When you work with Iceberg Web Design, You are working with an entire team of web marketing professionals. But just who are these people who are hard at work helping you connect with your customers? For the next couple of months, we will be profiling our team of penguins. We begin with the Master Penguin, herself: Jessi Gurr. Jessi is the owner of Iceberg Web Design.
Jessi: CEO of Iceberg Web Design
How long have you been working for Iceberg?
Since the day I started the company: May 20, 2005
Have your duties changed since you first started working here?
YES! Incredibly. Back in 2005, I was the only “employee,” so I handled everything from marketing to sales to building websites….support, billing, and accounting. Over the years, as we have grown organically, I have slowly moved out of these roles as I hired others to do them. Today, I work on more of the higher-level business operations and team management, though I’m still involved in many of the operations – just a bit more in a consultative role.
What do you do for Iceberg’s customers?
Ensure that they are connected to the right person on our team, who can help them solve whatever problem they are currently facing 🙂
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Honestly, I love creating new jobs and watching every member of our team grow in their position. While I’ve always enjoyed building websites – which is why this company exists – today, I am most passionate about growing the business. I really enjoy the additional networking opportunities that have come up in the past few years and meeting with other business owners in our space. I love helping everyone on our team succeed, and I especially love when a customer is happy with their project and leaves us a good review or gives us a referral.
What is your #1 goal when working with a customer?
I’ve always placed a lot of attention towards the fast turnaround and fast response. My goal is to impress our customers by getting back to them quickly, with quality work.
In what other industries have you worked?
Before starting Iceberg, I was a customer service representative at an Internet Service Provider. We sold the dial-up Internet. Hah! I was also the manager (only employee) at a volunteer-run Food Co-op in Morris for a few years while Iceberg was in its early stages and managed everything from inventory and ordering to volunteer staffing, and I enjoyed interacting with local farmers. In high school, I worked in the Box Office at the Showplace 16 movie theater.
Jessi is about more than just work
Tell us a bit about your family (including pets):
I have two boys, Cedar and River, ages 7 and 5. They keep life thrilling and challenge me daily. They attend the Montessori school in Anoka, and I’m pretty active in their school as a board member. I also have two cats, Niko and Kallie.
Do you have any hobbies/special interests?
I enjoy gardening, and in the past had a vegetable garden that was bigger than my house 🙂 I recently moved, so I’m working on getting a new garden started. I absolutely LOVE to travel and seek out conferences and business opportunities across the states (and even internationally), to share my experiences building a business while spending some time sightseeing. I’ve taken many trips with my kids, and we’re planning an epic trip once traveling can safely resume. I also make candles every fall, which are for sale at my family’s farm in Andover, MN.
What is something about you that might surprise your customers and co-workers?
I’m struggling with this question. I’m kind of an open book, and I feel like most of our team knows a lot about me already.
I once rode down a German Autobahn in a Winnebago with a couple I had just met the night before, listening to Simon & Garfunkel.
Describe your perfect day:
It would most definitely start by heading to the airport and boarding a plane – seat 10 A. Soaring over an ocean to a country I haven’t yet visited. Bonus if the trip could only take a couple of hours, but take me halfway around the world. I’d have my kids with me, and we would check into a charming motel or AirBNB and map out our adventures for the next month. We’d order an AMAZING vegan dinner and spend the evening getting to know people who lived in the neighborhood.
Now for some deeper questions
Science or History? Which is your favorite and why?
Science, without a doubt. I love experimentation, and earth sciences, in particular, fascinate me. I’m also enthralled by the cosmos and love watching scientific documentaries.
If you were guaranteed the correct answer to one question, what would you ask?
If 42 is the answer, what is the question?
What is your best piece of advice? It can be about anything.
Only “do it yourself” if you truly enjoy doing the work. Time is more important than money, and if you can gain more time by hiring someone to do something they love doing more than you, then everybody wins.
We would love to talk to you about your web marketing needs. Contact us anytime to learn how our team can help your business grow!
Connect with Jessi on LinkedIn
