Margaret Brandt Is the Welcoming Face at Dutilh’s Front Desk

Margaret Brandt is a Cincinnati native and lifelong Methodist who found a home here at Dutilh Church.

Born in Fort Thomas, KY, and adopted as an infant, Margaret was raised in Cincinnati with an older brother. She attended Bowling Green State University, where she earned a degree in Fashion Merchandising and was part of the Phi Mu sorority.

Margaret has known her husband, Marc, since she was a teenager. The two were friendly in high school, where Marc was two years ahead of Margaret and good friends with her older brother. They reconnected after college and have been together ever since. The couple has one son, Jackson, who was born in October 2007.

After graduating from college, Margaret put her degree to work managing different retail stores. She eventually moved into banking as a financial advisor and then opted to stay home for a few years when her son Jackson was born. When Jackson got older, Margaret re-entered the workforce as a paraprofessional for the Seneca Valley School District. She joined the Dutilh staff in June 2019 when the position of Office Administrative Assistant opened up. She was promoted to Office Administrator on August 1, 2022.

“The people are the best part about this job,” Margaret said. “People here are kind, very welcoming, and personable. The people who come into the office are so friendly!”

Margaret enjoys many aspects of her job and said the thing she is most enthusiastic about is being able to see the Make Room capital campaign progress. “I’m excited to see how it grows our church,” she explained.

Margaret has found not only a professional home but also a spiritual one here at Dutilh Church. Although she was raised Methodist, Margaret said, “I fell out of church for a long time. When we moved here in 2011, friends told us to put Jackson in Vacation Bible School at Dutilh—that’s how we found out about the church.”

Margaret said Dutilh felt like a good fit for her family. “It feels like a neighborhood church,” she explained. “When we came to Dutilh, I ran into people I knew from soccer or baseball—or I’d see people from Dutilh at the grocery store—the church just has a hometown feel. People know each other.”

Though the contemporary style of worship at the 9:30 a.m. service was new for the family, Margaret said that, too, felt like a good fit. “It was different than anything we had experienced before,” she said. “It was interesting!” She also appreciates the preaching style, explaining that the pastors are genuine and that their care for people comes through in the sermons.

“I am so glad to be here,” Margaret said. “Dutilh Church feels like home.”

FUN FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT MARGARET BRANDT:

• Margaret is a singer who was active in musicals and plays throughout high school. She starred as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.

• In 2012, Brandt completed the Pittsburgh Half-Marathon.

• Margaret’s list of favorite movies includes Say Anything, the Avenger series (which she watches with her son), Independence Day, Men in Black, and most action films.