Each week, #SpanningtheNeed will present an “Inspirational Person of the Week’ and have a “Q & A” with one of its many gifted individuals and/or groups who are willing to go out of their own way to help others. This week’s featured is Julie Brandle from Metis Construction Services.
Name: Julie Brandle
Position: President/Co-Founder
Organization: Metis Construction Services
Julie is the president and a founder of Metis Construction Services, a female-owned commercial general contractor located in Kent. Metis completes ground-up, renovation, and facilities maintenance projects throughout Ohio, along with recent projects in a number of other states. With over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and public relations, Julie oversees these areas of expertise for Metis along with being an integral part of the management team that designs and manages the overall business strategy.
Julie is a committed community advocate and currently serves on the boards of Kent State University’s Construction Management department, the Portage Development Board (economic development), Akron Civic Theatre, Akron Urban League, Greater Akron Chamber, MCAAP (and ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) Northeast Ohio, as well as the Hattie Larlham and Coleman Foundations. Julie volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. Julie is a Lifetime Gold Award Girl Scout and holds the adult honors of Women of Distinction and the Thanks Badge. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Akron and is the 2023-2024 District Governor for Rotary District 6630 (50 clubs in Northeast Ohio).
Julie is a graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School, as well as Bowling Green State University where she earned a double major in Interpersonal and Public Communication and Soviet Studies, as well as a travel grant scholarship to study in Kiev, Ukraine. She is a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses, ScaleratorNEO, Leadership Portage County, and Leadership Akron’s Class 37. She is also a licensed realtor(1995) with Berkshire Hathaway Stouffer Realty and holds National Association of Home Builders certifications in Green Building, Aging in Place, New Construction Sales and Master New Construction Sales.
Julie and her husband Steven (Metis EVP of Construction Operations) reside in Brimfield Twp. They have one daughter, Kimberly, a BGSU ’21 graduate and is an Intervention Specialist with Anthony Wayne Local Schools.
What made you want to go into this field?
I earned my real estate license in 1995 and soon found myself interested in the construction aspect of the industry. I earned certifications and completed continuing education classes related to construction.
What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful?
Is anyone ever really successful? Isn’t everyone always trying to do better and be better? I know I am!
What is the biggest professional mistake you made along the way?
Doing too much.
What inspires you to do good in our community?
This will definitely sound corny, it feels corny typing it here – there is a true feeling of calm, goodness and accomplishment when you do right in the world. To know by doing my small part as a community citizen, that I can help make a difference.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering in our community?
Seeing results in organizations that succeed by volunteer contributions. Organizations that properly manage their volunteers with manageable opportunities with visible results.
What song best describes you or is the soundtrack to your life?
It’s a beautiful day, U2…there is always a brighter side, it’s important to look forward with positivity
Exciting Halloween Spectacle Lights Up Warren, Ohio on WFMJ TV!
What is your best accomplishment/experience in life?
As a parent I am especially proud of our daughter and watching her grow into her current phase of adulthood.
Who is your role model and Why?
I’ve had a variety of role models in different points in my life, I’ll list a few here: my first professional ‘boss’ was Gary Hartman, Development Director at Stan Hywet. Everyone should have had him as their first boss in any industry. I learned about how importance service and relationships are in performing your job, whatever industry it might be. Pat Beach, my first ‘boss’ in the construction industry, yes a female! She taught me so much on working in this male dominated industry, especially by working hard, focusing on educating yourself and always becoming better, and being prepared….by doing so how its possible to be treated respectfully in this industry.
If there was one person that you would like to meet, past or present, and why?
Mikhail Gorbachev…strange probably…but to those who don’t know I graduated from BGSU with a double major in interpersonal and public communication and soviet studies. You can read more online if you’re not familiar with this historical figure, but the risks he took by both career and life for the move to democracy of his country, and the ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end to the Cold War in collaboration with then US President Ronald Reagan was inspiring and led to my interest in the culture, language and history of the country. I went on to study abroad the summer of the one-year anniversary of their independence, in Ukraine.
A favorite quote that you live by?
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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