If you know the McDonnells, one thing becomes clear right away: family, community, and connection are at the center of everything they do. Alongside her husband, James, and their son, Danny, Jen has built a life in Ridgefield rooted in kindness, hard work, and neighborly support.

The McDonnell family moved to Ridgefield in April 2004 after James found a job opportunity that brought them back to the Pacific Northwest. Jen also needed to stay within driving distance of the Portland airport for her career, and Ridgefield quickly became the perfect fit. More than two decades later, they still love calling this community home.

Their neighborhood, Jen says, has always felt like “Kid City.” In fact, the McDonnells were only the second family to build in the neighborhood back in 2004. Over the years, they watched children grow up together, families expand, and new neighbors arrive while many original homeowners stayed rooted in the area.

What Jen treasures most is the sense of care people have for one another. “We feel safe here,” she shares. “Everyone watches out for each other.” Whether it’s neighbors sharing fresh blueberries from their garden or dropping off homemade baked treats throughout the year, the small acts of kindness have created lasting friendships and a strong sense of belonging.

The family’s journey to Ridgefield is an impressive one. Originally from Kansas City, Jen left home at 19 to join the Army, beginning a career path defined by leadership and resilience. While in the service, she was assigned to the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) 33rd Army Band & Chorus. In addition to singing and dancing around Europe in about a dozen countries, she also helped plan tours, itineraries, and entertainment for hundreds of shows each year over four years. She performed for local and foreign dignitaries, troops, and families of deployed troops. Her performances included appearances in Berlin as the wall was coming down, for Shirley Temple-Black in Czechoslovakia, at the World’s Fair in Seville, Spain, as well as for Colin Powell and General Shalikashvili, a fellow Washingtonian. Jen continues helping plan reunions for the Army Chorus.

Jen and James were married in Germany in 1993 after meeting in the military, where James served in the 266th Finance Theater. Jen followed him to Washington State University, with both using their GI Bill benefits. James went on to major in psychology and ultimately became a K-12 school counselor. Today, Jen serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Senior IT Project Manager for the state, a role she has held for the past five years. Before that, she spent 22 years with IBM, managing offices across five countries, overseeing hundreds of vendors and teams, and teaching project management professionally. Over the years, they’ve built a life centered around togetherness, adventure, and celebrating life’s moments with friends and family. James coached Danny’s soccer team here in Ridgefield, the PSC Dragons, from U6 through U13, with Jen serving as team mom. One favorite tradition? Gathering at their go-to local spot, El Rancho Viejo, where they recently celebrated James’ birthday.

Family remains at the heart of Jen’s world. Their son, Danny, will be a junior this fall at Southern Oregon University, where he was recruited to play football. Alongside athletics, he is pursuing studies in pre-nursing, health science, and kinesiology, a path his parents are incredibly proud to support.

At home, the family includes two beloved dogs with personalities as memorable as their stories. Lucy, their six-year-old “pandemic puppy,” may look like a yellow lab, but an at-home DNA test revealed a surprising mix of golden retriever, weimaraner, American Staffordshire terrier, and coonhound. Then there’s Lily, originally Jen’s mother’s dog, whose exact breed remains something of a mystery. Though Lucy and Lily didn’t get along at first, Jen says they somehow seemed to understand when Lily came to live with them after her mother passed away. Today, the two are inseparable best friends.

Outside of work, Jen loves singing in three quartets, including the Harmony Hustlers, the Columbia River Chorus, and Vocalocity. She enjoys spending time along the waterfront and visiting local restaurants with outdoor seating. She appreciates how Ridgefield continues to grow while still maintaining its welcoming small-town feel. One thing that still surprises her is how quickly new businesses open and become part of the community.

Among her favorite local spots are Neighborhood Refuge, along with beloved small businesses like Ridgefield Floral, Toys on Main, and Rare Earth, where she enjoys finding thoughtful and unique gifts. As Ridgefield continues to grow, Jen says one of her favorite ways to stay connected is through Greet Ridgefield itself.

“I love reading about my neighbors,” she says. “The features honoring teachers, first responders, veterans, local students, and businesses are such a classy touch.”

For Jen and her family, Ridgefield isn’t just where she lives, it’s a community built on relationships, shared memories, and people who genuinely care about one another. For the McDonnell family, that sense of connection is exactly what makes Ridgefield feel like home. We are happy to have the McDonnell family in our community and thank both Jen and James for their service to our country.