Alumni Spotlights
Drew Robbins '17
Employer
HRIS Analyst, Gordon Food Service
LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjacobrobbins/
1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
After graduating, I worked on the HR team at the Windquest Group,
a small private equity firm in downtown Grand Rapids. While I
thoroughly enjoyed my experience there (nearly 3 years), I knew that I
wanted more life experience before settling into the office
environment for the long haul. In February 2020, I stepped away from
my role, enlisted in the US Army Reserves, and left for basic training
later in the year. This past spring, I graduated from the John F.
Kennedy School of Special Warfare as my class' Distinguished Honors
Graduate and Valedictorian! I have since moved back to Grand Rapids
and work full time as an HRIS Analyst at Gordon Food Service's home office.
2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
I was fortunate to spend all four of my spring breaks
participating in and leading service project trips around the country
through Campus Ministry. I traveled to Hollywood, CA twice, Portland,
OR, and San Diego, CA to name a few. The friends and memories I made
on those trips will be carried with me forever!
3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Never let anyone convince you that there is one pathway to
success! I thought stepping away from my first job to take time off
would permanently hinder my future career prospects. However, I could
not have been more wrong! The experiences I gained through my time
away from the workforce have made me a far better employee and
individual. Eventually, I even received an offer for my current role
at GFS within a week of moving back to Grand Rapids. In sum: first and
foremost, always pursue experiences that make you a more well-rounded
person. In doing so, you’ll be surprised by the opportunities life
presents you with.
4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand
Valley experience.
Formative; preparative; engaging.
5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
I want people to redefine what success looks like for themselves.
I think society has painted far too specific of a picture of what a
successful professional ought to look like. In constantly pursuing
that societal mold, it's so easy to miss out on life's most enriching
experiences. I hope to show people that it's okay to give yourself
permission to stop and smell the roses every once in a while.
January 2022
Interest Area(s)
Finance, Business Administration
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