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| About UsJules Bakery, Inc. recognized internationally for strength in Leadership Modern Baking Magazine, an international industry journal, recently recognized Jules Bakery, Inc. for its leadership in management. According to Juli Hardin, CEO, this award is icing on the cake. "Our team has taken the Cedar Rapids area by storm over the past five years by introducing fine tasting desserts and cakes to our community. We have taken the lead in meeting the desires of our customers, in creating gourmet desserts for people who know what good taste is and what tastes good." Jules Bakery team has taken risks and put our company out there with eclectic desserts that many people think are only available in the big city! Our leadership in using only the finest ingredients has shown that sophistication is not about location. It's about knowing your business and creating only the best. The industry leadership award credited Jules Bakery for its teamwork structure and cross training. "Each person on our team has equal responsibility and empowerment to help clients meet their dessert and celebration needs," said Hardin. "We either do it together or we don't do it." In addition to being grateful, Hardin said she was actually surprised to receive the award this early in the bakery's career. "When we see bakeries in business for four generations, five years is infancy! To be acknowledged this early in our career speaks volumes for our accomplishments and vision. What an amazing beginning we have had and this award is truly the icing on the cake." Our History
There really is a Jules, which is a nickname for Juli, our owner. She has been creating and designing cakes and recipes for over 30 years and now offers her cake creations to the wonderful people of Cedar Rapids and Marion. On December 18, 2001, she opened Jules Bakery to fill a need in the community for a place to buy great tasting cakes, cookies, desserts and cheesecakes. Word spread quickly through the community that the team at Jules Bakery creates delicious cakes, beautifully decorated with outrageously awesome frosting. Over the past six years we have made hundreds of new friends who now include Jules Bakery in their birthday and special occasion traditions.
Juli grew up in the Cedar Rapids area, graduated from Washington High School in 1974, and earned a business degree in public relations from Mt Mercy College. As a young adult, she moved away – twice – and experienced life on both the east and west coasts. In 1988 she and her family lived in the United Kingdom where she gained a new appreciation for European desserts. The results can be found in our profiteroles (cream puffs) and choux pastry desserts such as Coffee Renoir. Before opening the bakery, Juli was with the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce as their vice president of communications. “I always knew that someday I would have my own business and I wanted it to be a bakery,” explained Jules. “I spent several years dreaming and two years diligently researching our business model and writing the business plan.” Her experience with the Chamber instilled in her a belief in the vibrancy of the greater Cedar Rapids region, in its economic well being and its business climate. Our TeamDelicious cakes and desserts are the result of a fantastic team. We share the same goal -- to serve our customers only the best and the highest quality baked products made with only the best ingredients. Our attention to customers and quality shows in the amount of comments we receive. Because of our strong mission to offer only the highest quality goodies, rarely do customers have complaints. Instead they tell us, “Oh my goodness! I had your cake last week and it was awesome.” We really do encourage customers to tell us what was wrong since this is how we learn and adjust, but we don't get very many unsatisfied clients.
Jules - How many people can say they love their jobs? Jules can and her passion shows in every inch of the bakery. Each new customer (especially the bride and groom) becomes extended family. While is doesn't get into the kitchen to bake as often as she used to, she still oversees every aspect of the bakery management and the design of wedding cakes.
Mandy - Mandy has grown with the bakery since its opening and is now the lead baker as well as our manager. It's the sweetest voice you hear when Mandy takes your call. But don't be mislead, she is an incredible baker, up at the crack of dawn, up to her elbows in flour making the cookies and brownies that you crave. The voice comes from originally being in the telemarketing industry -- quite a change to our kitchen. She is now baker of the best pastries in our area! Stop in the bakery sometime and listen very closely -- chances are you will be able to hear her singing to us. Her voice is as magic as her baking. Tazia - has been with us for several years, starting as a retail associate. She is now part of our talented design staff, decorating birthday and celebration cakes. Her mind never slows which keeps us on our toes and her designs fresh. She is also the team leader for our sales team and is responsible for training and heads up our new product development.
Julie C is our lead designer, with her new and innovative designs perfect for any special occasion. While it can be confusing having two Julies -- both of whom decorate -- she is the one on the day-to-day decorating table, creating your masterpiece birthday cake. What many do not know about Julie C. is she is also a jewelry designer and teaches beading/jewelry making for Bead Haven in Cedar Rapids. Abigail, Natalie, Keara & Rachel are our sales team. All agree that the best part of the job is learning to decorate cupcakes and cookies! Hey, we thought the best part was the taste testing. Keara is a Kennedy student, Natalie is at Linn Mar. Abigail and Rachel are seniors at Washington. Lisa - Originally a member of our sales team, Lisa is moving up and is now a student at the Kirkwood Culinary School. We are fortunate to have her and her blossoming skills. Her newest task is learning the art of baking, in particular, bread. On weekends she is helping with the decorating and wedding setups. It is always fun to watch a young baker learn and take pride in her new skills. Abby - Raised in Texas, our newest team member now calls Cedar Rapids home. She will greet you each day with a smile and will be ready to make suggestions for your special occasion. She brings a strong background in art and printmaking (University of Iowa grad) to her cake design perspective. Well, what really is the difference: paper... frosting.
Where Are They Now?Paige - You might remember Paige from the first two years we were open. She was our manager and is Juli's daughter. In 2003, she joined the Peace Corp and moved to Senegal West Africa. She is now back in Iowa and studying for a masters degree in education at the University of Iowa. Teylor - Had a baby! It's a girl and her name is Gentry. We will always remember Teylor for her humor and her extraordinary baking skills. She was a little bit of a thing but she could create some of the best baked goods and food you can imagine. She went out West one summer to intern on a dude ranch. She came back for awhile during the off season, and headed right back out there. Now she is married to Tex and we are not sure if we will ever get her back because her heart is with her new cowboy and that beautiful baby girl. They are making a home for themselves in Colorado Springs on a ranch where Teylor is back to cooking for the crew! We hope to see her in the winter. Annie, Dani & Jenna All three are graduates from Washington High School and carry on their studies in college. Annie attends De Paul in Chicago to study political science. Dani is spending a year studying abroad and is in Lancashire England near the Lake District. It's funny how fate works because this is where the Hardin's lived for two years in the 80s and we know the area well. Jenna is attending UNI to study teaching. Cathy - is pursuing her own home-based business of graphic design. She is also working with Johnson School documenting artwork of students. Megan - We first met Megan as a junior in high school at Xavier. We often miss her down-to-earth approach and love seeing her when she stops by for a chat. We are lucky to have shared in her high school and college years. She recently completed her studies with her degree from Coe College and works for AEGON and just bought her first house! Jenny - and her husband Scott moved to Arkansas where Scott managed a large retail furniture store. And now we hear they have been transferred again, this time to Las Vegas Baby!! She tells us she is a stay-at-home mom for her two new dogs. She is still making and designing cakes for family and friends. Tina - Tina is back in school full time and is heading for a second career in business management. She stops in now and then between study groups and she is truly enjoying the new education experience.
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Jules Bakery Serve Dessert First © 2006 Jules Bakery All rights reserved. For reprint permission contact Jules Bakery, 3201 Armar Drive, Marion, IA 52302, 319.447.0943 |
