Courtesy KMCG LLC
By Ann Donnelly
Kara Magoolaghan, principal of KMCG LLC and Chief Sustainability Officer of the Mulford Corporation, has built a strategic consultancy dedicated to navigating the complexities of capital projects. KMCG LLC primarily assists mission-driven clients—including nonprofits, government agencies, and small businesses—in building resilient and sustainable structures without compromising their core programming or missions.
Magoolaghan’s core value lies in acting as the comprehensive owner’s representative, providing specialized expertise for organizations often described as “understaffed”. The firm’s purpose is so that clien to put aside their day jobs to learn all about construction when they want to do a capital project”. KMCG’s scope is broad, covering everything “except for design and construction”. The firm guides clients through procurement, secures the right designers and construction partners, manages extensive documentation for permitting and approvals, coordinates construction management, and assists with complex financial processes, helping clients “build their capital stack” by coordinating with funders and securing investors.
One of KMCG’s most impactful functions is serving as a “translator,” simplifying the specialized language consultants use. Magoolaghan notes that many professional consultants—architects and engineers—speak “a totally different language,” making it difficult for clients to grasp project specifics. This specialized support is vital for smaller, nonprofit partners, where owners’ representation is often missing compared to the for-profit sector. KMCG currently works heavily in affordable housing but aims to expand into community centers, such as YMCAs and PALs.
The actual impetus for starting KMCG was specifically to help build green buildings and foster resilience. Magoolaghan, a Certified Passive House Designer, argues passionately that old buildings are not equipped to handle the future. “We need to change the way that we build so that we can prepare for what’s coming,” she asserts. The goal is to “build the most resilient and sustainable buildings possible so that they last longer, so that they’re more comfortable, and so that they’re equipped to handle the changing climate that we have”. This high-performance approach offers significant economic benefits, particularly for affordable housing clients who often retain maintenance costs. Magoolaghan highlights that if developers “put in that extra investment at the front end, you’ll pay less in utility costs at the back end”, a crucial saving given that utility and insurance costs have risen “astronomically” in New York state.
In 2025, KMCG undertook several projects in collaboration with the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY), The Mulford Corporation, and The Fresnel Group. MHACY is the fourth-largest housing authority in New York State and the largest landlord in Westchester County. The partnership recently worked on developing two new affordable senior-living developments in Yonkers, built to passive house standards: a 4-story, 60-unit modular construction project for seniors called “La Mora,” and an 8-story, 92-unit “The Willow,” still under construction. They are also working on the complete decarbonization of an existing 415-unit affordable housing development, “Palisade Towers,” a project with an estimated cost of $30 million, driven by the need to replace the failed gas system with all-electric infrastructure to support new electric domestic hot water (DHW), heating, and cooking systems. In June 2025, Magoolaghan spoke on “Building Resilient & Sustainable Affordable Housing” at the New York State Housing Authority Directors Association (NYSHADA) Spring Conference. As a Yonkers-native, Magoolaghan has earned significant recognition in the region, including being named a “Notable Leader in Sustainability” in 2024 by Crain’s New York Business and a “Rising Star 40 Under 40” in 2025 by the Westchester Business Council.
Magoolaghan’s career path demonstrates an intentional pursuit of purpose and “ground-level decision making”. After studying mechanical engineering at Binghamton University, she initially worked as a government contractor on nuclear reactors for the Navy’s submarines and aircraft carriers. She quickly realized the defense-focused work was “very bureaucratic and slow-moving, which is not my speed at all”. This realization spurred her to pivot into building systems engineering, focusing on high-performance standards such as LEED and Passive House.
This pursuit of meaningful work is deeply rooted in her past; her mother was a prisoners’ rights lawyer, instilling an early commitment to community involvement and service. Magoolaghan demonstrated this dedication at age sixteen by raising money to help build a school in Ghana, traveling with her family to observe and volunteer. Continuing this path toward impactful decision-making, she subsequently earned a law degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, realizing that lawyers are present at “all of those tables where critical decisions are made”. When she moved back to New York, she launched KMCG in 2023.
In a major life pivot, Magoolaghan relocated to Glens Falls with her husband, real estate professional Matt Rafferty, in May of 2023, seeking a “slower pace of life”. While she still maintains client relationships and continues to succeed in Westchester County, the move represents a personal and professional shift.
Magoolaghan describes the experience of entrepreneurship as “kind of the wild west out here,” noting that there is no “playbook” and constant agility is required. Yet, she finds immense satisfaction in the work, particularly when solving clients’ problems. She values that she gets to explore, innovate, and “really decide like how you want to live your life, which is really cool”.
In addition to running KMCG and developing investment properties with her husband, Magoolaghan plans to open a shopfront on South Street in Glens Falls in early 2026, showcasing a curated collection of homewares, gifts, and food.
For more information on Kara Magoolaghan and KMCG LLC, visit https://www.kmcg-ny.com/.