In life, it’s advisable to make plans: Get an education. Save some money. Find a job. You know, all the mature choices we must make to survive … otherwise known as “adulting.”
But it’s also important to leave room for a little magic. As the late American author and professor Joseph Campbell has said, “We must let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
That bit about leaving room for magic summarizes Jordan Burris and her journey to Duluth. Originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, she relocated here in 2022, with no job lined up and no local friends or family. She was pretty much operating on a wing and a prayer.
But what happened next was extraordinary. In short order, she landed a terrific job as event coordinator at Bentleyville. She found a large, supportive friend group. She even met her fiancée, Ben.
“It was truly a leap of faith to come here, to Duluth,” Burris said. “Now, it feels like everything happened exactly like it was meant to. Moving to Duluth has changed my life.”
Background
Burris’ childhood in Grand Forks was wholesome and idyllic. She has one older brother, Tyler, and one older sister, Taylor.
Their dad, Steve, who is now retired, worked for the BNSF railroad. Their mom, Tammie, still works in an administrative role in the mayor’s office.
As a child, family and the outdoors were top priorities for Burris. “I always loved anything outdoors,” she noted. “Going on bike rides. And, Grand Forks is really family-oriented and safe. We grew up surrounded by family and friends.”
Her first job was as a leader at a summer youth program called Just for Fun. Later, she worked for Scheels sporting goods store. She then became a landscaper and eventually, a live-in nanny.
Education
When she was considering an education, Burris wasn’t exactly sure what to pursue. She began the nursing program at Northland Community & Technical College in East Grand Forks. Later, she pivoted and earned an associate’s degree in business.
She knew she wanted to continue her education, and ultimately decided on Duluth. “Growing up, we took lots of family vacations here,” she noted. “We have lots of memories in Duluth, and my parents even had their honeymoon here.”
She enrolled at UMD and moved to Duluth in August of 2022.
Leap of Faith
While she had her reasons for selecting Duluth – and a bit of history with the city – it was also a leap of faith for Burris. “I moved in with roommates I met on Facebook,” she said. “And, I had nothing lined up for a job. Eventually, I got hired at Target, but they told me I couldn’t start for a month.
“My mom had seen on Facebook that Bentleyville was looking for volunteers. I was looking to build connections and find friends, so I decided to do it. I showed up to volunteer, and left with a job.”
Here’s how it happened. Burris volunteered for a full 8-hour shift, setting up for Bentleyville’s opening day. Her role was helping prepare merchandise. At the end of her first day, founder Nathan Bentley approached her.
“Would you like to be a Red Coat?” he asked. She ultimately learned that a “Red Coat” was a seasonal staff member. Burris enthusiastically accepted. “Everything just fell into my lap,” she said.
By the end of her first season as a Red Coat, Bentleyville’s former event coordinator had made the decision to leave. Bentley asked Burris if she’d be interested. After consulting her parents for their opinion, Burris agreed.
She has been Bentleyville’s full-time event coordinator since January 2023.
Role
Burris is based out of Advantage Emblem, which also serves as Bentleyville’s HQ. Advantage Emblem is a screen-printing business that Nathan Bentley started many years ago.
In addition to Burris, there is one other full-time Bentleyville employee, who serves as park operations manager. During the Bentleyville season, there are about 40 seasonal employees. And there are roughly 1,200 volunteers.
As event coordinator, Burris’s role varies. “I’m in charge of the website and social media posts,” she explained. “I am the liaison for sponsors and volunteers. I write meeting minutes for the Executive Board. And I pick all the online orders for merchandise.
“And then at the event, I check in all the volunteers,” she added. “I’m the first face they see. Thanking our volunteers is a big part of my job.”
During Bentleyville’s “live” season, Burris works some long days. Her typical shift is M-F from 8-5. But when Bentleyville is live, she leaves the office at about 3:00 to head down to “the park,” as it is known, to be there for the evening’s festivities. She also works weekends.
She typically works 50-60 hours while Bentleyville is live. But Burris doesn’t mind. “The people I’ve met and the connections I’ve made make it all worth it,” she said.
Personal
In addition to all the wonderful friends she has made through Bentleyville, it is also how Burris met her fiancée, Ben Suliin. “He’s a mechanic at Halvor Lines, but is also a seasonal employee at Bentleyville,” she explained.
“On our first date, we walked on the Lakewalk, eventually ending up at Bentleyville. It was the setup season, but he turned on all the lights to impress me. My sister says it was like a Hallmark movie,” she added with a chuckle.
The two got engaged at Split Rock Lighthouse, and plan to wed next October in Cross Lake. Eventually, the couple would love to buy a house and have children.
In her spare time, Burris enjoys craft projects like crocheting and paint-by-number. She also loves spending time with her nephew, Liam, and her niece, Hadley. Jordan and Ben share their Hermantown home with their beloved Goldendoodle, Lucy.
Duluth
Now that she’s settled in, with a wonderful job, partner, and plenty of friends, Burris reflects on all she loves about Duluth. “We enjoy taking Lucy on all the trails and the Lakewalk to watch the water and see the ships.
“I also love Canal Park, Park Point, and Wisconsin Point. I’d say we visit at least once a week.
“But what I love most about Duluth is the people,” she added. “I have found a really great friend group here, mostly through Bentleyville, and we love hanging out.”
Looking back at all the synchronicities, there is no doubt that Burris wound up exactly where she was meant to be: Duluth. “I moved here alone and didn’t have any connections,” she noted. “I really had to put myself out there. But it worked out, and I’ve truly had the best experience.”
