For Dannielle it has taken a long journey to become the most defined version of herself. Like the friends from The Wizard of Oz, a Yellow Brick Road leads to the Wizard. And spoiler alert, the Wizard never gave Dorothy her wish to return to Kansas. It was within her desire to make her wish come true. And yes, we’re not in Kansas anymore. We’re in Minnesota, where if it gets hot, it’s so hot, and when it’s cold, it’s really cold.
It’s a place with a mix of the modern world and recollections of the past. There are places deep in the forest where you can hunt.
Deep in that forest, someone special just granted her wish – to finally be able to go deer hunting. Dannielle truly follows what her heart desires and the world of Creativity, Community Outreach, and Networking is what lies deep inside her heart.
Who is she?
We’re talking about Abra Kadabra, Director of Business Development and Community Engagement, and the Director/Producer of the Homegrown Hustle Podcast,Dannielle Petschl.
Dannielle is warm, energetic, enthusiastic, and a powerhouse of creativity and connection. Her journey to finding Abra Kadabra as a pivotal moment in her career is a solid example of developing into a resilient, adaptable, passionate, and strategic kind of professional.
Back in September 2023, Dannielle joined Abra Kadabra, not knowing that she would have the best moment for her career. However, with her extensive and diverse professional background, she has been able to do wonders for the business ever since she joined. She’s achieved a lot of success in all her endeavors and continues to sprinkle each of her colleagues with the passion of being the best person you can be.
In this employee spotlight, we shed light on Dannielle’s story—a story of wonderful experiences, passion for community, and love for storytelling.
The Road to Abra Kadabra
For some, a career should always be fixed to one specific role, and stick to it until you retire.
That is not the case for Dannielle. Her career path is anything but conventional, and that’s precisely what makes her story so interesting.
Over the years, she has worn many hats, from working in sales and marketing to managing a massage therapy clinic. It looks like many varied roles, but in the end, Dannielle merged it all and used her experiences as an edge over anyone. She’s been a Jane of all trades for years and continues to try to master each skill to equip herself to take a leadership role.
Dannielle is highly devoted to learning things by doing it. She said that the mentorship she received in her previous jobs was beneficial to her now as it’s helping her excel in what she’s doing.
She shared the most memorable moments of her career, including selling snowmobile parts at expos across the country, working for a title company, and even selling chocolate.
“I always say I was ‘Willy Wonka’ for a while,” she joked. Moreover, Dannielle has also explored many service-oriented roles—
As we continued the conversation reflecting on her career, Dannielle expressed, “What I’m doing now gives me the most joy. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned and brought it all together. It’s rewarding to know I’m making a difference for the company and the community.”
Passion for Community Outreach
Dannielle is a people person. If you ask anyone from the office, she’s the one to call regarding networking events, community outreach, sales meetings, and anything involving interactions and building relationships with people. Dannielle has been heavily involved with Abra Kadabra events like Princess in the Park and has participated in nonprofit initiatives.
She says, “I love getting to know people,” she shared. “Networking is a big part of what I do, and I enjoy helping others as much as they help us. There’s something special about giving back to the community and seeing the positive impact we can make.”
Her favorite events include trick-or-treat gatherings, charity golf tournaments, and Cookies with Santa. “Every event we do brings so much joy,” she said. “It’s fulfilling to see families and community members come together and have a good time.”
Dannielle’s ability to handle the logistics of these events is a skill her colleagues sincerely appreciate. She’s always been working closely with Abra Kadabra’s CEO, Matt, to make all Abra Kadabra’s events happen very smoothly.
Homegrown Hustle
Another key aspect of Dannielle’s role is being the Producer/Director for the Homegrown Hustle podcast. What she’s passionate about in this role is uncovering entrepreneurs’ stories, giving them a platform to share their journeys and inspire others. For her, this work is significant because it takes her back to her high school passion for video production.
“In high school, video production was one of my favorite classes,” she said. “Getting back into it through the podcast has been so much fun. It’s like revisiting an old hobby while also learning new things.”
Her favorite part of the podcast? Listening to and being able to amplify the voices of local entrepreneurs. “Every guest has a unique story, and I love being the one to help tell it. It’s inspiring to hear about their challenges, successes, and everything in between.”
Family and Heritage
Abra Kadabra is a family-owned business, and as part of its core values, it allows every household to enjoy a peaceful life. That value is also spread to every employee, and Dannielle is proud to share some facts about her family and heritage.
Dannielle is a proud mother of three children—Hailie, 23; Logan, 18; and Peyton, 16—and will soon become a grandmother for the first time. “I’m going to have a grandson in April,” she said with a smile. “I’m so excited for this next chapter.”
Her family heritage is as interesting as it gets. Dannielle is half-German and has part-English roots. We also learned more about her family history, including her great-grandparents, who immigrated from Germany. “I always say I have good genes,” she laughed. “My 94-year-old grandmother looks like she’s 70!”
Dannielle’s Most Favorite Holiday: Halloween
Amongst all the holidays the entire year, there’s one particular holiday when you can be anything: Halloween. No wonder it’s Dannielle’s favorite holiday.
Each year, she transforms her home into a haunted wonderland with a spooky trail and specific decorations, depending on her theme. “This year, I wore seven different costumes throughout the Halloween season,” she said. “It’s such a fun way to express creativity and bring people together.”
Her Halloween tradition is considered a family affair, and everyone gets to pitch in and collaborate to make things possible. Of course, Dannielle is on top of it. “I decorate the house, the backyard, and even the garages,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to see everyone enjoying themselves.”
Love for Outdoors
It’s a fact that the majority of the Abra Kadabra employees love the outdoors. And with Dannielle, who’s always out and about, all dressed up in working clothes for running events or a cocktail party, wearing a dress, she’s also counted in for a little bit of an adventure wilderness.
As mentioned in the introduction of this article, Dannielle just embarked on the most thrilling adventure.
“On my birthday, I shot my first deer,” she shared. “It was something I’d always wanted to do, and it felt amazing to experience it finally.”
Her family has a strong tradition of hunting, which she views as both a practical and cultural activity. “Hunting is about more than just sport,” she explained. “It’s a way to provide food for your family while helping manage wildlife populations. I love making venison jerky.”
Indeed, we were in awe to see this side of Dannielle. There’s nothing she can’t do at this point.
A Glimpse on Dannielle’s Day at Abra Kadabra
Just like everyone else, we wanted to take a glimpse at the day-to-day tasks of our employees. However, in the case of Danielle, her tasks only sometimes repeat and are not often limited to her role.
“There’s no such thing as a typical day in my role,” she said. “Some days, I’m networking; other days, I’m planning events or recording podcast episodes. The variety keeps things exciting.”
Dannielle is always on the move, and she keeps things going. She’s also in close interaction with our team in the Philippines to ensure all the Homegrown Hustle episodes are released on time.
“I’m the kind of person who thrives on being busy,” she said. “If something needs to get done, I’m the one who’ll make it happen.”
So far, Dannielle has produced many events and brought many business opportunities for the past years she’s been in her role.
The Abra Kadabra Work Culture
In a male-dominated workplace, Dannielle has never felt like one of the few women in the office. In fact, she’s always felt like one of the boys.
“It feels like a family here,” she said. “Matt, Phil, and Andy are younger than me, so I joke that they’re like my younger brothers. We have a great team dynamic.”
She vividly remembers her first day on the job, which coincided with a birthday celebration for a colleague. “Starting on a day like that made me feel welcomed right away,” she said.
Not many can experience a work culture that feels all-natural and where nothing is forced. The culture at Abra Kadabra is deeply rooted in the love for helping people and improving their lives, which is why everything else flows smoothly.
Dannielle is grateful to Abra Kadabra for all the opportunities and experiences that have shaped her career and life.
Whether producing for a podcast, organizing a community event, or spending time outdoors, Dannielle returns to her real purpose and love for the company.
“I truly feel like I’m making a difference,” she said. “Not just for Abra Kadabra, but for the community as well. And that’s what makes it all so rewarding.”
Wrapping It Up
In Danielle’s world, there’s a castle that holds all the things that she loves, and in that castle lies Abra Kadabra. Her story is truly one of the greatest examples of how no career is on a linear path. Everyone has their journey to finding what they truly love, whatever it takes and wherever it takes them. Take it from Danielle. She’s been through a lot in her life, many jobs she has had, and somehow, she found a place where she’s truly valued and appreciated.
On a side note, Dannielle never aged a bit. A result of a life lived in passion and choosing happiness.
This article is the sixth part of our employee spotlight series, where we get candid with Abra Kadabra’s personalities and uncover their stories. Stay tuned for more.
If you have any pest and wildlife-related concerns, feel free to call us at 763 – 363 – 4375 or schedule an appointment.
We appreciate your support for Abra Kadabra Environmental Services. We won Gold Minnesota’s Best under the Pest Control Category.
