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| 4 Aug 2026 | |
| Written by Debbie Koehler | |
| Member News |
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ-PHILADELPHIA, PA-NEW YORK, NY [August 4, 2026] – LoriAnne Jones, AIA, NOMA, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Project Manager at DIG Architecture (DIG), has been recognized by GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum as a 2026 Woman of Influence for Mentorship. This distinction honors elite female industry leaders who have made significant strides in advancing representation, building critical career pipelines and fostering inclusion within STEM, the built environment and commercial real estate.
Recently named an Associate, Jones's nine-year tenure at the firm features a highly specialized focus on community-centered healthcare, education and transformative reuse. One of fewer than 600 licensed African-American female architects in the United States, Jones has built a 20-year career that pairs technical and strategic excellence with a deeply personal commitment to equity and mentorship in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries.
“I have always believed that true leadership requires staying present to ensure others can walk through the doors we open,” said Jones. “Architecture possesses an incredible capacity to change lives, not just through physical spaces, but through the professional pathways we carve out for the next generation. I am deeply honored by this honor and recognition, which strengthens our collective mission to ensure the AEC industry reflects and empowers the diverse communities we serve.”
At DIG, Jones plays a pivotal leadership role within the Healthcare and Education Studios. Armed with an MBA in Strategy, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, she balances evidence-based design (EDAC) principles and Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows to guide multidisciplinary teams through clinical planning, feasibility and construction administration. Notably, she has spearheaded a decade-long relationship and nine Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) assignments to date for Urban Health Plan, expanding vital health equity and clinical access across New York City's five boroughs.
What sets Jones apart is the measurable impact of her advocacy. For more than 16 years, she has served as a cornerstone leader within the ACE Mentor Program of New Jersey, advising hundreds of high school students. Under her guidance, students have secured major scholarships, including a $20,000 national ACE scholarship, culminating in her selection as a recipient of the National ACE Outstanding Mentor Award.
“LoriAnne does not simply manage projects; she actively shapes the future of our profession,” said Vince Myers, DIG President and a co-founding principal with CEO Jeff Venezia and COO Rich Alderiso. “Whether she is directing complex, multi-million-dollar urban healthcare facilities or pivoting student mentorship pipelines to accommodate current trends, she leads with rare adaptability, empathy and strategic clarity. Her legacy grows daily through the lives and careers she transforms.”
A past two-term President of AIA Central New Jersey, Jones continues to advise at the state level for AIA-NJ, contributing to strategic growth and equity initiatives that helped earn DIG its designation as an EPiC-recognized firm. She is also an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and a dedicated volunteer mentor for the NAACP ACT-SO program, utilizing her powerful professional platform to champion inclusive career pathways in STEM disciplines.
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About DIG Architecture
DIG is an award-winning, certified-MBE architecture, interior design and environmental graphics firm with offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Over two decades, the firm has grown into one of the region's largest majority Black-owned architecture and design practices, serving public- and private-sector clients across the education, civic, transportation, healthcare and senior living sectors. Driven by one instinct – to go deeper – DIG uncovers potential, challenges convention and expands what's possible through design.
Media Contact: CMM Strategic Communications | 973.513.9580
Carin McDonald: [email protected] I Kayla Bennett: [email protected]
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