Julie grew up in Kirkwood, MO and attended Kirkwood High School. She started her collegiate career at Southwest Missouri State University but returned home to earn her degree from UMSL. Out of college, Julie began her career in special events, non profit and community relations. While working for the former Rams player, Kevin Carter, she helped him start his charitable foundation that included a football camp for 500 kids at Rams Park. When Kevin moved to play football in Tenessee, Julie met some people in commercial furniture while playing golf. JD It was actually Todd Nixon! (Color Art’s current Vice President of Furniture). I can assure you it was not my golf skills that won him over. (laughs) He and I were talking and I loved the idea of connecting people. I did it all the time when I was running events so it made sense I could do it in furniture too. And it worked out! Some of my first clients were sponsors I knew from past events.
Julie began working with Todd at Herman Miller dealership before moving to a Kimble dealership. Three years later, Gary Mindel (our current CEO) called her and invited her to Color Art. JD I came for a visit and I saw all that Color Art had to offer. I had only been at companies that sold furniture but Color Art was doing everything! I loved the idea of offering more to our clients. Plus, it was a huge team of people that looked fun to work with.
On a day-to-day basis Julie is in the community figuring out who’s moving, who’s building and what opportunities she can bring back to the team from corporate, healthcare and education markets. She currently lives in Wildwood with her two kids Brody, 10 and Molly 7.
AF What’s your favorite thing about your job and Color Art?
JD I love finding new opportunities, I love networking in the community, and I love developing client relationships. I like quarterbacking a team and listening to the client. Do you want construction? Furniture? Technology? Great. Let’s build a team and go from there. I love the diversity of everything we have; that we’re not just a furniture company. That and the people. I’ve been here 15 years. It’s a good pack of people and I’m proud to put them in front our clients and industry partners.
AF If you could win an award for any activity, what activity would it be?
JD People connector would be the award I would probably get. I love putting people together. In fact, two people are married today because I’m really good a talking! We were at a baseball game and I had a girlfriend on one side of me and a guy on the other and so I broke the ice. I remember sitting at the wedding and the priest asked, “Yeah, who was in seat 3?” and I sort of raised my hand and he goes, “Good thing you talk a lot, that’s how these two met!” (laughs) I think connecting people is probably what I do best.
AF If you didn’t sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
JD Travel. Find another beach… That and Brody wants me to teach him to snowboard. I told him I don’t know how but he was like, “Well, you taught me to play golf, you taught me to rollerblade, to taught me to ice skate. You can definitely teach me to snowboard.” So I guess this winter I’m gonna learn to snowboard! That and I’d like to learn how to play the guitar. I’ve had one for 8 years but never learned how to play it… it’s about time!
AF Do you remember the name and type of your first pet?
JD My first pets were Ozzie and McGee, two cats. Clearly it was the 80s. We named them after Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee. AF Do you have any pets now? JD I do, a little puppy named Casey. Well, he’s not little, he’s 14 but he’s a shih tzu so he’s small.
AF What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
JD Leave their comfort zone! Learn something new! Meet new people. Get out of the bubble.
AF What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?
JD Talk on the phone. Everybody texts these days! Pick up the phone, people. Pick. Up. The phone; talk on it! Don’t just text. I also like to take notes manually. Jennifer Graham (Vice President, Workplace Strategies) makes fun of me when we talk about a project or anything ‘cause I’m usually writing out my notes.
AF How do you relax after a hard day of work?
JD I go for a run. I’m a run/walker. I’ll go for about 45 minutes. I also love to hike in Powder Valley, 44 and Watson. It’s like forest and hills. I love it. That or rollerblading at Creve Coeur park.
AF What is your dream car?
JD My dream car when I was 16 was a white Rabbit convertible. My dad said he would match how much money I had and I’d saved 1800 bucks. (sighs) Unfortunately, 3600 bucks was not enough to buy a white Rabbit convertible so I ended up with a white Civic instead. (laughs)
AF If you played professional baseball, what would your walk-up music be?
JD Maybe We Will Rock You by Queen? Or some Kid Rock? Julie texted later to clarify Nope! Sweet Child of Mine, Guns n Roses.
JULIE’S FAVORITES
Sports Teams Cardinals
Holiday Christmas
Dessert Carrot Cake
Drink Red wine, margaritas, or Blue Moon
Movie Anything sports. Remember the Titans, We are Marshall, Rudy… any underdog sports movie
Pineapple on your pizza? Oh yeah! I like Hawaiian pizza.
St. Louis Destination Forest Park. It’s cliché but I love it.