Member Spotlight: Jordan Juhl Marcon
Tell me a little about yourself.
My name is Jordan Juhl Marcon, and I am the Director of Public Relations at ChildServe. The organization is near and dear to my heart as my younger sister lived in ChildServe’s complex medical unit for a short period of time before her passing, over 20 years ago. I think this lived experience makes me uniquely qualified to navigate public relations for the organization and the children and families we serve – it’s personal and professional. I’ve worked in some form of PR, communications or marketing role for nearly two decades, spanning nearly every industry – healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, retail and more.
I am a native of Pella, Iowa, and a graduate of Central College. My husband, Atila, works at Vermeer, and we have two very active sons, Will and Arie, and three dogs. My youngest dog, Mika, was re-careered to me from the Puppy Jake program. She goes to work with me at ChildServe and serves as Staff Wellness Dog. We are always on the go!
What drew you to public relations in the first place?
The honest answer is, I stumbled into public relations. Growing up, I was always a good writer – I could sit down and crank out a 10-page paper in college, and I remember my friends and classmates being astonished. I was an English major because I thought I wanted to go into education. I ended up deciding that wasn’t the route for me. I got an internship at Vermeer in Payroll, of all things (it was 2008 and jobs weren’t exactly easy to come by), but a few executive leaders recognized my writing and communication skills and created the first-ever Communications Specialist position for me at the company. I had some positions that encompassed PR, marketing and comms over the years, but really stepped into the field when I took a position with Wixted & Company in 2014.
Perhaps why I’ve stayed in this field is that I’m passionate about helping others through public relations, strategic communications and crisis management. I’ve discovered how rewarding it is to help others navigate and make the most out of challenging situations, and how to maximize incredible stories that need to be shared.
What has your career path looked like? What is your current role?
When I look back at my career, I’ve held a lot of “firsts,” which I think means I enjoy a challenge, and I enjoy doing new things. I also know that every time someone reached out to take a chance on me for a career advancement opportunity, even if I was scared, I said yes!
Vermeer created the first-ever Communications Specialist role for me back in 2008. From there, I served the Iowa Grocery Industry Association as Communications Specialist and Editor, and later as the first-ever Education Manager. I absolutely loved writing and putting together their quarterly magazine, overseeing advertising and creating video content. From there, I got a call from the National Pork Board – they had a new role, Producer and State Communications Manager. The daughter of a farmer and ag teacher, I knew I had to say yes!
A couple more introductions and phone calls in my career led to two of the greatest positions I’ve had the opportunity to serve in. First, I spent six years at Wixted & Company as Communications Advisor, learning under Eileen Wixted and many other wonderful friends and colleagues. I am so grateful for my time at the firm, where I was able to grow my professional expertise in crisis management and strategic communications. This is where I truly honed my PR skills and found my passion for the field. The other call I received was five years ago from Dr. Teri Wahlig when ChildServe was looking for the organization’s first Director of Public Relations. My experience in PR, coupled with my family’s experience, made this role especially unique for me. Over the years, I have loved growing the organization’s visibility in the community under the leadership of Dr. Wahlig and helping families share their stories; it’s been incredibly fulfilling, and in some ways therapeutic, both for me and for them.
How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa?
At one of our Forty Under 40 class events for the Business Record, I was just getting to know Abby Delaney, and she said, “Hey, you should really get involved in PRSA.” I sort of smiled and nodded, not realizing at the time what that might entail, but she planted the seed for my involvement. A couple of years later, I realized so many of my role models, peers, former colleagues and friends were part of PRSA and that Abby was right to encourage me to join. I am a fairly new member, having joined in 2024. When I joined, I reached out to Christina Gayman, who was the president and a friend, and asked how I could get more involved. She and Baillee Furst asked me to join the board, and I said yes!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Opportunity looks a lot like work. Growing up, my dad used to tell me getting up and going to work each day was 90% of “the work.” What he meant was staying in motion and putting forth your best effort each day would bring new opportunities. From there, say yes to those opportunities as they arise – even if they scare you!
What do you like to do in your free time?
With two young children, I try to maximize my free time! I love spending time with my husband and children – we really try to get the energy out, so there is a lot of time spent outdoors, going to indoor play spaces, coaching rec sports, etc. Personally, I love to golf – Go Dutch! I don’t like to run, but I do it for my health. I am very active in dog sports and training – agility, rally, obedience, tricks, fitness, Fast CAT and more. I have three dogs, a 14-year old Rat Terrier, Murray, who got me started down this path I never thought I’d be on; a rescue Staffie-mix, Mac; and a black Lab, Mika, who came to me after being re-careered from being a service dog (too much personality and energy).
