Alumni Spotlights

Drew Robbins '17

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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Page last modified January 26, 2022