At the age of 13, Jan started working at her family's business, manufacturing wood products in River Falls, Wisconsin. After graduation she moved to the Twin Cities and started a career in the restaurant hospitality business. She worked for Eddie Webster's until they closed in 1993. Jan then worked at other restaurants where she continued to develop a strong set of customer service skills. Joining the Franklin Street Bakery in 1999 as an administrative assistant, Jan promptly put those skills to work. After a year, she was promoted to Administrative Manager.

Jan says, "I've enjoyed working in the service industry and have learned a lot about people. Working with a variety of personalities from all over the world has helped fine-tune my customer service skills. It has been a great and challenging experience to be a part of the Franklin Street Bakery."