always happy to talk about teaming, new opportunities, and bringing our expertise to a project already in motion.

Connect Via Email (917) 932-0077