Jeff Ornstein
JBrice Founder and CEO Jeff Ornstein grew up in New York and graduated Cum Laude with Honors from Brandeis University, with continued studies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Named one of Boston’s 12 Most Influential People, Jeff is also on the Board of Advisers at the Prestigious New York School of Interior Design, and has been a Visiting Critic at The Boston Architectural Center and The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He has been called upon by his colleagues to be a Judge for the annual Hotel World Platinum Circle Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, and for The Boutique Design Global Hotel Design Awards. He is also a frequent lecturer on the global stage, recognized for his keen sights to design and its impact on society. He was the first American named keynote speaker of The Kingdom Hotel Expansion and Investment World Summit in Riyadh, KSA, and has twice been a featured speaker at Concepts Middle East in Doha, Hotel and Resorts Middle East in Dubai, as well as Is in Interior Design & Construction India, and many times at Heimtextil, the world’s largest international textile trade fair in Frankfurt. Other speaking engagements include lectures at HD Expo, HD Boutique, HOTEC USA, Asia and Europe, and Hospitality Match USA, and Europe.
Jeff is also a contributing editor to Hotel Executive Magazine, and is featured in Boutique Design Magazine, Hospitality Design, Lodging and Hospitality, Gulf Interiors, Byouteit Magazine, Hotel Business, The Commercial Observer, Young Hotelier, The Improper Bostonian, Scene Magazine, New York Magazine, and The Boston Globe. Years ago Jeff coined the phrase “Cultural Spy” to define its approach to the design process, calling for redefining hotel design as hotel fashion to emphasize a guest-centric rather than property-centric philosophy to branding. Largely embraced by the industry, this results in interiors that resonate with the attitudes and mores of the current marketplace, impart a memorable guest experience, build brand equity and contribute directly to profits.
June Ericson
June Ericson has led the design department at JBrice for the past 28 years. June, who has degrees with honors in Interior Design as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts, passed the NCIQ and obtained the status as “Certified Contract Designer”in 1988. She continued her professional studies at The Boston Architectural Center, MIT, and Harvard Universities. Her professional affiliations have included memberships and active service as a board member in NEWH and IBD ( now IIDA). IBD bestowed her with an award for her “exceptional contribution by a professional member”. June’s stewardship of countless design internships aided in J/Brice becoming a recipient of the NEWH award of “Top Interior Design Firm, New England Chapter” in 2016.
Over her tenure at J/Brice, she has overseen and trained a multitude of designers, who’s work combined on over 100 hospitality projects around the globe. Projects have ranged in scale from luxury new build destination properties, to historical landmarks, to regional full and select service properties. June has mastered and continually reviews the ever enhanced large number of USA based brand standards, so as to minimize the design timeline and ensure speedy approval for clients as they navigate their often challenging project windows of opportunity for their work. She and the team at J/Brice have also created directions for new boutique property brands and recommended customizations and upgrades to improve existing brand directives.
“The joy for me at J/Brice has been the ever changing parameters for each special property, client group, culture and international location. We design a variety of types projects including hotels, restaurants, condominiums, country clubs, residences and even a new build cancer center. I am pleased to help bring my design expertise in a team environment to the client’s requests, taste and program to fit often what are spacial challenges. The quest is to create a balance of human scale, functional yet beautiful spaces”, June stated.
She went on to say, “ with this variety our tasks are always challenging and intriguing. We are constantly researching for our clients to implement designs incorporating some new technology or product in a unique manor while insuring that these are functional, appropriate for the location and mindful of the culture. How could I ever tire of it? At this chapter of my life with so many years of practice, I’m excited to see what my design visions can bring in reality now! As always the best reward is a compliment from the clients along the way to completion as they are excited to see it all come to fruition!”