McKinley joined the Anthem team in the Summer of 2022 after working in steel design for a couple of years. He began his interest in structural engineering as a youth helping his family on home renovations and other various projects throughout his childhood. His interest in math, physics and computers also led him into the engineering field, along with always enjoying learning how things work and how they are put together.

At the beginning of his career, McKinley worked at a delegated design firm focusing on steel connection, steel stair, handrail, foundation, and pre-engineered metal building design. Today, his focus is primarily on townhomes and apartment complexes, as well as custom homes. Throughout the various projects in his career, he has worked with light-frame wood, heavy timber, steel, concrete, cold formed steel, and aluminum. He enjoys using a mix of computer programs such as Risa, RAM, and Revit for both design and drawing development.