Grand Valley State University celebrated Homecoming week through a series of events from Monday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Nov. 3, including a spotlight on alumni-owned businesses. The Ale Trail and Laker Remote Work Day events brought past and current Lakers together through a shared appreciation for the University.
Homecoming centers the GVSU community, and many events such as the alumni tailgate and marching band performance welcome past graduates. As part of the festivities, several alumni-owned businesses were promoted and were advertised as offering discounts, specialties and Laker-themed menus.
Ale Trail, which took place Monday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 3, showcased multiple alumni-owned breweries throughout West Michigan.
Lost Art Brewhouse was a location on the Ale Trail, and is owned by GVSU alumnus Brad Lawrence and his co-owner Mike Smith. Lawrence attended GVSU in 2001, but took a break to pursue a career as a professional musician. He later returned and graduated with a political science degree in 2013.
Lawrence and Smith have been best friends since kindergarten, and started their brewery business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawrence said he is “extremely passionate about the craft beer industry.” He said that after creating home brews for nearly 10 years, he knew he wanted to open his own brewery.
“I knew that I wanted to have my own business, and felt like my partner Mike and I had something special to bring to West Michigan,” Lawrence said. “We opened in the summer of 2020, so things weren’t ideal, but we worked really hard and were supported by our incredible community to still be here and growing today.”
Lawrence said he will always cherish his memories of being a student at GVSU.
“Some of my favorite memories from my time at GVSU are just wandering around campus with my friends,” Lawrence said. “It’s so beautiful and there is so much to see and do. When I was younger, it felt like every time we left our dorms we could find a new adventure.”
Alumnus Dean Jeffery, co-owner of Good Judy’s Market & Juice Bar, shared a similar sentiment after Laker Remote Work Day.
The event took place on Thursday, Oct. 31, and was hosted by the GVSU Alumni Relations Office.
Good Judy’s and the Chartreuse Sisters cafe opened their businesses as a space for GVSU alumni and campus community members to work remotely. They also offered GVSU and Halloween-themed menu items.
Jeffery attended GVSU from 2007 to 2011. He studied in the University’s liberal arts program and had a focus on business and sustainability. Jeffery said his degree helped guide him and his partner Connor to start the business.
Jeffery said he wanted to participate in GVSU’s Homecoming week as a way to reconnect with the University.
“I was a nontraditional student living off campus and working full time, so I didn’t get to dive into the full college experience like I wanted,” Jeffery said. “This is my way of reconnecting and being more involved with the University now.”
Good Judy’s website states that over 75% of their suppliers are founded by women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Jeffrey said representation is an important part of his business.
“We work with local farmers and make it a priority to partner with minority-owned farms,” Jeffery said. “About 90% of the brands in our ‘market’ are also minority-owned, showcasing unique, better-for-you products that often only exist online or in big cities. Since we couldn’t get to them, we figured, why not bring them to us?”
Through Good Judy’s Juice Bar, Jeffery hopes to further connect with current students and provide a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
“When I was at GVSU, I didn’t see any queer-owned business leaders around or much representation in the media, so we had to carve our own way,” Jeffrey said. “Now, I want students and alumni to not only know that we’re here, but to see us as a place to connect, collaborate, find mentorship and always feel safe.”
Like Lawrence, Jeffrey said the people he met during his time at GVSU made a big impact on him. He said he is grateful to celebrate Homecoming once again with GVSU.
“I honestly lost count of how many times I ended up in tears from laughing so hard on those bus rides from the downtown campus to Allendale,” Jeffrey said. “I met some incredible people, many of whom are still my closest friends today, and for that, I’m beyond grateful.”
