About Julia Henley
Julia Henley, Designer
Julia has over 25 years' experience as a designer, community developer, planning professional, and project manager in housing, commercial, hospitality, assisted living, neighborhood development, and business start-ups, for both public and private projects.
DESIGN SCOPE
Her extensive work in designing, specifying, and detailing all facets of the built structure within its framework--including interiors. exteriors, landscape, space planning and form, custom mill work and cabinetry for kitchens, baths, and specialty spaces such as at home entertainment spaces and outdoor terraces and pergolas contribute to a sense of place and enjoyment. Working with talented pros, artists, craftsmen, trades, and technical specialists, she guides clients and coordinates results in the plan itself--from the ground up design, to revising spaces, shaping goals and vision, assisting clients with budgeting and detailing all aspects of an environment to maximize goals.
A career long commitment to sustainable solutions means working to achieve a balance between economic growth, historic respect, and environmental protection and development, resulting in "win-win" results in projects for communities, partners, and team members.
Julia has developed conceptual architectural plans for both commercial and residential buildings, interiors, and served as a community designer and project manager. .
Community Development & Neighborhood Development
LEADERSHIP & SUSTAINABILTY
With her commitment to the ongoing promotion and economic development with the region, she launched "Driftless Notes", originally in print format (2013), and then a subscribed online news aggregation.
In 2014, as part of the leadership of Sustainable Driftless, Inc, a non-profit committed to the branding and understanding of the Driftless Region, she edits the Sustainable Driftless Magazine, an online publication with a mission of educational outreach to lead to sustainable development and economic growth.
In 2019, the film "Decoding the Driftless" was released, highlighting the spectacular environment of the Driftless Region. In 2025, "Spirit of the Driftless: Protecting Our Legacy" premiered. The documentary film, produced by the organization's Tim Jacobson & George Howe, has since received numerous awards throughout the nation and overseas.
She is now producing a stunning "Coffee Table" book, illustrating the region via the perspective of talented photographers and naturalists.
Learn more at https://Sustainable-Driftless.org, or see https://SustainableDriftlessMag.com
A career long commitment to sustainable solutions means working to achieve a balance between economic growth, historic respect, and environmental protection and development, resulting in "win-win" results in projects for communities, partners, and team members.
Julia has developed conceptual architectural plans for both commercial and residential buildings, interiors, and neighborhoods. She also has served as a community visionary and project manager.
Notable
Where will you work?
Plenary Speaker; Alaska Emergency Management & Recovery Conference; Anchorage, AK. April 2014. Considerations of Disaster Recovery: Gays Mills, WI
Nominee, Governor’s Tourism Awards: Rising Star, 2013
Published, Driftless Notes magazine; 2014
Presenter & Panelist, 2011 Mid-American Economic Development & Site Selector Forum, Dec 6, 2011, Chicago. “Disaster Recovery—How Communities Economically Recover from Natural Disasters”.
Presenter & Panelist, 2012 American Society of Flood Plain Managers, San Antonio, TX, May 23, 2012. “Implementing the National Disaster Recovery Framework in an Increasingly Stormy World.”
D.B. Reinhardt ETHICS IN LEADERSHIP at Viterbo University, “Day to Day Ethics Radio Series: A Neighborhood Acts”, (July 15-18, 2006)
Natural Home Magazine, Earth Mover Award, July/August 2004
Onalaska Women of Achievement, 2000
University Of Wisconsin History
Project, The Driftless Watershed Series: 2012—Recording History Guest intervie
Where will you work?
Where will you work?
Depending on the project and the schedule...My career began in West Michigan, though I generally work in Southwest Wisconsin, from La Cresent, Onalaska, and La Crosse , to Tomah, Hillsboro, Black Earth, or even Cable WI.
Projects can be more rural or in the city, on the riverfront or lakefront, with a few
ranches and hideaways in between.
