When looking for the best place to establish their roots, Nate and Nichole Gillespie carefully considered their options. Both Michigan natives, they were intimately familiar with the state, and they have visited major cities in the U.S. and abroad. Those experiences shaped their goals, simplifying their search for a home into one word: community.
“Over the last few years, we realized we want to be someplace that can nurture our personal and professional lives, while also allowing us to invest in the people and world around us — and West Michigan is that place,” Nate said.
The couple settled in Ada, just a short drive from their former residence in downtown Grand Rapids. Nate owns and manages a community relations firm called Patchwork and serves as executive director of the Anchor Institute, while Nichole owns and operates On This Day Events, a full-service event design and planning team. Living nearby allows them to deepen their connection with the region, Nichole said, while also enabling new and continuing partnership opportunities. Both are involved with a variety of organizations, including supporting Van Andel Institute.
As JBoard Ambassadors, Nate and Nichole are part of VAI’s network of early- and mid-career professionals. They joined to support biomedical research, but their relationship with the Institute has since grown.
“For us, it’s now an opportunity to showcase the scientific progress underway here, in our own backyard,” Nichole said. “Once you learn what’s happening, you don’t just want to get involved — you want to share it with everyone you know.”
Highlighting the Institute’s work comes easy, Nate said, as there are many different opportunities to get involved: events, donations, lectures and more. Talking to scientists and educators unlocks new perspectives, he said. “It brings people like us closer to the science in ways that allow us to interact, engage and learn.”
As someone with Type 1 diabetes, Nate often spends time reading about new advances. His life with the disease is another inspiration to give to research at VAI. Many don’t think about the importance of research until they see themselves or their loved ones affected by cancer, Parkinson’s, or other diseases, Nate said. “That’s what makes this kind of fundamental science so important — it’s the building blocks for so many possible developments down the line, and it can unlock new treatments or diagnosis tools for diseases that maybe weren’t the initial focus.”
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The couple proudly bears the Ambassador title of their JBoard membership, inviting friends, family and coworkers to learn more about VAI and its science and education efforts. It’s an opportunity to be proud of the region, while also building on the collaborative spirit West Michigan is known for. Nate and Nichole are involved in shaping the future of JBoard itself; they work alongside other Ambassadors to develop new engagement opportunities. They hope to recruit new members while also building relationships with other passionate community members looking to make a difference.
“So much of what we enjoy in Grand Rapids are the results of seeds planted long ago,” Nichole said. “We now have a place like VAI right in our home, and it’s our responsibility as a community to make sure it’s able to thrive and bring more opportunities for future generations.”