Newsletter 025
Since our launch in 2016 at the old Salin Bank, we’ve been looking toward the future of a time when we would have a more permanent location in downtown, Marion. That time has come!
It’s only fitting that our process of landing at 326 has come with important partnerships along the way. We want to take a moment to recognize those people who have generously shared their space or other resources to lift us up at various times. We could not be in this time and place without each one of them!
Luke Anspach and Herb Peterson (currently Anderson University, SC) for being fearless and saying yes to God’s prompting.
Layla Price (City of Marion) who first introduced us to John Lawson (former Grant County Commissioner) who advocated for us to move into the Salin Bank while it was unoccupied.
Dawn Brown (Community Foundation of Grant County) who walked in our door the first week with a binder and a new account with $50 to start our organization.
Todd Guy, John Lakanen, and Harriet Rojas who found resources at IWU to keep us in business and help pay interns.
Henrik Söderström (IWU Art + Design) for so generously sharing his imaginative joy during the summer to keep us going and inspire our students with no expectations for compensation.
IWU Housing who provided our summer interns discounts for summer housing.
Mike Burton (Grant County Commissioner) who showed up everytime we needed help with something in the building.
Michael Moffit (IWU) who found the money to buy the giant vinyl poster “You Are the Answer” that greeted downtown travelers on our first building.
Dr. Wright and the Executive Council at IWU for saying yes to that first design thinking session.
Danny Robinson (City of Maron) who set up our wifi system and troubleshooted whenever it went out.
Mayor Jess and Chief of Staff Mike (City of Marion) who supported us throughout our journey and helped us tell the story of Marion through the initial brand project.
IWU Art + Design Division for saying yes to our crazy ideas and allowing God to use us to influence our students in unexpected ways.
Heidi Peterson for writing grant applications to help support us and providing valuable feedback for our interns.
The Fossils. This group of men (they met regularly on Tuesdays together for lunch) were our first group of community members who launched our summer of design thinking lunch sessions that allowed us to hear the stories of people who love our city. Thanks for the pizza!
John Jones for being an advocate for us with stakeholders time and time again to explore all of the options possible for a downtown studio location.
Evan Gilmore (United Way of Grant County) for being our technology guru and teaching us how to use the laser cutter.
Amanda Drury for partnering with us on projects that opened the door for supplying printers and furniture in the space.
Doug Daugherty for being an advocate and purchasing the bright yellow chairs that enhanced our library.
Chris Kennedy who met with us in 2018 with the vision to partner with us to create a permanent place for Marion Design Co. and a place for community art.
The kind man who secretly cleaned our windows at the Salin Bank.
The many community members who brought us lunch and snacks as we led the team in research day after day.
Pat Mitchell, owner of Ride and Leather made space for us next to their shop to create a studio where we led interns, met clients and conducted classes.
Rod Reed, Ron Mazellan, and many others who helped do the heavy lifting as we moved our stuff from location to location.
Scott Miller and Faraz Abbasi for saying yes. Their generosity and willingness to take a risk on our vision was so important to landing us on the downtown square.
Megan Gilmore and Larks Song who generously allowed us to call their studio home for a summer as we worked with interns and clients. It was a perfect location to launch Marion Made Mini (a weekend bakery featuring Kate Luttrull’s amazing baked goods).
Mary Eckerle and the Marion Public Library Board for allowing us to rent out the Jay House at a very reasonable rate so we could continue working in the city with interns.
These are just a few of the people who have made a significant impact in the story of Marion Design Co. Our interns, clients, & community members are the foundation of the day to day work that we are committed to. If you fall in one of those categories, YOU bring the life to our studio and the vision that allows us to use design to improve people’s lives and do the work God’s called us to do.
Soon we’ll be in a building birthed from a partnership of vision between Chris Kennedy (former President of Hartson Kennedy and current Marion Arts Commission Chairman) and Marion Design Co. We are beyond grateful for the tireless advocate Chris has been on behalf of Marion Design Co. and the arts in Marion. We look forward to carrying on the vision for decades to come…now that we’re in the building!
This month marks our first step into the national network of WBENC. Wendy and Emily attended the WBENC conference in Nashville, TN. to glean insight from female business leaders from across the nation.
In an effort to network and learn how we can best lead MDCO effectively, we’re working to make connections on a larger scale. Not only did we meet with women who are making a difference in their communities but we also had the opportunity to grab breakfast with one of our intern alumni, Jared Strand!
Brittany Long, Project Manager and Chief Operating Officer
As we wrap up March and prepare for April, I want to reflect on what Women’s History Month means to me and give you a little history on the subject. In 1981, Congress passed Women’s History Week which was celebrated the first week in March. In 1987, Congress passed Women’s History Month on behalf of the petition submitted by the National Women’s History Alliance.
In the years following, various presidents have honored significant women during the month of March. The Women’s History Month theme for 2023 was “Women Who Tell Our Stories.” The National Women’s History Alliance stated:
The timely theme honors women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade. From the earliest storytellers through pioneering journalists, our experiences have been captured by a wide variety of artists and teachers. These include authors, songwriters, scholars, playwrights, performers, and grandmothers throughout time. Women have long been instrumental in passing on our heritage in word and in print to communicate the lessons of those who came before us. Women’s stories, and the larger human story, expand our understanding and strengthen our connections with each other. (https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/2023-theme/)
As an organization, we were founded by a woman and are run primarily by women. The work of our CEO, Wendy Puffer, embodies the devotion of producing art, engaging in conversation, and creating opportunities for the younger generation. Who are the women in your life that have made an impact on you? For me personally, I look at my mom, grandmother, sister, aunts, mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law. These women encourage me and uplift me. I am also impacted at work by the women who either supervise me or partner with me in our daily work. I encourage you to reflect on the women in your life and the impact they have made on you personally and in their communities.
We hope to see you at the Grand Opening on May 5th, 5:00-8:00 pm!
