About Joelle
Born: Wadena, MN.
Education: Anoka Senior High School - Honors Graduate, Student Athlete, Band member
Masters Degree - UOP Business Administration with HR emphasis
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Bio
"It's All About Anoka!"
- Born in northern MN, Joelle moved to Anoka at the young age of 1! She attended Washington Elementary, St. Stephens school, Wilson Elementary, Sandburg Middle School, Anoka Junior High School and finally Anoka Senior High School. She loved summer school and went to Lincoln elementary as well! Her school years were active with sports (volleyball) band (clarinet) and Dance line (Twister co-captain!) She would ride her bike to the Anoka pool every summer as swimming was also a love of hers! She grew up with her sister Jacquelyn and brother Scott. As the oldest sibling, Joelle learned leadership and managerial skills at a very young age. Both Mom (Gloria) and Dad (Ebbie) were actively employed. One working days (World Aerospace) and the other working nights (Federal Cartridge)! This meant Joelle would be head of household in there absence!
- After graduation, Joelle, went to Anoka- Hennepin Technical School to learn a trade: bank teller. She later worked at Bloomington and Lake National Bank as well as Shelard National Bank. Along the way, she attended the University of Minnesota with the desire to graduate in kinesiology (physical education.) She performed on the U of M dance line at primarily basketball games. Joelle Alvord has always been an achiever; striving to improve her knowledge and skills in leadership she attempted and achieved most goals she set for herself. She left the U of M without her degree, worked at the Banks until starting her new sales positions with Spa Petite.
- Joelle was a consultant selling exercise memberships as well as leading exercise classes. She excelled over the 3 years into management and left after running 3 clubs in the Minneapolis area. She joined Thorpe Bros. real estate and started her career in another direction. Residential real estate wasn't easy for a mom with a young son! She had gotten married along the way to Jon Hartfiel from Anoka. His family was active in the construction and real estate arena, so Joelle felt it was a natural fit! Real estate was tough, but after attending a National RE conference in Las Vegas NV, the family decided to relocate into a warmer year round climate!
- Now with 2 boys, her hands were full and she was working in the timeshare industry in LV while her husband continued in the construction industry. Each position taught her something new about sales, people, performance, goal setting, etc.
- Along comes GTE DC (Yellow Pages,) Joelle is one of 2 hired, trained in Dallas TX for 4 weeks, and into telephone sales her career begins. After 2 years she applied for a management position in CA. She flew to CA and was interviewed by 2 successful male sales managers. Again, she was hired and the company transferred her family to Orange, CA. While in Las Vegas she had her 3rd child, a girl, and they all moved to the sunshine state.
- As a sales manager, Joelle learned to interview, hire, train, and set goals and expectations for her team. A solid performer she earned multiple awards and incentive trips along the way. She spent her time in CA in the Orange county division, the Long Beach, Inland Empire, and even the LA division. She moved to outside sales after her divorce and worked with clients in the LA area selling yellow page advertising to clients for books in there market area each publishing once a year.
- Now, as a single mom of three, responsibility and work ethic were needed as well as her leadership skills. Recognized by senior management as a proven leader, she was placed on multiple special projects and tests to determine product growth opportunities. Moving up the company to collections, district and division management, and ultimately to customer service director for the West Region. It was during this time, she met and eventually married her husband Warren Alvord!
- In her leadership capacities, she learned how to collaborate with other departments, while maintaining the integrity of her position. She had to make tough decisions on company and client concerns in an attempt to find ways to reduce errors and costs in a publication that was printed and distributed annually. As the company realized the YP industry was losing market share, it diverted to the internet, offering online products. Now both yp and online were offered to the customer base. Her learning continued!
- Joelle moved into a new position and became the manager of major accounts in the west CA area as the company was reorganizing its structure to accommodate its new path. Along the way GTE DC sold to Verizon Communications, who sold to other corporations. Joelle held multiple hats along the way as the company transitioned to meet and maximize the industry standards and expectations. The ship was sinking and it was time to retire from the industry. Joelle had 29 years of marvelous training and experiences and learned how to lead, defend, manage and grow the business, while focusing on employee, self, and company success.
- Now grown, the children had moved out leaving her and husband Warren, time! Retirement was fun, but kind of boring! Joelle was use to the fast pace of monthly quotas, management classes and executive meetings. She applied for Zillow Inc and earned a new position in sales. She wanted to learn this industry from the bottom up and started working with real estate agents to sell online advertising via the Zillow website. She spent 4 years with Zillow and enjoyed the many perks of a start-up company. It was fun to be part of the beginning of what has proven to be a very successful industry. She retired from Zillow and began spending more time with her family and friends!
- Joelle and husband Warren traveled extensively during these years. Cruising is there favorite form of travel. Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic and Adriatic seas as well as, Atlantic and Pacific oceans have all been cruised by the two. Multiple destinations and ports have been experienced, Joelle has seen how other people live, work and play. These sights have heightened her understanding of people and places; different governments, laws and norms. Expanding her horizons and learning from the people that travel or live there make Joelle Alvord the best choice for Mayor of Anoka as she understands diversity, inclusivity and community!
- Finally, it was time to go back home to Anoka. Joelle started attending city council meetings. A long time friend of Chrissy and Phil Rice (current mayor of Anoka) Joelle was interested in getting involved in the city of Anoka. She partnered with Phil suggesting she join the EDC (Economic Development Committee.) No openings were available to her, so she joined the Human Rights Committee. When an EDC opening became available, she requested to be transferred. Joelle represents the EDC at monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings in the Anoka location as well as Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for new Anoka Chamber of Commerce members. Joelle enjoys meeting the new business owners and others joining in the celebration. She also became a head judge overseeing the Special Presidential Election in march, at Zion Lutheran Church, precinct 4. No politics discussed there, but she met many Anoka residents and friends.
- She is a volunteer for the Lord Of Life "Ruby's Pantry" shares distribution handed out on the last Friday of the month. Joelle has met so many former and new friends since returning to her home town, and understands it is only the tip of the iceberg! There is much more to be done in her campaign for Mayor of Anoka!
- Recently Joelle and Warren toured "Haven for Heroes" at the former Anoka State Hospital. How three cottages have been transformed! Her mother used to work there as a psych technician! The efforts attempted and successfully completed in order to convert 25,000 square feet per cottage, into veteran compatible housing is marvelous. Details are impressive and so is the multiple hours of donated labor and supplies. It truly is a "Haven for Heroes!"
"It's All About Anoka!"
Election Day!
November 5, 2024
