Julia is a midwestern child of the 90s, and inherited the hobbies of parents including cooking, camping, veg gardening, wood refinishing, repainting bedrooms, playing piano and a few crafty things. In part the hobbies kept us out of trouble, but also instilled a variety of mental and mechanical skills that became otherwise useful. Following tradition, I ventured to college toward a teaching career and found success in this. Along the way, several fabulous mentors provided skills in construction, electronics, painting, and management through producing theatre productions. Collaborating in building stage performance drew out the creative, person-centric, flow of energy that encouraged me to find some professional energy beyond the requirements of elementary education credentials. Summers found me as a waterfront director at a summer camp in northern Wisconsin. Here I honed skills in outdoor work, adaptive recreation, leadership of peers, sailing, pottery, and loved every moment with the kids. Lifeguarding roles clarified my tendency to be prepared and keep safe spaces for all participants. After achieving a graduate degree in education came the search for permanent classroom positions in Denver, then Chicago.  

There’s a richness to life in a city setting, and many people (especially women) have discovered the many rewards of veering from a path well traveled. Mentors along the way provided me with opportunities to appreciate the feeling of jobs well-done, celebrated the wins of going the extra mile in the work, and the thrill of executing another brilliant plan. I served communities as a licensed K-12 teacher for a decade before turning to the nonprofit sector. For seven years in Madison, Julia then supported job-seekers with training and advocacy, and celebrated 74 people finding new first paychecks.  This role in social work introduced me the vast needs and resources for households in Dane County, and appreciation for many ways that plans can change to meet a person’s goals. At a turning point with (ex) boyfriend in 2021, I became a first-time home buyer with a condo by Madison’s Tenney Park and put all the mechanical hobby skills to good use. The condo bathroom was moldy so the vanity and floor got ripped out; I laid new tile and build floating shelves from Habitat Restore urban lumber. I installed a pedestal sink, new toilet, and used an epoxy paint to resurface the entire shower. After a good scrub, I painted every square inch of the place, of course. The condo floor was 1949 original and in good (but ugly) condition, so I installed LVP throughout 800 sq ft, along with new baseboards. In 2022, I renovated the kitchen, shopping for all new appliances, designing a couple custom cabinets, and installing a gorgeous glass-tile backsplash. Home is a passion project! Then there came a turning point with career, where diligence was met with coworker resistance, and I decided to capitalize on strengths, launching the LLC in 2023. Self-employment allows me to truly be of service to you! I have been veg gardening in Madison since 2012, love to kayak, volunteer in several organizations, and pop up at free events around town. 

Project Management. Department of Public Instruction license for K-8 classroom. Ethics in Disability Services. Motivational Interviewing as Community Health provider. Red Cross Lifeguard. Mental Health First Aid. Wisconsin Driver’s License.