NC NOMA
NC NOMA 2026 TRUE NORTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The NC NOMA True North Mentor Program is a direct benefit to NOMA members to guide you on your career journey through impactful interactions and conversations with experienced leaders in the design community. This mentorship program aims to accelerate the personal and professional development of NOMA mentees.
MEET THE MENTORS
ASA SANTA CRUZ
PROGRAM MANAGER - ARCHITETCURE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
BDG ARCHITECTS | BDG ARCHITECTS
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BIO
Asa Santa Cruz is a first-generation Latinx immigrant and an accomplished Program Manager at BDG Architects based in Charlotte, NC with a specialization in retail banking accounts. Her professional achievements and awards are matched only by her continuous effort to volunteer within the architecture community, where she holds esteemed positions in all levels with the American Institute of Architects (AIA)since joining in 2016. Some of the notable positions held have been the Associate Director for AIA Tampa Bay, Director of the Tampa Bay Foundation of Architecture and Design, and co-chair for Women in Architecture in AIA Charlotte, the Sate Territory Associate Representative for AIA North Carolina and now as the At Large Strategic Parnership Director for the National Associates Committee.
VINCENT J. SPENCER, AIA
CLIENT REP, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
LECHASE CONSTUCTION | LeChase Construction
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BIO
Vincent J. Spencer has more than 20 years of industry experience, working in project and design management roles for two Charlotte-area firms prior to joining LeChase. He holds a B.S. in architectural engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, as well as a master’s in architectural design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has a LEED AP® certification through the U.S. Green Building Council and earned the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Certified Professional distinction in 2019. Spencer is an Executive Board member of the North Carolina Chapter of The National Organization of Minority Architects, and is involved in the ACE Mentor Program of Charlotte. He is also a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Workforce Development Board.
NIXZALI (NIX) SALCEDO PENA, AIA ASSOC., ASLA ASSOC.
ARCHITECTURE
OBA | O'BRIAN ATKINS
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BIO
Nix earned she earned a Master of Architecture and a Master of Landscape Architecture from NC State University in 2021, along with a Certificate in City Design. During her time at NCSU, she served as a graduate teaching and research assistant, honing her expertise in 3D visualization and analytical design tools. Her work focuses on creating spaces that harmonize aesthetics, functionality, and environmental responsibility. Since joining O’Brien Atkins in 2022, Nix has contributed to a diverse range of projects across North Carolina, and her latest focus has been on higher education, K–12, civic, and advanced manufacturing. Her experience spans architectural design, master planning, programming, and guiding projects through all phases of design. Outside of work, Nix enjoys supporting local sports teams and exploring North Carolina’s State Parks and U.S. National Parks, where she practices photography and captures the beauty of natural landscapes
ESPERANZA (EPSY) HARPER, M.ARCH, EDAC, SIX SIGMA GREEN BELT
INNOVATION LEADER
LS3P | LS3P
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BIO
Esperanza (Espy) Harper brings over two decades of expertise as a healthcare planner and now serves as firmwide Innovation Leader at LS3P. Espy is instrumental in shaping the future of practice, exploring the intersections of design, technology, and health equity to create meaningful impact. Her diverse portfolio spans the full continuum of care, from strategic facility master planning and replacement hospitals to pharmacy design and mobile employee health clinic prototypes. Espy has collaborated with leading organizations including Cleveland Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Essentia Health, UNC Health, Novant Health, WakeMed, Aurora Health, and the University of Michigan to name a few. Espy’s passion for healthcare design led
to the co-founding of the Health Equity Design Collaborative with Taft Cleveland (SmithGroup) and Tammy Thompson (ECU Health), dedicated to dismantling health inequities through design. This groundbreaking work earned the trio recognition as “Industry MVPs” in Healthcare Design magazine’s HCD 10 Awards (2022). In addition to her portfolio work Espy serves on the LS3P Foundation Board of Directors, is a faithful member of the Red Shoe Crew, a group of professionals dedicated to supporting the mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, as well as a frequent contributor to the Future Healthcare Designers Mentoring Network LinkedIn Group.
TREVOR HOLMES, ASSOC. AIA
PRACTICING PROFESSIONAL
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
LS3P | LS3P
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BIO
Trevor Holmes is a designer, researcher, and educator living in Charlotte, NC. He earned his Master’s of Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2019, and taught design studios as Teaching Fellow from 2021 to 2023. He is currently employed at LS3P’s Charlotte office where he has worked primarily in the K12 studio since 2019, focusing on the unique potential of educational facilities as cornerstones of community.
KATHRYN NICHOLSON, ASSOC. AIA
PRACTICING PROFESSIONAL
HCM​ | Hord Coplan Macht
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BIO
After graduation from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with degrees in architecture and historic preservation, Kathryn has spent the last several years focusing on design for healthcare and education. While not at work, she enjoys playing multiple sports and is an avid reader and Lego builder. As a past ACE mentor and professor at a local university she greatly enjoys working with others to help them grow and learn.
JASON HITE​
SENIOR ARCHITECT | PROJECT MANAGER
EVOKE | EVOKE STUDIO
BIO
Jason Hite is a licensed architect and Green Globes Professional with over a decade of experience in civic, cultural, commercial, higher education, and multi-family projects. His multidisciplinary approach, technical expertise, and collaborative leadership strengthen design integrity across all phases of project delivery—from early research and programming through design, documentation, and construction administration. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a Master of Architecture from UNC Charlotte. He is passionate about the role of civic spaces in fostering community and actively explores the social and economic forces shaping urban environments. Outside of work, I volunteer with local initiatives, including NC NOMA, AIA Triangle’s board, and the NC Food Bank.