The appointments bring award-winning design expertise and strategic business leadership to DIFFA’s Board of Trustees.
The Design Industries Foundation (DIFFA) has appointed acclaimed architect and designer Lauren Rottet and seasoned workplace design executive Lee Cannon to its National Board of Trustees effective immediately. Both have been longtime champions of the organization, helping lead and elevate some of DIFFA’s most visible fundraising and community-building initiatives in support of the foundation’s mission to combat HIV/AIDS, food and housing insecurity, and mental health challenges.
Rottet has been instrumental in the success of DIFFA’s celebrated Dining by Design and Picnic by Design initiatives, while Cannon has played a key role in mobilizing community engagement through Threads for Impact in partnership with NYC Sewciety. Together, their leadership and advocacy have helped expand awareness, deepen industry partnerships, and generate critical support for underserved communities.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lauren Rottet and Lee Cannon to DIFFA’s Board of Trustees,” says Dawn Roberson, Executive Director of DIFFA. “Lauren and Lee are both visionary leaders whose influence across the design industry reflects the very spirit of creativity and community that drives DIFFA’s mission. Their passion for creating meaningful impact—coupled with their extraordinary professional expertise—will be invaluable as we continue to grow the organization’s reach, strengthen our advocacy efforts, and provide critical support for individuals and communities in need.”
Lauren Rottet is the Founding Principal of Rottet Studio, the internationally renowned architecture and interior design firm, and Rottet Collection, an award-winning furniture and accessories brand. Specializing in corporate and hospitality projects, Rottet and her team have designed residences, hotels, offices, and ships for globally recognized brands, including Disney, Goldman Sachs, Hilton, Hyatt and Viking Cruises. Among her many accolades, she received the inaugural IIDA Icon Award, Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle designation, and was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame and Women in Design Hall of Fame. Rottet also holds the distinction of being the first woman in history to be elevated to Fellow status by both the American Institute of Architects and the International Interior Design Association.
Lee Cannon is the Vice President of Workplace and Design at FCi Furniture Consultants, where he oversees the sales and accounts teams across New York, New Jersey, Boston, Florida and California and connects team members to design firms across markets through brand alignment strategies. Prior to FCi, Cannon held a crucial leadership role at Teknion, first as the New York Business Development District Manager, where he advanced multi-brand development initiatives across the corporate real estate industry, and then as the Director of Advanced Solutions, where he collaborated with clients across the globe to produce real-time insights into workplace trends, innovations and product solutions. Cannon also serves as the Marketing Director for NYC Sewciety.
ABOUT DIFFA
DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation) mobilizes the design industries’ creativity, influence, and resources to improve lives and advance health equity nationwide. DIFFA grants funds to organizations providing life-saving care and access to healthcare for individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as programs addressing food insecurity, housing instability, LGBTQ+ support, and mental health services.
Since its founding, DIFFA has awarded more than $59 million to hundreds of nonprofits across the country—responding to evolving community health needs and helping build stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities. DIFFA proudly holds a 4-star, 98% rating from Charity Navigator, demonstrating transparency, accountability, and donor trust.
Through the power of design, advocacy, and collective action, DIFFA continues to make a DIFFArence. Learn more at www.diffa.org.