EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Rhiannon Buehne, Class Of 2003

This article was written and submitted by Seyenna Billings, an EPCHS social media/marketing intern.

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — From walking the halls and sitting in the classrooms at Evergreen Park Community High School to building a dynamic career in marketing, Rhiannon Buehne’s path was built on a foundation of creativity, adaptability and an everlasting love for writing.

For Buehne, an EPCHS graduate from the Class of 2003, the buildup of a career in marketing began with a deep appreciation for structure, creativity and connection, all of which are qualities that first appeared during her time as an EPCHS student.

“What I remember most about EPCHS is my favorite teachers and always being involved in different clubs, “ she said. “I loved school and thrived on the structure of it all.”

That enthusiasm, drive and need for learning and involvement carried her through many different activities. During her years at EPCHS, Buehne took part in Student Government, Newspaper, Yearbook, Prom Committee, Peer Tutoring and Concert Band. Her experience in each activity allowed opportunities for collaboration, leadership and growing her voice.

She credits much of her love and passion for writing and communication to the teachers who guided her throughout her high school journey.

“I loved all of my English Classes, especially those with Mrs. Stecich, Journalism with Mrs. Baumer and any class with Mr. Gustafson," she said.

A major influence in her journey was from her work in journalism. She worked as the editor of both the school newspaper and yearbook. This allowed her to discover a passion for storytelling and editing that would later help shape and surround her future career.

“I loved journalism and getting to be editor of the newspaper and yearbook was wonderful,” she said. “Any chance I got to write or edit was a good day.”

After saying goodbye to the halls of EPCHS and graduating in 2003, Buehne took her education to the University of Illinois-Chicago, in which she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Art History. This was then followed by a master’s degree in Writing and Publishing from DePaul University.

Her career path showed that individuals don't have to follow a linear path. Over the years, she explored freelance writing while simultaneously working as an executive assistant and office manager across a variety of industries, including secondary education, legal, banking and real estate. While all these roles were meaningful and impactful in her life, they eventually caused her to look for a new direction.

A life changing moment in her life came in 2022 when her daughter Charlotte was born. After spending many weeks on bed rest she returned to work with a new perspective, one where she realized a change was needed. An unexpected opportunity came forth when a former colleague recommended her for a role at Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC.

“It’s completely true that her advocating for me and saying my name in a room of people I didn’t know changed my life,” she said.

Like a lot of professionals stepping into an unknown experience and new field, she had moments of self-doubt and worries.

“I dealt with a lot of imposter syndrome in the beginning, and sometimes still do almost three years in,” she said. “I think we are our own worst critics, which can be hard to shake. But no one is thinking or worrying about you more than you are.”

Today, she is thriving in her position as a Marketing Associate and Senior Marketing Coordinator, where no two days are similar.

“It’s a lot of hats on any given day and I love it,” she said.

Her role includes executing email campaigns, maintaining website and media content, coordinating speaking engagements and managing logistics such as drafting proposals, collaborating with compliance teams and editing presentations. She also oversees her company’s LinkedIn presence, making consistent and effective communication across all platforms.

More than her day-to-day responsibilities, Buehne finds satisfaction in helping company culture. From planning and organizing “Bring Your Kid to Work Day” to participating in volunteer efforts with Misericordia and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, her work goes deeper than just marketing, blooming into meaningful community engagement.

Looking toward her future, Buehne’s focus is both professional and personal. Her home life is full and busy with her family. Her stepdaughter, Eva, recently made her varsity softball team as a pitcher, and her young daughter Charlotte has already made her presence known with a vibrant and lively personality.

“We are in a very busy season of life,” she said, “but seeing both of our girls continue to grow and keep us on our toes is the best.”

From her days of writing and editing the school newspaper at EPCHS to creating a multifaceted career in marketing, Buehne’s journey mirrors the value of staying involved, embracing change and trusting that the skills developed along the way will lead to exactly to where you're meant to be.