At the core of every successful non-profit is a diligent accounting team that oversees finances for both clients and the organization itself. A trustworthy, well-organized accountant who maintains keen attention to detail is necessary to ensure our clients’ projects can continue smoothly. When Jaimi Cawley applied to Innovate Marquette to manage day-to-day financial operations as our new controller, we knew that our clients–and our organization as a whole–would certainly be in good hands.
Who is Jaimi Cawley?
Jaimi was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and spent her childhood moving throughout the Lower Peninsula. From place to place, she discovered a love for nature and the world around her. Jaimi and her family finally settled in Jackson, Michigan, where she graduated from a small private high school. In search of a laid-back lifestyle that would support her love for hiking, farming, and all things nature, Jaimi decided to attend Northern Michigan University (NMU) and made the journey to Marquette.
Northern Bound
In 2010, she set her sights beyond the bridge and moved to NMU to study Earth Science and Biology, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2015. Keeping her love for learning and the environment top of mind, Northern was the perfect place to go. After graduating, Jaimi took some time to travel and experience all that life has to offer, and learned a lot about herself in the process. Returning from her travels, the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula drew her back and Jaimi decided to settle down alongside her partner, Josh. Soon after, the two of them bought 25 acres of land right outside of Marquette in Deerton, Michigan. Here they decided to start their farm, which they still run today.
Starting a New Life
After building a house on her land and officially beginning her “Yooper” lifestyle, Jaimi took what she learned at NMU and applied it to her career. She started working in environmental sustainability, which was a perfect fit. In 2017, she began working for the Superior Watershed Partnership, which promotes the protection and restoration of Lake Superior’s pristine shores. Jaimi loved working in conservation because she saw how much of an impact her passions had on helping the world around her. After working for the Superior Watershed Partnership, Jaimi began to work at the Marquette County Conservation District as their executive director. At the Conservation District, she enjoyed being as versatile as possible and not limiting herself to one role in the organization.
Why Controller?
After reading about our mission at Innovate Marquette, Jaimi immediately knew she wanted to be a part of our team. Her love for the environment, as well as her skills in accounting and financial management, attracted her to this position. She was interested in pursuing a new career in tech because she wanted a change of pace, as well as an exciting new challenge. Jaimi is a numbers person who enjoys problem-solving. In her new role at Innovate Marquette, Jaimi hopes to develop her understanding of entrepreneurship on a larger scale and wants to become a trusted consultant in accounting and finance. Having worked previously in the non-profit, sustainability, and outdoor recreation sectors, Jaimi knows exactly how to cater to our clients. With Jaimi’s robust background and passion for helping those around her, we look forward to working alongside her as we work to foster a collaborative entrepreneurial community in Marquette.
Out of Office
When Jaimi isn’t busy farming or taking care of her two daughters, Lottie Mae and Juniper Leeann (who prefers to go by “Juni”), she loves to stay up to date on all of the most interesting pop culture news. Jaimi also sews, quilts, and loves to hike the back side of Sugarloaf down to the big lake. Whenever she needs some time to decompress, Jaimi enjoys going to Presque Isle with her family to watch the waves of Lake Superior roll into the rocky shoreline. She is incredibly passionate about regenerative agriculture and works hard to cultivate food that she is proud to feed her family. On the farm, Jaimi’s family has 2 dogs, 2 goats, 30 chickens, and 20 ducks!
Looking Ahead
As we near three months with Jaimi on our staff, we are excited to see what the future holds for our new controller, and lucky for us, we aren’t alone in that excitement! “I really feel like my goals here are to understand big picture things more. I think I have a unique experience where I am a business owner, I own a farm, and then to come here and learn about the possibilities outside of a small business, that part is really unknown to me.
About the Author: Originally from Garden City, Michigan, Regan Buterbaugh is a junior at NMU studying Art and Design with a minor in Public Relations. Regan has worked at Invent@NMU as a marketing assistant since 2024.
