Julie Spangler and Jasna Burza. Photo: Selective Connections
Discover how a natural talent for finding perfect pairings turned into a business.
In the age of catfishing and swiping left, finding happily ever after for some can seem like something found in a fairy tale. But two Twin Cities women are putting the hope back into hopeless romantics. “I love connecting people and helping them with the most important part of their life,” says Julie Spangler, CEO of Selective Connections, an elite matchmaking firm.
Having spent a career working in human resources, Spangler says her passion was always matchmaking. With a gift for bringing the right people together, she decided to turn her hobby into a full-time profession in 2012. Since then, the company has run almost exclusively through referrals and needed very little advertising. The word-of-mouth success of Selective Connections helped match her clients, mostly high-level executives, physicians and professionals, who value privacy and discretion, and have limited free time. “My clients are incredibly busy and don’t have time to devote to dating,” the former Edina resident says. “They outsource other parts of their lives, why not dating?”
When a client seeks services from Selective Connections, Spangler spends time getting to know them and builds a profile based on what they’re looking for in a partner. She then turns to her database of potential candidates to determine compatibility and organizes the first date. The only thing the couple has to do is show up. “It’s really that easy,” Spangler says. “I handle all the logistics of that first introduction.”
Jasna Burza is Spangler’s business partner and says Spangler is “brilliant to watch.” “[She] has such a gift to know if people will be a good match,” Burza says.
Selective Connections is behind the successful marriages of several Edina couples. But, the women joke that they’ve been each other’s “most perfect match,” so far. In 2022, Spangler met Burza when she joined her business mastermind network, and they stayed in touch. Three years later, Spangler was ready to expand her company by bringing on a business partner. She says Burza’s background in business development and marketing made her an ideal fit. Now, Burza’s knowledge of modern dating dynamics and human psychology helps support the continued success of Selective Connections. “The extremely confidential and private database has candidates we would happily connect with someone,” Burza says. “Safety is our top priority, so these people go through the background check process and often come from referrals.”
“I love it when I go to a client’s wedding and am told we’ve changed lives,” Spangler says. “Finding love is such a beautiful thing, and I love being part of that.”
Selective Connections
Instagram: @selective.connections
