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Rising Stars: Meet Drew Robbins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Robbins.

Hi Drew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Sure! I was raised in a really small military town in the heart of northern Michigan. (As in our high school was the only one in the whole county, and I still graduated with less than 100 peers!) I moved to Grand Rapids to complete my undergraduate studies at Grand Valley State University. I fell in love with the community here, and it quickly became my adopted home. I graduated from the Frederik Meijer Honors College at GVSU with a B.B.A. in Finance and Human Resources Management. Following graduation, I was hired at a prestigious private equity firm in downtown Grand Rapids, where I worked for two and a half years.

After being in the full-time workforce for a time, I couldn’t help but acknowledge that I still had a desire for deeper life experiences before settling into the desk life for the long haul. In 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic began, I left my role and enlisted in the US Army Reserves. I traded in my chinos, laptop, and briefcase for combat boots, open barracks, and an M4 rifle. While the challenges posed during military initial entry training were certainly different than those that I faced during my career job, I thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace, and I left with innumerable memories and friends. In the spring of 2021, I graduated from the JFK School of Special Warfare at Fort Jackson as the Valedictorian and Distinguished Honors Graduate of my class.

Upon graduating from Army training, I could have moved anywhere in the country; however, it was the easiest choice I’ve ever made to come home to Grand Rapids. The community we have here is unlike anything that can be found elsewhere! I now work remotely as a full-time software analyst for a large private company in the area.

Public service has always been a deeply cherished value of mine. While serving in the Army Reserves has allowed me to give back to my country, I wanted to serve my community in a more intimate manner. This past spring, I decided to launch a campaign to run for the Grand Rapids City Commission! While I thought being (relatively) younger would be my biggest hurdle, I have been received with open arms by a community desperate for a next generation of leadership to step forth. By far, the most common response I receive from residents is, “thank you for what you’re doing!”

Since launching my campaign, I have been endorsed by countless community leaders, including the last FIVE former Commissioners from the First Ward. Their unanimous support in recognition of my leadership and values is humbling, and all I can say is that I have big shoes to fill! I have also received endorsements from several organizations – the Grand Rapid Chamber PAC, GRPOA, Grand Rapids Firefighters, Greater Regional Alliance of REALTORS, etc. – and there are more in the works as they finalize their formal endorsement processes.

Looking back on the past several years of my life, I can’t help but feel immense gratitude for the privileges and experiences I have been afforded. Serving is the greatest honor of my life, and I look forward to doing so for many more years to come.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! Even at 27 years young, my life has been full of twists and turns. While I grew up in a military town, I had never considered enlisting, let alone post-college, while I was already working full time! Part of me thought that walking away from an amazing company would permanently hamper my long-term career prospects. However, I am a huge proponent of pursuing the experiences that will make the a well-rounded individual, and a more empathetic human. When you do so, you’ll be surprised by the path life presents you with. I wouldn’t change a single life decision I’ve made, and many of the risks I taken have uniquely qualified me to accomplish many of my future goals. I’m a firm believer that life’s deepest treasures are born from our biggest challenges.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my day job, I work as an HRIS Analyst. The software I specialize in supports our organization’s human capital management, learning and development, payroll, recruiting, and advanced workforce reporting functions. I love being able to combine my knack for numbers with the most valuable part of the business – people! While I love my job and apply myself to the fullest extent daily, it is not the center of my life. There’s an old phrase that says, “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” but I think for most people, that’s bogus. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but it’s not ultimately what gets me out of bed in the mornings. Instead, I encourage others to do what you’re good at and what meets a specific need in the world. This outlook has afforded me a work-life balance that deeply enriches my personal life and relationships.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I know this sounds cliche, but truthfully the best measure of success is comparing your present self to your past self, as well as the positive impact you leave in the lives of others. There will always be objective measures of success in life, and by all means, work toward achieving those. But don’t forget that seeing progress in your personal endeavors is equally as important too.

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