Employment History:

Published Works:

Public Speaking Experience:

Why M is an Expert:

Best Advice:
Of course it varies from firm to firm, but you have to have a lot of energy because time is always critical with development. You get the entitlements, have a building designed and built, and get approvals on the market sooner because that’s where the profit is. Real estate is about making money, and I’ve been very fortunate and selective in whom I work for because architecture is also very critical. My emphasis has always been on architecture. Recently there was an article in The New York Times about the large four-city Ratner project in Brooklyn, where they changed architects from Frank Gehry to a very ordinary design. It went from a real architectural project that was fabulous for the downtown Brooklyn area to a run-of-the-mill job. The headline in the Times said that they sacrificed “beauty for budget.”

Passionate about:

Biography Excerpt:
Famous for its swarming crowds of humanity and massive skyscrapers, New York City is home to one of the largest real estate markets in the country. Philip M. Jones, executive vice president of Swig Equities, LLC, has spent 40 years of his life contributing to that bustling market as a hands-on architect and real estate developer. Though he primarily serves in a managerial role, Mr. Jones is involved in nearly every aspect of project management, from designing and drafting building layouts to the construction of commercial and residential properties. Prior to his position at Swig Equities, he relied on his strong background in architecture to formulate designs and use those drawings to assist developers and investors in numerous types of environments.

     

Cambridge Who's Who: How did you become involved in your profession?  
PHILLIP M. JONES :  I grew up in a small rural town in Missoula and I loved the lumber yard. I loved watching people build houses. Also, I can draw very well so all throughout high school shop class, I was always building and drawing. It was a natural progression.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The designing has always been my favorite part. Construction is also an exciting part, because you actually see the project being realized as the spaces are being formed and developed – you see your design coming to fruition. You have to be involved in working with contractors for the detailing.

What would you like to promote about yourself or your business?
I promote architecture and I’ve tried to do that throughout my career. I believe that architecture brings value to buildings and to the real estate world, but sometimes it costs a little more up front to add value to properties.