Jeffrey Beers International

Partner and Architect Michael Pandolfi joined JBI in 2000 and his deliberate, precise, and thoughtful approach to design has been a significant asset in growing our hospitality and entertainment portfolios. He has been the lead on a number of our impressively large projects ranging from the 200,000 square foot vibrant entertainment center, Texas Live!, the dramatic Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and most recently Sun Princess, Princess Cruise’s newest and largest ship ever built. From an intimate restaurant to a grand casino, Michael imbues our hospitality and entertainment work with our firm’s signature elegance and warmth.

Partner Nora Liu-Kanter’s work marries technical precision and creative inspiration. Over 20 years, she has been a leading force behind JBI’s most iconic work, including the beloved and timeless luxury resort, The Cove at Atlantis Bahamas; the studio’s first residential tower, One West End in New York; and most recently BONDST Hudson Yards restaurant. Nora has completed dozens of projects during her time at JBI, leading countless teams, and helping grow the next generation of designers for the industry. A talented ceramicist with a background in Fine Arts, Nora exemplifies our studio’s creativity and diversity across experiences, skillsets, and viewpoints.

Partner Tim Rooney is a focused leader and gifted communicator, whose balanced approach to client relationships has helped grow JBI’s luxury residential, commercial and mixed-use portfolios over the past 20 years. His leadership was instrumental for the planning and design of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation multiple award-winning offices, subtly balanced our design spirit with Boston’s culture for the $950 million development Echelon Seaport, and oversaw the $1.6 billion Atlantis Sanya in Hainan, China with 2.55 million square-feet spread across 153 acres. Most recently completed a 22,000 square-foot residential estate for one of our private VIP clients, Tim carries the warmth and collaborative spirit that embodies our firm’s ethos.

As Chief Operating Officer, Julia Choi oversees all of JBI’s business operations and strategy implementation. Julia has over 20 years of experience in the A&D industry, working with world renowned architects such as Peter Eisenman and Diller, Scofidio & Renfro before moving into the hospitality field with industry giants such as Rockwell Group, having previously served as Managing Director of Roman & Williams, and Director of Operations at Wilson Associates overseeing multiple offices. Julia studied architecture at the prestigious The Cooper Union and holds a Bachelors of Architecture degree.

On her rare days off, Julia flies single engine planes to see the world from a different perspective.

As CFO Jeff oversees all financial aspects of JBI. He has over 30 years of experience in the A&D field most recently having worked with Champalimaud Design and Rockwell Group.

Jeff studied both Fine Art and Finance and maintains creative practices as a musician and photographer. Jeff worked as a fine art conservation framer in the 1980’s, did retouching for the Diane Arbus estate, worked on Andy Warhol’s last show, and loved handling works from Davinci to De Kooning. A devoted dog rescuer he has adopted 7 dogs to date, many were senior and abused rescues.

Born in NJ he spent 18 years in Hoboken, NJ before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2004.

As Executive Director, John joined Jeffrey Beers International with an impressive background of design leadership spanning more than 30 years. He is an award-winning architect and design director with expertise in high-profile hospitality, residential, corporate, institutional, and commercial fields. Most recently, John held the position of Managing Director at Morris Adjmi Architects, where he successfully expanded the firm’s interior design practice. He also served as the Director of Interiors at SHoP, Studio Director at Clodagh, and Associate Principal at Studios Architecture in New York. John holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University and is a registered architect in New York State.

Edward “Teddy” Acero, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, graduated with Highest Honors from Pratt Institute with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.  Upon earning his architectural license, he then worked at Rockwell Group for 10 years before joining JBI in 2006.  He also worked briefly as a Design Manager for Starbucks and as a Project Manager with Cooper Carry in building several cafés for Google’s new NY headquarters.

With hospitality design fully ingrained in his blood and a self-proclaimed comic book/animation geek, Teddy feels very fortunate to have been able to design and manage high profile projects both local and abroad that have given joy to lots of people.  From restaurants with famous chefs like Geoffrey Zacharian, Lidia Bastianich, Daniel Boulud, and Lydia Shire; cruise ships with Carnival, Costa, Disney and Princess Cruises; to hotels with Kerzner, Disney, Marriot, Hyatt and Hilton, Teddy loves collaborating with clients, colleagues and consultants seeing these projects come to fruition and having fun doing it.

Hee Seung Lee AIA NCARB, is a Senior Project Manager and Architectural Designer, who holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute School of Architecture. With over 20 years of professional experience, Hee Seung has worked with notable design firms including Champalimaud Design and Tihany Design. Prior to joining Jeffrey Beers International, Hee Seung oversaw the interior design development and construction of Four Seasons Jakarta hotel project in Indonesia which opened in 2016. Other notable hospitality projects in his experience include Hotel Bel-Air, Waldorf Astoria New York, and Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

At JBI, Hee Seung led award winning projects such as 277 Fifth Avenue, a high-end residential tower in Manhattan designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, and Sequoia Washington DC, an American cuisine restaurant w/ site-specific collaborative art installations. His latest project under construction is a large-scale integrated entertainment resort complex in Incheon, South Korea.

Keiko Matsumoto has joined JBI to execute and develop design strategies, build new relationships with clients, and help lead teams as well as mentor the next generation of JBI’s design talent. She has extensive experience in luxury hospitality and has worked closely with high-end developers and operators on both domestic and international projects. She is currently leading several exciting projects at JBI and counts the Ritz Carlton properties as her favorite.

Keiko was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, and holds a Master’s degree in Architecture. She has lived in NYC for more than 18 years and proudly qualifies as a true New Yorker.

Jodel brings 23 years of experience to JBI as an architect and senior project manager having received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Miami. Prior to joining JBI, Jodel spent years with Rockwell Group and Tsao McKown where he completed entertainment and hospitality projects around the world.

For JBI, Jodel has been an instrumental team member in some of the firm’s largest and most complex projects managing CAD deliverables and coordination among large teams of consultants.

Recent projects include Hard Rock Atlantic City, INSPIRE entertainment resort in South Korea, and a 1.5 billion dollar cruise ship for a prominent entertainment company.

Monika Chmielewska, Associate and Senior Interior Designer, holds wide-ranging experiences including Jet Blue’s Terminal 5 at JFK Airport, STK Restaurants in Los Angeles and Miami, DB Brasserie in Las Vegas, XO and Coast at the Macau Cotai Hotel, Japonais by Morimoto, Princess Cruises, and multiple projects for Disney.

With over 15 years of experience in hospitality, luxury retail, and high-end residential, Aijun brings her incredible design talents to JBI’s portfolio of luxury and high-end projects. 277 Fifth Avenue, a handsome 55-story residential tower designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, demonstrates Aijun’s skill at balancing functionality with detail. Currently she is overseeing the renovation of Pier Sixty-Six, the iconic property in Ft Lauderdale now owned and managed by Tavistock Development Company. The 32-acre property will feature enhanced programming to include a new signature restaurant overlooking the water, an expanded fitness center, additional event and ballroom spaces including a rooftop lawn, and two-tier pool deck with separate adult-only and family-friendly pools. Prior to joining JBI, Aijun had worked with notable design firms and luxury retail brand Tiffany & Co., working on projects such as the Waldorf Astoria New York, The Lotte New York Palace and multiple flagship Tiffany & Co locations in Central America.

Tatiana brings more than 13 years of experience to JBI as an Associate and interior designer having received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the FIT in New York. Joining JBI shortly upon graduation she has played a pivotal role in several of JBI’s noteworthy projects such as Pier Sixty-Six and One West End.

A native of Russia, Tatiana is recognized by her teammates for her exquisite sense of style and artistic use of materials and furnishings. She brings a dramatic flair to her projects that heightens the guest experience through layered palettes and refined detail.

Javier brings to JBI a meticulous understanding of how to turn creative ideas into built reality through his deep understanding of architectural detail, application of materials, and construction methods. He has played a critical role in the documentation and completion of notable JBI projects such as the Fairmont El San Juan, Hilton Columbus Downtown, and the conversion of the historic 108 Leonard into luxury residences and amenities.

Having begun his career as an architect in Chile, Javier has practiced in New York for nearly 20 years on a variety of residential, hospitality, and commercial projects that have given him a wide perspective on turning lofty ideas into achievable results. In addition to his work as an architect, Javier is an accomplished portrait and fashion photographer.

Ling brings to JBI more than 20 years of experience in architectural interior design, specializing in hospitality, commercial interiors, and luxury residential projects. She has expertise in all aspects of interior design, from concept development and architectural planning to final documentation, FF&E, and material sourcing. She brings leadership in managing all phases of a project and imparts a strong spirit of collaboration and mentorship to elevate each project and the team behind it.

Ling is committed to delivering innovative and functional solutions that enhance guest experiences while meeting client objectives. Having also worked on the hospitality operator side of the industry, Ling brings a strong focus on detail and quality to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and aligned with each client’s goals.

Gregoire’s passion for furniture-making, along with his work as a sculptor and photographer, brings exceptional creativity to JBI. His background in industrial design has enabled him to contribute to notable projects like Estiatorio Milos and hospitality ventures for Hard Rock International, as well as product development for AKDO and Maya Romanoff.

Originally from Lyon and educated in Paris and San Francisco, Gregoire has lived in New York for nearly 20 years. His unique talent stems from his curiosity, imagination, and willingness to embrace new challenges, allowing him to approach each project with fresh perspective and innovation. His diverse experiences have shaped his distinctive style, making him a valuable asset in the JBI studio.