Focal Pointe today announced the appointment of Julie Culbertson as Director of Purpose, a newly created role focused on enriching the lives of clients and employees, through their interaction with the company.
She joins Focal Pointe’s leadership team with deep expertise in retail management and bilingual education, along with a strong track record in helping teams achieve high engagement, productivity and consistency, and connecting those outcomes to a shared sense of purpose.
In her new role, Julie will focus on understanding what each person brings to the team and the impact they make every day. “If culture is how we show up, purpose is why it matters,” said Julie. “People do their best work when expectations are clear, effort is valued, and they understand how their work is connected to something meaningful. My role is to translate vision and values into daily behaviors, habits, and standards—connecting our mission to how people show up and build collective ownership that keeps Focal Pointe’s culture strong as we grow.”
In addition to working with Focal Pointe leaders to connect purpose to strategy, she will draw on employee feedback and assessment tools to help employees recognize their vast potential and create systems, processes, and training programs to guide them in their pursuit.
“We just have this deep conviction that our purpose is to Beautify the World, not only in the work we do, but the manner in which we do it,” said Founder & President, John Munie. “Julie’s job is to ensure our customers, employees, and communities feel the warmth, authenticity, and durability of Focal Pointe. In my view, the ultimate measure of success is how effective you are serving others and enriching lives. The landscape industry is uniquely positioned to play that role in the world, and I expect Focal Pointe to be one of the companies leading the charge.”
Julie earned a master’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and began her career teaching English as a Second Language with Lindenwood University. She lived in Guatemala and later thrived for 14 years on the leadership team with Trader Joes’s, a brand known for its strong culture and customer loyalty.
“Julie’s leadership style, track record, and genuine care for people make her a strong fit for Focal Pointe,” Munie added. “We’re glad to have her on board—she understands who we are and what we’re trying to build.”