Jennie Wunderlich knows her two strongest passions in life are logistics and youth. She also knows how lucky she is to use those gifts in her role as president and owner of PSC Distribution/Studio H2O. Ms. Wunderlich, along with her husband, Ben, and her cousin are the fourth generation to run the family-owned business her […]
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Click here to purchase a paywall bypass linkJennie Wunderlich knows her two strongest passions in life are logistics and youth. She also knows how lucky she is to use those gifts in her role as president and owner of PSC Distribution/Studio H2O. Ms. Wunderlich, along with her husband, Ben, and her cousin are the fourth generation to run the family-owned business her great-grandfather started in 1951, then known as Plumber’s Supply Company.
An Iowa City native, Ms. Wunderlich graduated from West Point in 2003 with degrees in nuclear engineering and American law studies with plans to enter the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the military’s justice branch. “But 9/11 happened and threw everyone in the military careers in different directions,” she said.
By 2008, Ms. Wunderlich and her husband decided to leave active duty and her dad extended an invitation; “You can come try the family business in Iowa and if it’s not your thing, that’s OK.”
“We didn’t know anything about plumbing — all I had done in the summers as a kid was answer the phone. But logistics is my jam.” Her experience in the military served her well in the plumbing business, too.
Active at all levels of the Home Builders of America, from locally to nationally, Ms. Wunderlich uses her skill at bringing people together to work for the betterment of all. “I believe you should use your gifts where you’re strong and lean on people when you’re not, which is true in the military, business relationships, personal relationships and with family. Where am I supposed to use my time and talents to the best of my ability? How do I help people accomplish a goal? How do I get youth involved?”
One example of her taking her own advice is with the Grow and Connect program she’s developed for Corridor youth, which brings together local kids with businesses in the trades. In conjunction with the Community Leadership guide Ms. Wunderlich compiled, she brings interested youth into her business for a day of professionalism training. The HBA has discovered that kids currently graduating from schools are missing soft skills, so she teaches them proper handshakes, good posture, goal-setting, how to talk to people and the benefit of disconnecting from their cell phones. Following soft skills training, they spend a week shadowing different trades.
“I paired up two kids who had never met each other and gave them a car LEGO set to assemble. The female student was good at choosing the pieces and reading the instructions, while the male student was good at putting the pieces together. When they were about 75-80% done, he turned to me and said ‘There. It’s done.’ I told him to keep going and finish the project. He harrumphed but kept going and eventually completed the car. I explained that it is exactly what they would be doing on a job — working with someone you don’t know, on something you haven’t done before, but with instructions — and you have to do it to completion. And their eyes lit up [with understanding]. We’re now in the third year of this program.”
“Jennie is spirited and forward thinking. She performs at a high level, showing a deep understanding of how to lead people to collaborative and positive results as well as having a strong work ethic, high morals and dependability. She has been successful in implementing positive changes due to using her creativity and aligning others to think outside of the box in our industry organization as well as community,” said Barbara Messer, general manager of design and sales at Kitchens By Design, in her recommendation letter.
Ms. Wunderlich has nearly made a second- or maybe even third-career out of public speaking to people in the trades and legislators on a variety of challenges facing their businesses in the next few years; to high school and college youth— because both can be a great fit for some; to teachers and professors on what they can teach the kids to be successful, all while mentoring and growing her team
Ms. Wunderlich and her husband are raising three children and are 4-H leaders and Sunday School teachers.
“It’s so humbling. I’ve been blessed with a tremendous support group, and a tremendous husband and kids. It’s unreal,” she said.
