I am the Principal of Portland-based JHL Design, a luxury design firm specializing in interior design and architecture. We’ve spent the last 20 years designing high-end custom homes and hospitality spaces on the West Coast and are broadening our services to places like Arizona, Texas, and California.

>What's on the horizon for you?
We are expanding our reach to cities with a large second-home market and finding our ideal clients, being careful to take projects that will fill our portfolio with the kind of work we want within a continuum. We saw tremendous growth (to our team and client list) during the pandemic and we are carefully focusing on small, strategic growth choices in 2024 and beyond.
 
>How do you unwind at the end of a long day?
I can cook a meal for 12 with almost nothing in the fridge like a good Southerner. I love hosting parties, skiing the slopes with my kids, and hiking in the summer months. Traveling with my family is my number one favorite thing. I consider myself highly driven and one who can totally unwind and enjoy the moment.

>Your favorite EO moment so far?
My favorite EO moment was my first Alchemy in 2022. It was such a great learning opportunity with subjects ranging from kids + money to marketing strategies. I met so many people from the Portland chapter that I hadn’t met before (Michelle Cairo! Katie Poppe! Jay Torgerson!) in person and had only seen on Zoom. It helped me feel more connected to the Portland EO community that we have. I am grateful for this EO community in so many ways.

>What was your first job?
I started my entrepreneurship as a young teen by teaching horseback riding lessons to neighborhood kids, painting fences, and driving a forklift for our local machine shop. 

>Has there been a takeaway from your EO membership you'd like to share?
One of the most significant things EO has brought to my business is the introduction to EOS [Entrepreneurial Operating System] and my amazing Forum. I am sure I’d have lost my mind by now trying to teach myself all the things I didn’t learn with my undergrad in Journalism turned business owner of a design firm.

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Holly joined EO Portland in 2019. Interested in joining a community of business founders? This could be your year! Learn more.