Celebrating the Retirement & Career of Sam Buehler

Thursday, April 30th, 2026

Join us in celebrating the career of Sam Buehler, Principal and CFO.

Sandra “Sam” Buehler has been a part of Pope Design Group for more than 28 years, steadily growing her role from Accountant to Director of Finance, Principal and Shareholder, and ultimately CFO.

Throughout her tenure, Sam played a key role on the Executive Leadership Team. She oversaw the firm’s accounting department and established and managed both the human resources and IT departments. Known for her expertise on the business side of architecture, Sam specialized in finance, business strategy, and trend analysis to help predict future outcomes, allowing her to understand the firm’s operations from the inside out.

Over nearly three decades at Pope Design Group, Sam made significant contributions to the firm’s growth and stability. She helped guide the transition from an analog to a digital business and led the firm through periods of uncertainty – including economic shifts, market changes, and global challenges, all while supporting continued growth and evolution.

Her influence extended to key strategic decisions such as establishing new practice areas, transitioning leadership roles, launching an Associate program, relocating the office, adopting new technology, and navigating both the recession and the pandemic.

Through her leadership and financial guidance, Sam helped grow the Pope team from 36 staff to nearly 100 employees and increase the firm’s business by nearly 300%. In recognition of her outstanding contributions and dedication to both her profession and community, Sam was named a Finance & Commerce Top Woman in Finance in 2024 and a Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s CFO of the Year in 2018.

Beyond her business accomplishments, Sam was instrumental in fostering an inclusive and supportive office culture. She advocated for employees, served as a mentor, and encouraged team members to shape their own career paths. In her HR leadership role, Sam championed work-life balance initiatives, including a flexible hybrid schedule, as well as professional development benefits such as licensing support, continuing education, and mentoring programs.

We are immensely grateful for Sam’s leadership and the lasting impact she has made on Pope Design Group. Please join us in congratulating Sam as she enters her next phase of life – one we hope includes plenty of lake and beach time, and far fewer numbers and forms.

Thank you, Sam!