Originally from the East side of the state, Mackenzie fell in love with the outdoor lifestyles of Grand Rapids.

Like many, Mackenzie was laid off due to the pandemic. However, she saw this as an opportunity to explore the city and the outdoors. In fact, during quarantine, Mackenzie visited 10 national parks in 2.5 weeks!

Mackenzie attended Oakland University and received her mechanical engineering degree with a focus in computer-aided design (aka 3-D modeling), but also had a passion for lean engineering. This led to her new and current role at Proos Manufacturing as a manufacturing engineer. She said the new role has been “Absolutely incredible. Unlike previous engineering positions, I have the opportunity to design solutions for my own company rather than an external customer! This focus on internal improvement allows me the flexibility to determine my own design constraints and make a direct impact on the manufacturing floor as I deem necessary.”

Aside from 3-D printing, Mackenzie loves spending time outdoors. With beaches being just a half hour away, she often goes sailing on the lakes of West Michigan. Also, travel destinations such as Traverse City, Petoskey, Chicago, and Detroit are all just a short drive away for a reasonable weekend trip! She enjoys riding bikes, kayaking, “museum-ing”, and brewery hopping as well as getting involved with the Grand Rapids Sport and Social Club (GRSSC). Mackenzie said that GRSSC has been a great opportunity to meet new people and stay active in West Michigan.

Do you love the outdoors as much as Mackenzie? Check out our Sport, Leisure, and Water page and learn about all of the adventures you can take in West Michigan.

Disclosure – Any reference to a person, organization, product, or activity in Hello West Michigan’s blog posts does not constitute or imply endorsement. These blog posts are used to share first-hand experiences of what it’s like to live, work, and play in West Michigan – not promote a specific person, organization, product, or activity. Hello West Michigan does not receive compensation or other benefits for blog post mentions.