HI, I’M JILL BUCKENDAHL
Psst…can I tell you a secret? I’ve always wanted someone to start an interview by asking “What are you passionate about?” instead of the typical, “Tell me about yourself.” It’s a question that dives deeper than just surface level, which is an interaction that seems so rare in today’s culture. So that’s exactly the question I’ll attempt to answer here! But first, let me take you down the path that got me to where I am today - I suppose that would start with me growing up with the company of corn fields.
That’s right, I am a creative soul who was born and raised in small-town Iowa. Most might say, “What’s there to do in Iowa?” My response? “Great question!” Growing up, I kept myself busy doing crafts, exploring the outdoors, and creating woodworking projects along side my father in our shop. Little did I know then, but this would shape who I’d become and who I find myself to be today.
Fast forward to the college years, and I found myself studying Design at Iowa State University, where I was eventually accepted into the architecture program. Dad, being a home builder himself, was so proud! My brothers also ensured me I was on my way to becoming the next Ted Mosby (for any of you How I Met Your Mother fans out there). Though I excelled in the program, after a year I realized this chosen path wasn’t making me happy … so I sought change. I decided to try my hand at Event Management instead, despite others telling me it was a mistake. You know what? I did it anyway. I hopped majors and after one semester in this program, I realized I wasn’t challenged enough. But no harm, no foul because I realized that the way I needed to - on my own and in my own time. So I started the process again asking, “What do I want to do?”. Soon enough, this path lead me to the Business & Marketing program, where I graduated with a major in Marketing and still earned a minor in Design. I was also fortunate enough to score a job out of college that allowed me to do marketing, design and event planning in the real estate industry and was eventually promoted to do the same work with a focus on new construction homes … talk about full circle, am I right?
With every year that passes, I grow more and more grateful for taking the path I call my own. The challenges I’ve waded through, the skills I’ve developed, and the experience I’ve gained allow me to help clients see things from both a creative and business perspective. I am always eager to put my skill set to the test and see what new ideas can be brought to the table with a little bit of collaboration.
So … with all that being said, what truly sets my heart on fire? … Creating! Be it spaces, experiences, stories or dreams, I thrive on bringing ideas to life. What are three other things that drive my creative spirit? I’m glad you asked!
I make the most with what I’ve got. I firmly believe that whatever the budget might be, I can create an experience to never forget. One skill that helps me reach that goal is experimenting with materials and their uses. I love to push the bounds of conventional thinking and see the possibilities beyond what is expected.
There is always more than one way to reach a goal. I have learned in life there will be road blocks, but that doesn’t mean something isn’t possible. As a master creator of plans A, B, C and beyond, I can view multiple approaches to a problem, and you can bet I’ll be able to shift and adjust - as they say, life happens.
I care about details as much as the larger picture. It’s what clients remember most about me - I put attention into even the smallest of details, but it’s all with a greater purpose in mind. When it comes to final results, clients can see that I think about every point and marker and how they all connect to develop a killer final product.
STILL CURIOUS?
If you want to know more about what makes me … well, me … check out some more resources below!
Interested in chatting further? Contact me here.
