We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Drescher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have John with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I attribute my work ethic to my grandfather. Much like me, he was a renaissance man and a life-long learner. He used to say that “everything is figure-out-able” and through his various interests taught himself many different skills. I feel that same indomitable spirit when faced with a challenge or opportunity. If I apply my creativity and ingenuity I can figure anything out.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m John. My passion has always been about creating spaces that bring people together, shift mindsets, and motivate action. I am the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Portal Thermaculture – a contrast therapy social club with locations in Colorado and Minneapolis – where I create spaces that build community. In addition to Portal, I am a Creative Director and Designer working in live events and entertainment telling stories that help brands and artists relate to consumers and audiences across the world.
I am currently very excited about social wellness experiences – with an active lifestyle myself and passion for curating unique moments that allow people to deeply connect to themselves, their bodies, and their communities was a natural intersection of my interests.
Portal’s newest location is opening in West Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis in March of 2025 and you can catch see of my entertainment work during upfront season in New York with brands like Televisa Univision.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Communication – whether it be verbal, written or visual – has been key to my journey. In collaborative settings I can’t help but express my creativity and finding the best method to communicate my ideas has been essential. When I began my career in events, I needed to upskill myself to learn how to draw and render concepts to help communicate them to the teams of people who make those experiences possible.
Perseverance – a mentor of mine gave me an excellent piece of advice when I was studying for my MFA that I still find helpful in my career. She said, there will be many hoops you will have to jump through in order to get where you’re going. Some will be easy, others will be difficult, and a few may even be on fire. Just keep jumping. You have what you need to make it through.
Think Different – cliche from Steve Jobs, I know…but don’t be afraid to be the one in the room that thinks differently. The way you approach a situation is not the same as others around you because no two people have the same skills, understanding, or lived experience. Don’t be afraid of what makes you different because it is what makes you great.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always looking for new collaborators. In the contrast therapy world, we’re looking for new locations and investors. In the events world, I’m always looking for designers and producers to support upcoming projects. If you’re interested in getting in touch, reach out! Shoot me an email to john@portalthermaculture.com and we’ll find a moment to connect.
Contact Info:
- Website: My personal portfolio: john-drescher.com OR Portal’s site: portalthermaculture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portalthermaculture
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-drescher/
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