After more than 40 years at BDH, Jill Brecount, CID, LEED AP, will retire on September 15th. As a Principal, a former Managing Partner, and the "B" in BDH, she has shaped the firm's identity, its portfolio, and the careers of the many designers she mentored.

Jill joined BDH in the mid-1980s, when founder Kathy Young invited her to become part of the firm's second generation of ownership, alongside Kim Dennis and Darcy Hield. Together they grew BDH from a small design studio into one of the most recognized interior architecture and design firms in the Twin Cities.

Jill has spent her entire career at BDH, and design has always been where her passion lies. Her work spans workplace, multifamily, and senior living projects, from small renovations to new construction buildings, and regardless of size she brought the same high level of excellence to every square foot. That work has earned recognition throughout the industry, including Finance and Commerce Top Projects, MREJ Interior Design and Office Awards, and NAIOP Awards of Excellence.

Jill's mark on BDH reaches well beyond her own projects. As the firm's Managing Partner for many years, she helped steer its growth from the inside, and she was one of its strongest voices in business development by winning new work and building client relationships that stand the test of time. She was a constant presence in the life of the firm, from its culture to its volunteer efforts, and she stayed active in the wider commercial real estate industry.

Jill's enduring accomplishment will certainly be her genuine care and investment in people. For more than a decade, she has worked shoulder to shoulder with Emily Marden and Derek Lillo, sharing her insights and expertise to support their growth into the leaders they are today. The workplace practice she leaves behind is one she curated with intention, so that a moment like this one would be seamless and the firm would keep growing well past her last day.

Jill leaves BDH fully in the hands of its third generation of leadership. When she and Kim Dennis stepped back from ownership, they chose their successors from within: Angela Moore, Beth Nordstrom, Joyce Stupnik, and Todd Mulvihill. BDH remains independent and locally owned, and Jill's legacy is evident in the values the firm still holds today.