Today we’d like to introduce you to Marjie Siegfried-Stuber.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my career after graduating from college with an English (writing concentration) degree in 1980. My first position was in marketing and public relations for a small Midwest college. That position included working with prospective students as well as directing a student dance troupe that toured about 15,000 miles every summer promoting the college in both public and private venues.
I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1986, where I served as assistant editor and public relations editor for a real estate related magazine. In 1989, I founded my own business, working primarily with nonprofits in the areas of brand management, strategic planning, organizational structure, and fund development. Since 2007, I have worked exclusively with nonprofit organizations. My philosophy of business stems from my education as a writer and my background in marketing: Tailor the product or service to the audience to which you are communicating. Be honest and creative, use humor when you can and when/if it is appropriate, and draw on all the connections you have – people, life experiences, education, etc.
Early in my career, I worked with myriad companies, including real estate brokerages, a plywood manufacturer, a physician specializing in treating erectile dysfunction, and interior designers (ASID), to name a few. Between 1989 and 2010, while operating my marketing/pr consultant business, I also owned a business that recruited, trained, and scheduled baseball, basketball, and softball officials. As an athlete, I loved working in that field. For a few years in this time frame, I also wanted to own a bricks-and-mortar business, so when an opportunity presented itself to buy a coffee house, I did that as well.
In 2010, I began consulting with a Pennsylvania nonprofit that serves people with multiple and/or complex disabilities that was in the beginnings of a major growth period. As a consultant, I served on their C-staff for almost 12 years. During that time, this nonprofit grew from a $12 million organization to a $50 million organization, purchased a building and several homes for its clients, and updated its name as well as its mission, vision, and values statements. I worked with them until January 2025, when I began to pare down my own work commitments.
In September 2022, I took on the role of executive director for Northland Clothing Center in Kansas City. Something about this position spoke to me personally. It is a half-time position, but I willingly donate many more hours. NCC is a 66+ year old organization, and my role is to update its infrastructure, fund development, and visibility in the KC Northland community so it exists for another 66 years and beyond. I still work with a small senior/disability housing organization in Iowa as well.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There is no such thing as a smooth road, only a smooth section of road. 🙂
I became a parent in February 1989, and founded my business in May 1989. Struggle – having an infant and trying to grow a one-person shop. But the struggles, one of which was new-business-low-income, were honestly few and far between. I absolutely love what I do and have always loved it, so the struggles have been like wrinkles in a sleeve to me – terrible at the time, but they seemed to even out quickly.
I will say that owning the coffee house was a completely different mindset for me. Going from a service-based business to a product-based business was an eye-opener. Until then, I had a few independent contractors who worked with/for me, but with the coffee house I had 18 employees who depended on me for their livelihood. That weighs heavily, especially because the business was in a very small, rural community (town of 1400). We had to be very creative to be sure the business always had something fresh (literally and figuratively) to bring in customers.
Northland Clothing Center has its own set of struggles. We are a very well-established organization, but we are currently grappling with updates (I steer clear of the word “change”) in policies, technologies, appearances, and more. That’s understandably difficult for volunteers and others who’ve been part of the organization for 10 or 20+ years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I (think) I am known for being energetic and kind. I try to be respectful of others. I also have an incredibly diverse skill set, and that helps me do whatever is needed, from typing a letter to planning/implementing a large event, from having a difficult conversation to speaking/presenting in front of thousands. (I have always maintained that the most difficult thing to write has been a press release about my own promotion, and I’m feeling that way again as I type this section.)
One thing that people who’ve worked for me have told me consistently over the years is that they appreciate my support for them – I advocate for my team, no matter what. I had a staff that once gave me a Beanie Baby bulldog and put a little cheerleader on it because they said I was their bulldog and cheerleader. I never give up. For years, I had the phrase “I love a good challenge.” on my resume.
Going back to my early career, I am very proud of the college dance/pr group I directed. It was arguably the most successful marketing effort that college has ever had, and I took it from its infancy and helped it grow exponentially. As part of that endeavor, I was able to travel extensively through 49 states, all across Canada, and into Mexico. The 88 of us that were part of that group over an eight-year period still maintain close contact.
My specialties personally: I play violin and am a fairly accomplished singer, and I enjoy tennis, solving crosswords and jigsaw puzzles, reading, and traveling. I am grandma to two beautiful girls, and my husband, Tim, and I enjoy monthly visits to see his mom and my granddaughters, all of whom live in Iowa. Tim and I were married 11/28/20, a second marriage for us both.
What sets me apart – I spell my first name with a j instead of a g. All my life, people have referred to me as “Marjie with a j,” and as silly as that sounds, people remember me partially because of that. I also can do a little of everything, which has been an enormous asset to me professionally and a joy to me personally.
My work with NCC is challenging and rewarding. Every day, we provide clothing to people who have great need. Sometimes, people say “but I donate to the food bank” and I think to myself, “That’s fantastic. Donate to organizations that provide food, housing, and help for people seeking human rights and equality. Just don’t forgot those of us who provide clothing so those very people can go get food, leave their homes for jobs and schools, and meet with doctors or caseworkers.” Clothing is essential. That’s what NCC exists.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I consider myself a risk-taker, with boundaries. Would I jump out of a plane? Probably not. Did I start a business when I had a three-month-old? Yes, I did. Would I go bungee-jumping? Nope. Would I go sledding or skiing at my age? Yep. Would I travel alone? Yes, and have many times. Would I swim with sharks? No (but I have swum with manta rays!). My perspective on risk-taking is simple: If it is the right thing to do, take the risk regardless of fear. But if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. Trust your instinct.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.northlandclothingcenter.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northlandclothingcenter
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/northlandclothingcenter.org
