Teresa Durand-Stuebben really enjoys sales.
After graduating from Wolfson High School and a stint working logistics at the 1984 Summer Olympics in California, Durand-Stuebben returned to Jacksonville to start her sales track.
First there was the clothing sales job at Jarrod’s at Regency Square Mall and then at its sister brand, Body Shop, also at Regency.
After she married, she joined State Farm in accounting but also worked in sales as she had children.
The move to real estate came through property management at an apartment community, followed by 17 years with Jacksonville architectural firms, including KBJ Architects and Stuebben Architecture.
Six years ago, she joined Auld & White Constructors LLC and was named vice president of business development almost a year ago in September, the first woman there to reach the position of VP.
That was a strategic plan, knowing that sales involved identifying and meeting the customer’s needs.
She knew there was an opening at Auld & White, called to see how she could be of service to the organization, talked with leaders over six months and then joined as business development manager.
“I’ve learned it’s free to ask,” she said. “Don’t be scared to ask.”
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Durand-Stuebben, who goes by the first name of Terry, moved frequently as a child with her family as they followed her father’s career with Southeast Toyota. She attended 18 schools and knows the feeling of always being the new kid, of figuring out the logistics of a school, a community and relationships.
She moved to Jacksonville at the age of 14 with her parents and younger brother and sister and, except for the time in Los Angeles, has remained. Her father’s career led to her stint in rental-car logistics at the Olympics.
Her role at Auld & White, a 28-year-old company with many prominent projects in its portfolio, involves a range of responsibilities that fits under the scope of relationship management.
That includes identifying and researching potential clients to understand what’s important to them and how members of the Auld & White team can help. “My job is to help play matchmaker,” she said. “I love that part.”
Durand-Stuebben, 50, has been honored frequently for her work in the design and real estate industry, as well as for her leadership in trade organizations, including the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Commercial Real Estate Women and the Society of Marketing Professional Services.
Auld & White is an allied corporate member of the American Institute of Architects. She served on the board as the active member and received the AIA President’s Award last year.
She currently serves on the Downtown Vision Inc. board and executive committee as well as the JAX Chamber Board of Governors.
“Throughout my entire career, I have so enjoyed what I have done,” she said.
As she winds down some community commitments, she turns to others.
Her next will be the Hubbard House domestic violence shelter and its programs. She said that as a victim in a past relationship, she has discovered that one in four women will be affected by domestic violence and she wants to help them. She points out that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Durand-Stuebben cherishes time spent with her three sons, Thomas, 28, Shawn, 25, and Christopher, 21, and her two stepchildren, Beth, 26, and Greg, 23. Her children and stepson are in Jacksonville; her stepdaughter is in Brooklyn, New York.
She credits her successes to her husband of 13 years, architect Mick Stuebben.
“I would not be able to achieve what I have without him as my sounding board,” she said.
The Stuebbens moved two years ago from the Switzerland area south of Mandarin to San Marco Place on the Downtown Southbank.
They have embraced the lifestyle. They walk the bridges, take the Skyway to Art Walk, visit area restaurants for Friday date nights and spend time with friends. “We have so many quality-of-life options being Downtown,” she said.
Asked what she does for fun, she quickly responds that “my fun is my husband.”
Stuebben is the heart of her personal relationship-building.
“We do everything together,” she said.
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