Terri Rennick-Deering, along with her husband, Mark, and her parents, Judy & John, is co-owner and operator of Dos Mariposas Vineyards & Lavender Farm. Just over six years ago, Terri and Mark made a bold decision to leave behind the stability and comfort of steady paychecks, a manageable mortgage, and a large community of family and friends to move across the country with their two young daughters to try their hands at farming and small-business ownership in the idyllic Rogue Valley.

Before this adventurous leap, Terri dedicated nearly two decades to a career in higher education where she focused on Student Services, Operations, and Analytics. Her work centered on increasing access to higher education, creating impactful educational experiences, and driving institutional efficiency. In addition to her profession in academia, Terri pursued a Master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University during which time she briefly explored non-profit administration, gaining valuable insights into global and organizational dynamics. Her career also included a stint in the manufacturing sector, where she managed employees and was introduced to lean six sigma, a production methodology for improving operational efficiencies.

This diverse career path ultimately led Terri to pursue a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University, where her dissertation examined how tools and technology could improve operational efficiencies with a goal of creating more space for personal interactions.

Terri now applies her skills and experiences to Dos Mariposas, where her passion for learning, growth, and community continues to flourish in a fresh environment. Terri and Mark made this move in search of a life that gave them greater flexibility to spend time with each other and their children and to pursue the ever-elusive “work-life balance.” Always easier said than done, Terri continues to redefine what work-life balance looks like for her while dividing her time between raising her three young children to be good humans, overseeing a bustling tasting room, managing the behind-the-scenes parts of the business, and crafting lavender products. She readily embraces challenges and opportunities with the same dedication that has defined her professional journey.

Terri has long recognized the importance of interpersonal connections and a sense of belonging. Incorporating these critical human needs into the workplace and life systems is a thread throughout her career and education. She has discovered that with kindness, inclusivity, and a little resilience, a sense of belonging can be fostered among people. It is this sense of belonging, of community, that is ripe even among strangers sharing space on her patio, listening to music, and sipping a glass of wine while watching the sun cast its glow over a field of lavender at Dos Mariposas, a place where family and friends gather and form greater community.