Store Manager: Jodi Baruck  
A retail veteran in her own right, Jodi’s held positions at a variety of well-known companies including Allen Edmonds, TUMI, David Yurman, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany & Co., and Banana Republic. Originally hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jodi is the youngest of six, and incidentally, it was at the age of six when she, already an accomplished equestrian by that time, took first place in the very first horse show she ever entered. These days, you won’t find Jodi on a horse too often, as she prefers to motivate on her own two feet. “I’m a voracious walker,” she told us. Walking, hiking, yoga, and traveling are Jodi’s passions when she’s not out meeting with customers and leading the team at Orvis Wilmette. She and her husband have hiked the Great Smoky Mountains and explored the towns along the Normandy coast of France, one of her favorite destinations. Being fast on her feet has served Jodi well over the years. In fact, when she was working in a store in downtown Chicago, she saved a child from being hit by a car just outside the front door. Jodi’s attention to detail, welcoming smile, and eagerness to help others puts her in prime position to ensure customers at Orvis Wilmette are properly prepped for all their outdoor pursuits.

Fishing Manager: Ben Hanrahan  
Ben’s affinity for fly fishing started at an early age. As a student, his favorite part of school was being president of the fly-fishing club. And his senior project involved a field trip to the Orvis Rod Shop in Manchester, Vermont. Our retail location in Dallas was Ben’s first step toward a career with us, as he told us, “I came in for flies one day at the Dallas store and never left!” Now that he’s with us full time, he still makes time to get out on the water whenever he can, whether it’s in The Driftless Area of Wisconsin, the Florida Everglades, or any local waterway where he can target trout or smallmouth bass. Patience and persistence are words that Ben lives by, and recalled a story where, after hours of casting in sub-freezing weather, he retreated to his car—but not before one last cast—the one that landed him a 30+ inch lake run brown. “Never give up when fishing!” he told us. We wholeheartedly agree. Ben looks forward to setting up his customers with the best knowledge, know-how, and gear they need to achieve all their angling dreams.