When Brittany Duffield started her career at Junction City Shopping Center as an executive assistant, she was just 18 years old. Working her way up the ranks, she became general manager of Junction Ventures—managing the center’s daily operations; coordinating advertising, marketing and special events; and serving as liaison to all tenants. She then became CEO and served in this role for nearly three years prior to the center’s sale. She continues to manage the property today as co-owner of MMC Brokerage, while offering commercial and residential real estate brokerage and consultation services.
Duffield played a vital role in the redevelopment and revitalization of Junction City, helping to transform it into one of the finest shopping centers in downstate Illinois. During this time, she helped negotiate and secure more than 70 leases, taking the center from 73-percent vacant to 100-percent full while adding 40,000 square feet of space. She then assisted the new owners with a Shop Local campaign to drive business and educate the community on the importance of keeping their dollars local.
Under Duffield’s leadership, community involvement is a primary focus at Junction City. She has been involved in all of its not-for-profit and community-based projects—from working with local farmers, artisans and artists at the Junction City Farmer’s Market, to fundraising for Paws Giving Independence NFP, which trains dogs to assist people with disabilities. She even formed her own not-for-profit business to create fun community events while giving back to local nonprofits. Among the largest of these events is the Wine & Whiskey Walk, which attracts hundreds of attendees and raises $10,000 each year for the Peoria Public Schools Foundation. In 2020, Duffield won the foundation’s Shero award for her dedication, hard work and advocacy. She was also named among this year’s 25 Women in Leadership by WEEK-TV for her leadership in the community. PM
