Michelle Burgess of Marshalltown wears two hats in the business world.

One is that of a training and development manager for Emerson Process Management (EPM) in Marshalltown. The second is owner of a Real Deals retail store on East Main Street, also in Marshalltown.

The significant responsibilities with even one of the two qualifies her for inclusion in the Times-Republican’s “Women in Business” feature.

Burgess is a Garwin native who said she was significantly motivated to pursue a career in business by, appropriately, a business teacher at GMG High School in Garwin. She was a sophomore at GMG in the late 1980s when the desire to pursue a business career won out.

“I was torn between a career in business and one as an educator while in high school,” she said. “Later, I would earn certification to be a teacher. But at the time a career in business seemed a better option. Everything took me back to training and development. I was fortunate to get this role at Emerson where I can do both … be in business and develop curriculum for leaders in our community,”

Her early business career included positions at John Deere Credit in Des Moines, then two of the company’s stores where farm equipment is sold. There, she was employed at a dealership near Fort Dodge followed by one in the Knoxville-Winterset area.

“I did accounting and computer infrastructure at those businesses,” she said.

More opportunities would come — one in a manufacturing position with Eaton Co. in the Chicago area. The company is a manufacturer of power equipment, according to its website.

Burgess returned to central Iowa, where she was hired at Lennox Manufacturing and as a part-time business educator at GMG. There, she succeeded the educator at GMG who had influenced her. He had retired, making the position available.

She worked 13 years at Lennox before transitioning to EPM.

“At Emerson, I develop, create and facilitate leaders in the organization not just in Marshalltown but other sites in the United States and internationally,” she said. “I was in Costa Rica (in February). I have been to Hungary also and then will travel to China.”

Burgess said she is pleased with the opportunities EPM presents her. Additionally, she commended the company for its role encouraging its employees to pursue volunteer opportunities to improve the Marshalltown area.

“Their investment in the Marshalltown area benefits our children and businesses,” she said. “I think everything Emerson does helps us be a more rounded individual.”

Despite her demanding schedule at Emerson and ownership of a retail store, Burgess volunteers to serve on the board of directors of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. And it was Lynn Olberding, the former director of the Chamber, who gave Burgess ideas as to what was needed for downtown retail.

Real Deals

Burgess and her husband Rodney Burgess, a Marshalltown firefighter, purchased their East Main Street building from a local couple in July 2021. They also purchased a franchise from Real Deals, an Idaho-based company. The couple held their grand opening in October of that year.

The store sells women’s fashion, wall décor, home accents, floral and greenery and more. As a franchisee with Real Deals, Burgess emphasized that she owns everything on display in the store, which means she and her staff must be prudent in ordering.

They have invested a significant amount of “sweat equity” in the property at 122 E. Main St. The store is brightly lit, comfortable and spic-and-span clean inside.

Now nearing their fifth anniversary, Burgess said retail in Marshalltown is significantly impacted by cycles in the economy and also due to local geography.

“We are on the north side of town, compared to so much activity on the south side … the large ‘box’ stores – Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Menards and Theisen’s,” she said. “It makes it more challenging to get people to the north side where we offer something different, the hometown, small business feel.”

Burgess also cited the fact that West Main is the busier section of the street versus East Main. Currently, street and sidewalk repairs are in progress on East Main, which is of concern to her as it will impact critical foot traffic.

“I am nervous about 2026,” she said. “I am constantly involved on social media to remind residents we are here. But I am extremely optimistic about 2027.”

She is eager to know if the curb and gutter work on East Main will increase the appeal of the street, which combined with the events will hopefully make a difference in keeping the store a viable option for shoppers.