After a decade of life in various places—schooling, football, the military, and work—Tommy has made his way back to his roots in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tommy was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and after ten years away, the return was made possible when his wife matched to a medical residency program in the city. The couple quickly found their way back to Michigan and landed in a neighborhood not far from Tommy’s childhood home. With family nearby and a new chapter beginning, Tommy is embracing life in West Michigan.
Before boomeranging to West Michigan and joining International Needs USA, a global non-profit headquartered in Hudsonville, Tommy’s life was filled with a variety of impactful experiences, living in different countries and states. During his time away from his home state, he developed a passion for service and diplomacy.
He attended Northwestern University in Chicago, where he studied political science and played football. After college, he played in the NFL and eventually moved to France to play the sport he loves.
Passionate about serving others, he worked for the U.S. Embassy while abroad and joined the Army Reserves; his last deployment was in Tunisia. After some time, he and his wife moved to rural East Tennessee for his wife’s medical school.
While he found Chicago and East Tennessee beautiful for their own reasons, he began to realize West Michigan offered both of his favorite parts of those places: West Michigan blends the city life and the nature vibe. “Here, we have access to outdoor recreation, parks, cultural activities, sporting events, and just about anything we could want,” said Tommy. “The peace of nature and the energy of the city aren’t far apart.” Tommy realized he wanted to move back to his hometown of Grand Rapids.
When it came time to relocate, Tommy and his wife quickly realized that buying a home in Grand Rapids would be more competitive than they anticipated. However, with the help of a great realtor, they found the perfect house in the Alger Heights area, where he’s excited to explore community events.
Since moving back, Tommy has been balancing his service-oriented career, family life, and a variety of hobbies that keep him engaged with both his community and the world beyond. He recently became a dad and being close to family helps navigate the transition.
Tommy’s transition to his role at International Needs USA has been both exciting and fulfilling. “I have been loving it so far. As a kid, I had this idea that I had to go somewhere else to have an impact on the wider world. While I’m glad that I had the chance to travel the country and the world, I’ve realized that I can serve both my community and the wider world right here in Grand Rapids,” he reflects.
Tommy and his wife’s favorite places to visit in West Michigan include local treasures like Brass Ring Brewing in Alger Heights and the beautiful Frederik Meijer Gardens.
In his free time, Tommy enjoys regularly attending talks hosted by the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan and The Acton Institute. He participates in French and Spanish conversation groups to improve his language skills and participates in the Urban Church Leadership Program. As an athlete, he also enjoys being active: Orienteering, weightlifting, and triathlon training. He’s also a student at Cornerstone Theological Seminary.
His advice for anyone looking to make a move or settle into a new community? Look near, then far. Tommy and his wife have enjoyed discovering all the Alger Heights business district has to offer. This saved them time and helped them get to know their community!
With a bright future ahead, Tommy is enjoying every step of his journey back home in West Michigan—where he gets to make global impact at his new job and is surrounded by family.
