Known Profits
Sharing the untold stories of nonprofits in our community, making what's beneath the surface known.
Known Profits
Hope Network | Bob Von Kaenel
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In this episode, we sit down with Bob Von Kaenel, President and CEO of Hope Network, to explore how mission-driven leadership can transform lives and communities across West Michigan and beyond.
Bob shares his journey into nonprofit leadership and how Hope Network has grown into a comprehensive organization serving people with mental health needs, developmental disabilities, brain and spinal cord injuries, and workforce barriers.
Through innovative programs, strong partnerships, and a people-first approach, Hope Network is meeting individuals where they are and walking alongside them toward independence and wholeness.
Want to learn more about Hope Network and their impact? Visit hopenetwork.org
Welcome to Known Profits. Each episode, we sit down with inspiring guests from nonprofits to share their journeys and the impactful work they're doing. We hope their stories resonate with you, sparking inspiration and excitement to get involved with a cause that speaks to you. Today on Known Profits, we sit down with Bob von Kennel, president and CEO of Hope Network, one of Michigan's most comprehensive organizations serving people with disabilities, mental health needs, and complex life challenges.
SPEAKER_02Known Profits is powered by Heart of West Michigan United Way, and you can support this podcast. For more information, go to www.hwmuw.org backslash podcast.
SPEAKER_01Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts. Follow our socials too on Instagram at knownprofitspod and on Facebook at knownprofitspodcast. With my friends J.R. Roberts and Drew Myers. And today we are with our friend Bob Van Kennel. He is the president and CEO of Hope Network. Bob, welcome today. We're glad to have you. Hey, thanks for having me. Yeah, yeah. We're excited for this conversation and a lot of uh great stuff to come up here. But first of all, like always, question of the day, Drew. It is February. Um, still cold in Michigan, and we're thinking about activities. Whether that's warm activities, things to do inside, but what is your favorite activity that you like to be a part of? John, I know there's a lot of options for you, and you are gearing up for the best answer, probably of all of us. But what is your favorite activity, John?
SPEAKER_00My favorite activity for me at this time of year, it's getting outdoors. I have three little boys I've shared before, and so we love just exploring the woods and different times of the season. So as long as the ground is still frozen, then it's a great time to be outside.
SPEAKER_01Okay. So outside uh exploring the woods, anything specific you guys like to play games and your boys like to do we like to do hiking.
SPEAKER_00I explore the outside. Right now we're doing indoor soccer and indoor basketball.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Is there a sport that they lean closer to? Like to like more often. They like soccer more. Okay.
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_01That's great. Drew, what about you? I guess can I guess? Uh yeah, you can guess. You like to perfect you're a professional you like knitting a lot. Um and it's you hate the water, so it's probably nothing else. Um but what uh what do you like to talk about?
SPEAKER_02Probably the polar opposite. Yep, boating in the summer, skiing in the winter, and um, I'm trying to get better at golf just because it's kind of a professional necessity, but I'm I'm terrible at golf. So I do golf and I have some golf clubs and you're decent, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we did a virtual golf thing last year, and he he showed us up, right, John? Yeah, he did a great job. And teach us.
SPEAKER_00Well, I couldn't even drive the cart to help.
SPEAKER_01So to drive the cart inside to the virtual golf course. That'd be great. Kyle, how about you? All right. Um, this is gonna be I'm not old, I promise you guys, but it's a sport that is old. Um, I'm a big racquetball fan. Everyone plays pickleball, everyone does a I don't know, John. Do they still do that? Do they do their play spirits? There is a court at my alma mater at Cornerstone University, one of the last in the state, maybe. And we play every Monday, and I should be there now, but I'm not because I like you guys more.
SPEAKER_02Grand Valley has them if they still do in the basement of the field house. So my dad and I used to play racquetball and I was a kid, and then you go down to like this dungeon, and where are you going in? There's racquetball course.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's a it's a great workout, and you can simultaneously get drilled in the back of the head while trying to beat your friends in a sport that's very active and different. So yeah, big fan of racquetball. It's unique and different and weird, but it's fun. So Bob, what about you?
SPEAKER_03Well, it's January, it's Michigan. So I'm dreaming of a warm destination. I am ready to get some sunshine.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So bottom line is I'm a huge sports fan, uh, all things Michigan. So absolutely love being part of the community, uh, love being part of the uh Michigan sports scene. Uh like you, a huge golfer. Yeah. So again, uh April can't come fast enough for here.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. It sounds like a golf trip is in your uh future. It is. It is. Favorite course you've ever played.
unknownOh my God.
SPEAKER_02Wilson Straits.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Wisconsin. All right. Great track.
SPEAKER_02Have you been through? No, I have not. Okay. Bob, thanks for being here. Um, most folks in our West Michigan community know the Hope Network. Uh, but for those who don't, uh share more about the Hope Network, but also give us a background on yourself and how you ended up at Hope Network. Sure.
SPEAKER_03Well, uh actually Hope Network is a uh one of Michigan's largest nonprofit organizations. We've been around for 60 years, and we're a healthcare and human services uh focused organization. So uh many people know us for the little red buses that run around the state, uh, but that's a small part of what we do. So we have really uh historically been around uh wherever there's been a gap in service. So whether it be mental health, uh physical health, uh rehabilitation, workforce development, education, wherever there's been a gap, we've tended to step in and try to uh work with the community to make it better. And how did you end up there? Uh by luck. Good story. So actually, I I happened to be on the board of directors for six years and uh fell in love with the mission and fell in love with Hope Network. And when uh Phil Weaver, who was a prior CEO, was getting ready to retire. Uh I was actually chairman of the board at the time and was asked to uh lead the search committee. So after a national search where we had four great external candidates, the board came back and said, Bot, they're great. But why don't you do this? So I guess I would call myself the accidental CEO of Hope Network. Been there for three years, absolutely love it. Uh I love the mission, I love the people, and the fact that we're making a positive impact for so many lives uh each and every day is just uh refreshing and very rewarding. And now prior to Hope Network, were you in the nonprofit space professionally? I was not. So I am uh or was a uh uh president CEO of a commercial furniture company.
unknownOh wow.
SPEAKER_03So had really no exposure directly to uh Hope Network and services other the fact that it's part of the community, right? And had spent uh a lot of time in the uh in prior life uh in healthcare environments. So I had a good appreciation uh broadly what Hope did. But again, uh I thought I understood the organization being part of a board member. But once you get inside and you start operating, it's a whole different thing.
SPEAKER_01I was gonna say, Bob, how yeah, how did that change for you, the transition from that to the CEO of Hope Network? I mean, yeah, you had experience with being on the board, but like what did that look like for you in that transition?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think more than anything else, uh we're blessed with great employees, great people. So being around for 60 years, we've got a rich heritage and uh over 2,000 employees. So I had lots of guidance along the way. Uh I spent the first uh hundred days really doing a deep dive in the organization, traveling around the state, uh meeting our employees, meeting our uh donor partners, our uh partners in local communities, really trying to understand uh from their perspective who was Hope, uh, what was our value proposition, and how do we make a difference? And it was just uh amazing what I heard and uh gave me great, uh, great joy to kind of join the organization and begin to build cohesive strategy to gather to grow and ultimately decrease the struggle for our employees, but then ultimately to provide uh more essential services for those people that we try to serve.
SPEAKER_02Of all the services that you provide, what are the the top two or three right now you're seeing increased need for?
SPEAKER_03Oh, that's that's an easy question. So huge need uh in behavioral health. So as you as you know, mental health is uh is is just like regular health care. And quite frankly, it's become uh so much more powerful today, because we're talking about a whole person. So being able to kind of think about how we uh help people along the way of the journey, whether it's a mild situation or a more severe situation, that is a huge piece for us. And that's about 60% of what we do. Uh the second piece, uh the largest piece, is our neural rehabilitation business. So when an individual unfortunately has a traumatic brain injury or maybe a spinal cord injury, we lock walk around inside them to really help them recover and also get back to as much functionality as possible. And sometimes that means them physically living with Hope Network from a long-term perspective. So we really look at it from a uh complete uh patient care and uh living situation perspective.
SPEAKER_00What would you say for when you talk about long-term, what makes effective long-term support really like what does that require? Does that look like?
SPEAKER_03I think it requires patience, right? It requires optimism. Uh, it requires really a skilled team around those individuals, uh, working with the support of family as well. Because it really is truly a two, uh, a true team effort. Uh the reality is none of us do this alone. And uh we really try to walk alongside that individual and their families, and every single individual is unique and different. So, how do you really build those cases to support them uh in the best way possible?
SPEAKER_01But I want to go back to mental health because it's it's something that uh my wife's in the profession and I've um I've seen it change and grow from a a big stigma kind of focus of you have to be so off the deep end to go to mental health to now it's important, right? Like we we all need to care for our mental well-being. Um, but what other gaps do you see in Michigan's mental health and disability systems today? Are there things that you guys are, man, that it it's it can be kind of hard to still tackle when it comes to providing those services for individuals in the state and the the people that you serve?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I I think mental health access is still a challenge for sure. And I think ultimately when someone's experiencing a challenge, uh, how do you really get the help that you need? So it really depends upon uh unfortunately what type of insurance you might have, but also what type of care you're really seeking. So for me, uh how we can solve the access problem is a really huge uh opportunity for all of us to make sure that it is accessible, it's affordable, and also effective at the same time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and that's true. I mean, so many of insurance companies don't cover mental health, right? And so you have to pay out of pocket. You know, you have to make a decision, okay, is this something I want to pursue that might cost me more if my insurance doesn't cover it? So those are those are real barriers, right? Oh, absolutely. So yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_03Well, it's also interesting that that more and more employers are recognizing the importance of mental health coverage. Yeah. And we've done really a lot of unique partnerships actually working with companies to kind of begin to build those programs that ultimately uh try to keep their employees and their families healthy. And uh, you know, really it's part of that organization. So for us, that's been a really uh very satisfying process.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And uh it's it's really something that's growing for us uh from an opportunity perspective.
SPEAKER_01How how have those conversations been with those employers? I mean, have they been open, obviously, to having those conversations? I mean, you guys have a huge influence. Um, have they been good conversations when cool?
SPEAKER_03Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, again, it gets back to the fact that you know, mental health is health. Yeah, it's health care. So again, the more we think about treating the individual and the family uh in a holistic way, ultimately I think that's what we're all interested in doing, quite frankly.
SPEAKER_02Aaron Powell So the scope of your services, you're you're providing to a wide age age range. We are um children, adults, seniors. Yes. Yes, exactly. And all the above.
SPEAKER_03So if I think of all our services go back to the beginning. So we range from autism services, which really starts with someone that could be 18 months up to 21 years old. Uh and then we look at again uh from an adulthood, young adulthood uh to a senior citizen. So again, we kind of do span uh the whole uh age generation perspective.
SPEAKER_02Aaron Powell And you're collaborating with other agencies within our communities as well, other than other nonprofits, other organizations.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, we are. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So what does a partnership with a another nonprofit look like when you're providing services to their populations as well?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think everyone is unique and different, right? So again, I think we try to go walk alongside each respective organization and see what makes the most sense. So if we think about Michigan as an example, so from a public health care perspective, uh uh Michigan's mental health system is really carved up into 46 individual uh community health uh organizations. So the one we know best here uh in Kent County is Network 180. So we will uh work alongside with people like Network 180 uh and 45 other uh mental health uh organizations to really uh effectively manage the population and do the best we can uh jointly to maximize those capabilities.
SPEAKER_02As a former CEO of a for-profit uh company, uh I have a number of questions that I think would be fascinating to ask you. Um but first, when you think of our community and the economic impact an organization like Hope Network has, yeah, what kind of obviously there is a tremendous benefit for the human beings that you're serving, and that is first and foremost why we should be doing the work and supporting the work. But what impact does it have on our our communities as a whole as our communities look to thrive and prosper?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think I think it's huge. I mean, if you think about it from an ecosystem perspective, uh there are lots of different healthcare providers. And I think ultimately we form that ecosystem that's designed to help grow and uh make West Michigan or any community prosperous, right? So ultimately, I think we uh are unique here in West Michigan because again, I think that whether it's a nonprofit organization or a for-profit organization, we tend to bond together uh when there's a common cause. And we tend to uh work together to find a way to solve real problems. Uh you see that across uh West Michigan, whether it be from a public space perspective. Uh you think about projects like the uh the new amphitheater, uh the soccer standup. I mean, these are all uh bipartisan, cross-functional, cross-community events. Healthcare is no different. So I think we really try to come together uh in unique ways. I think that's something that makes West Michigan really uh uh very different and very special.
SPEAKER_02Flip to your perspective uh as a former business leader. What is something that the nonprofit you found benefits the nonprofit community from your prior experience? But then also, what's something you've learned now uh leading a nonprofit organization that you wish you knew as a business leader serving and supporting nonprofits?
SPEAKER_03Wow, that's a big question. Throwing all the hard ones at you. I love that. Just a saving for you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03In many ways, uh there isn't a lot of difference between running a nonprofit or a for-profit. Because first and foremost, it starts with people, right? So it's all about having great talent and how you develop, nurture, and align that talent around objectives and strategies. So I think from that perspective, being in a for-profit or nonprofit are exactly the same. I think the biggest thing in a nonprofit is again the uh the funding cycles and the fact that uh, you know, like many nonprofits, we're we are dependent upon both uh uh philanthropic giving, but also working with both uh the federal and state governments uh for funding and assistance. And again, uh that's unique and different compared to being for in a for-profit environment.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna take us back a little more to the beginning. You mentioned what many of us in the community see often is the red buses driving around. I know when I first moved here from Chicago, that's one of the first interactions I had with Hope Network was seeing the bus go by my house and go, what is this wheels to work? What's going on here? And so tell us a little bit about the workforce development program and what you guys are doing in that space and what that looks like.
SPEAKER_03Sure. So uh obviously, uh we've evolved as an organization over 60 years, and I have the uh the pleasure of being the fourth CEO of the organization's history. So typically, uh my predecessors have been in the role a very long time, and they came with a social work background. So historically, they would find an opportunity that's being unmet in the community and try to attack that one off at a time. So again, I think that the, you know, from a workforce development perspective, it began with just the understanding that uh we have a diverse population, they have uh different and diverse needs. So ultimately, how do you find a way to uh help those who, quite frankly, have potential, have desire, and have a uh uh a strong attitude to want to learn and grow and be prosperous in our respective community? So we've begun that process. Uh as an example, one of our workforce development activities is something called Hope Network Industries. So we've been around now uh in that service for about 15 years, and really it's a contract packaging organization. We run two shifts, we've got 240 employees. Uh majority of those employees are either returning citizens and or uh a lot of new Americans who've come here fresh uh that have been refugees. So we work with them to kind of build their language skills, we give them an opportunity to gain an employment, tie them back in with housing and transportation, and ultimately our goal is to get them stabilized in the community. And uh, you know, we have some of them that, quite frankly, uh they begin with us, and the next thing we know, here comes their brother, here comes their cousin, and again, it is just an incredibly uh powerful story and workforce that are really committed to doing uh the right thing for their families and for the communities. And oftentimes those individuals will be with us for, you know, six months, eight months, a year, and then go off and find uh even better employment because they're trained or acclimated. Uh we have some that stay with us for 10 years because, again, they find it the work to be gratifying and they get promoted, right? So they get additional responsibilities. They start uh in distribution, they may be in the warehouse, they may be doing some piece assembly, and the next thing you know, you're you're a supervisor, you're a manager, you're a leader. So it's been really gratifying to watch those individuals grow and ultimately either graduate or find a way to kind of advance within the hope network.
SPEAKER_00That's awesome. And really speaks to the trust as you look at that person who came in and all of a sudden after a couple of months brings a brother or a cousin in. So trust that they've got from the organization and telling their family this is a good place to be, this is a place you can grow and learn, whether that's, as you said, finding an opportunity outside or even internal opportunity that you guys provide. So it seems really awesome. Exactly.
SPEAKER_03I mean, right now, as an example, we've got, I think uh I was over there last week, and uh we have 22 different countries uh that are represented there today, and uh there's over 16 different languages being spoken. So it's amazing when you look at uh those folks working together on a line, while they can't speak the same language, they begin to really understand how to communicate in different ways. And over time they embrace each other's cultures as well, which is just remarkable because again, it's uh cultures from around the world that can be very uh very different. And ultimately it comes down to I think that our philosophy has always been that we're all equally human. So at the very core, that's really the foundation of really what makes hope special.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03That that simple premise from that perspective.
SPEAKER_01That's great. Um, Bob, you you hinted and talked a little bit about this too, but what what are some other when it comes to workforce development barriers that individuals have when it comes to entering the workforce? Um ways that you help, continue to help, but like what are some of those that you see maybe they've been there for a long time, or new ones that you're seeing recently when it comes to them getting in the workforce and and staying in the workforce?
SPEAKER_03I think it's a it's a complicated problem, right? And I think that uh again, every situation is unique and different. Uh, we find many uh folks have a transportation barrier. They simply can't get from point A to point B. So how do they get to work? Or how do they get to work on a reliable perspective? They make it for the first week, and then after that, weather changes, and then how do you find a way to get there? So I think that's where we come alongside with them with uh transportation solutions to hopefully make sure they can get someplace on a reliable perspective. So I think that's a big piece of that. Uh housing is another one of those challenges. So typically uh a lot of folks coming in here may have been homeless. So you think about the challenges of being homeless. How do you find uh a place that's safe and stable uh combined with transportation, combined with the will to work and the desire to work? So uh, you know, again, every time we do we look at doing this, it is uh one-on-one, and every case is unique and and it's special from that perspective.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's a great reminder. I mean, yeah, every situation is different. I I think I've heard too many stories of you know employers who have been well, that person was lazy, stop showing up, they're lazy, whatever the excuses, right? But it's well, there are all these factors that we don't always think about, right? You know, there is the transportation issue, there's there's the housing issue, and until we can like yeah, really think about all those factors, everyone has a different story, right? Everyone has a different circumstance, and that's important.
SPEAKER_03I I think the other thing we found too is that uh, especially in the uh the HI situation is uh you know, the language barrier is also a challenge. So again, we've done a lot of great uh uh partnerships in town here, uh actually using and teaching English as a second language. So again, giving uh, you know, new Americans and and new people of the country the opportunity to learn the language to assimilate. And begin to uh really uh develop the building blocks that allow them for success uh in a new area.
SPEAKER_02What are some of the key ways that you quantify the impact you have in in our community and what are some of those some of those metrics?
SPEAKER_03Well it really depends on what the service is, right? So ultimately uh let's take transportation as an example, right? So that's an easy one. It really starts with how many people did we serve? Those are things you count. How many miles did we drive, how many uh employers did we serve, uh, how many jobs did we save, or how many jobs did we create? So to me that's really something that's very uh meaningful from that perspective. Uh on the neurorehabilitation side, again, that's you know, where you're really doing clinical uh you know uh rehabilitation and medicine. So you can quantify exactly how how a person's recovering. How did they come when they when they when they entered the program, how many days it take them to get back uh to being ambulatory or or functional, and then what is their next step? So I think uh some of the programs are really hard to quantify because they're really social in nature. But again, I think we go a long way to try to understand ultimately uh what's the value in the service we provide. Because again, I I also go back from a philanthropic perspective. Uh we live in a very philanthropic town, and ultimately people want to be good stewards. So again, if you're providing a donation, uh people want to understand how it's being used and what are the outcomes. So to me that's really critical from that perspective. And uh we've been publishing a uh an impact report which kind of looks at service line by service line, what are the metrics, what are the numbers, because sometimes it's just staggering when you see the uh the scope that's being out there because we are also a statewide organization. So if you think about Hope, been around for 60 years, about 135 locations, over 2,000 employees, and roughly about 35,000 encounters every single year uh with Michiganders.
SPEAKER_02So a 2,000 employee organization across the state of Michigan serving. What what do you think? Top line, how many people are you serving throughout the variety of services on an annual basis? Well well over 35,000.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00How do you balance that the growth that you guys have seen over the last 60 years with the quality? Because it sounds like as you've gone, you've continued to grow and continue to provide better service. So what's the what's the secret sauce to that growth and quality?
SPEAKER_03Aaron Powell Well, I think I think it begins with uh you know hiring great people, right? I think what's really interesting if I look at the workforce that we have at Hope, uh many of them have been there for 10, 15, 20 years. So once you spend time there, you become almost uh addicted uh to the culture, right? And the fact that you're making a huge difference for what you do because again, they see every day uh the struggles that people have and the impact the program has. So I think the people come to work at Hope for number one, a career to begin with, but they stay because of the impact and the mission.
SPEAKER_00And in within the culture, how do you balance the tough stuff? I imagine for some staff, some of your staff, they're dealing with some really hard things with the people they're working with. How do they come to work and navigate the things that they're coming home with as well?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think you have to give people space, right? Ultimately, I think it's about respecting uh both the work-life balance and giving uh people enough room to uh you know really do the work they have to do every day, even though when it's tough, but also giving the time to step away to uh recharge and refresh. Uh again, there's no secret formula, I wish there was, but I think that uh we've done a really good job of trying to uh make sure that our teams are well prepared, they're situated, and uh you know they're supportive for the right reasons.
SPEAKER_02What are your big hopes and dreams for the organization in the next few years?
SPEAKER_03Oh I'd love to see it continue to grow, right? And grow in a positive way. Uh I think part of the uh one of my biggest objectives is how do we decrease the struggle that they have to provide the care? So as you mentioned earlier, the work we do is hard. So how do we find a way to continue to find a way to uh ultimately make it easier, whether that be financially, through uh uh environments, through tools, uh so whatever we can do to make it easier would be a really uh a nice improvement.
SPEAKER_01And Bell, I want to yeah, let's talk about philanthropy too, because you mentioned this earlier, but how how can people get involved? I mean, right, we talk a lot about, you know, obviously there's a capacity to give, to donate, um, volunteer with your time, advocate for the work that you guys do. But what are the the biggest ways? What are some of the ways that individuals throughout the state uh can get involved with Hope Network and the the work that you guys are doing?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think there's a couple different ways. Uh uh Hope Network has a foundation. Again, it's uh really originally was designed from a philanthropic perspective, but we do a number of different uh fundraising, advocacy events, uh events with the consumers that we serve across the state. Because again, we're truly trying to provide meaningful opportunities for the people that we serve. So we're always looking for volunteers that are willing to give their time and their expertise in some of those areas. Uh as an example, uh on uh January 30th, we have an event in Detroit. Actually happens to be at Ford Field. It's called the Spirits of Hope. So it's kind of a you know quasi fundraiser uh support for our Detroit Lions.
SPEAKER_01Uh they need some hope right now. They do, they do, they do, they need hope. They've given us good football, though.
SPEAKER_03But uh but ultimately it it is about kind of raising awareness, right? At the same time, raising a little bit of money to help support the cost, because again, I think we uh uh every nonprofit is looking for uh sustainability. I think that's the biggest challenge is how do we make sure that we continue to have the funds that are required that allows us to invest in our greatest asset, which are employees, but then also uh in our infrastructures to support uh the growth and support the people that we serve.
SPEAKER_02These guys have heard me say it before, but coming from not working in the nonprofit space, a passion that our community members who support our community through working nonprofits should have the same opportunities that those of us in the public um or private sector should have from an earnings potential and um an income potential because they're providing a valuable service to our community that we all benefit from. That's correct.
SPEAKER_00Yep, exactly. When we think about hopes and dreams, what's something that you think would what would make the biggest impact to Hope Network when it comes from a technological advance or the direction we're going with AI and other things? Is there a space that you're thinking of what's next and how it will uh align and help Hope Network in the work you're doing?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think there's no question that uh technology will play a big part in our future. And I think that's also uh has to be we have to do a lot of work with our uh local community partners and as well as our government agencies, again, to update codes that allow us to use the technology. So uh, I mean, right now uh Michigan has a mental health code uh which is well established. And uh I think it was last revised in in the mid-90s. So things have happened in the last 25 years that that really, you know, quite frankly, we should be able to reflect ultimately that technology will help us uh, quite frankly, decrease the struggle, but also uh just utilize that technology more appropriately with our clients uh to uh allow them to do more and be more.
SPEAKER_00And when you think 10 years down the road, not maybe not technologically, but where do you hope to see Hope Network will be in 10 years from now?
SPEAKER_03I think I think what I like to see is uh is really expand our statewide network. So again, you think about today, we're really a healthcare and human services organization. Uh I'm really trying hard uh with our team to kind of begin to link the services together so we can provide a more uh comprehensive, holistic solution for everyone we serve. Uh obviously, we also have a number of different areas we're we're involved in. So, as an example, uh part of our social service program includes an education program called Michigan Education Corps. So today we are in uh 130 schools across the state, uh. predominantly providing one-on-one uh either reading intervention at third grade levels or one-on-one uh eighth-grade math intervention. So, again, really trying to step in, partner with local school districts to help them uh ultimately uh help kids that are struggling uh become competent and ultimately thrive. So, again, I think that's a huge need for us as a state. Obviously, from an education perspective, uh our rankings are fairly low for a state as as as prosperous uh and as large as Michigan. So I think that from a workforce perspective, we've got to continue to find a way to invest in our next generation of employees, all of us, so we can all have the the uh the future, the skills required to be successful long term.
SPEAKER_02Bob, as we close out our time, could you share more about your journey from um leaving a successful career in in manufacturing to what inspired you and what drives you now to work uh in the nonprofit space after so many years in private industry?
SPEAKER_03More than anything else, it it's about service. Uh you know, I fell in love with the uh mission of Hope Network, which is really to help people overcome and live their best lives, right? Uh and the fact that uh as I advanced in my career, I I saw such a huge need in the communities that we were serving, and the chance to uh ultimately uh help a team uh grow and provide uh greater service, more comprehensive service, and to make a real impact uh is just so rewarding personally, uh professionally, and I think it's just the right thing to do. So uh people have asked me, my wife has asked me, well, Bob, you made this choice. Was it a good one? And I will say absolutely every single day uh because again, I know that the work we're doing is uh truly uh making an impact and helping others. So uh it's been a journey of joy and uh what I'm really looking forward to uh continuing.
SPEAKER_02And it sounds like prior to this, you made giving through service on boards, and uh that was a priority of yours as well, too. So um I just think that's inspiring for other business leaders to hear that the importance of maintaining connectivity in your community, even as you're leading a business, to give back both of your time and your talents to it's really about giving to me, it's about giving back.
SPEAKER_03I look I look at the fact that uh we all have gifts and talents, and how can you find a way to you know share whatever those talents really are uh with the community at large to uh also make a better place? I mean, again, I'm uh I'm not a native of Michigan. You know, I came here uh with our family 18 years ago and fell in love. So I think this is a wonderful place and just trying to make this uh as best uh as possible, quite frankly.
SPEAKER_02We should put that on a poster because I think people moving to Michigan is the best thing. It's an amazing series.
SPEAKER_03It's amazing. Side note, so we were living in Denver, right? Yeah, and I I laugh when you know I get a call from uh from a reputable search firm said, hey Bob, we know you, we get this great opportunity, it's it's in Michigan. It's like I'm living in Denver, Colorado. I have 300 days of sunshine. I see the mountains. Yeah, you know, why would I do this? But actually, after coming here and uh experiencing some of the uh the opportunity and the culture, it's like wow, this could be really great.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And uh, you know, we've had the pleasure of living across uh the U.S. in different spots and working internationally. And uh we have a lot to offer here in Michigan. We're still a best kept secret. Oh, yeah. So I think that uh part of the work that I'm doing at Hope is really how do we continue to make our state just a place that everyone can thrive, right?
SPEAKER_02One of my closest friends lives in Denver, and every time he posts a picture of the mountains, he he moved from Michigan to Denver. I sent him a picture of Lake Michigan just to remind him there's no water there.
SPEAKER_01There's no water, real water, right? It's true. And how many of you have people leave too the yeah, it's like I I don't know how good it was until I was gone, right? Like I I miss the lakes, I miss all that.
SPEAKER_02I moved and came back for the uh for the lakes and the people.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, Bob, thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you for the work that you and the whole team, the entire team at Hope Network do. Um, we're really grateful for you guys and the continued work that you do to make our communities better. Um, if you're listening today and you you want to learn more, we're gonna have Hope Network's information on our show notes. Check them out. Maybe get involved, uh, get active in your community. They're doing some really good work. Um, I know Bob and his team would love to talk to you too uh more about how to get get plugged in. So thanks again, Bob. We'll talk to you next time. Hey, thanks for the opportunity. I appreciate it.