Hello! I am Andrea Robinson, and I am so excited to be joining the New 2 You Family as the new General Manager, and to be working alongside all of you! I grew up in Grand Rapids, and attended Grand Rapids Christian Schools (Sylvan, and GRCHS ’94), Calvin College (’98), and later the University of Michigan, where I received a Master of Social Work degree focused on the management of social services and community development.

Being raised in a Christian home and attending Christian schools was incredibly formative for me, particularly the opportunities I had to learn and make music with which to glorify God – which I still value and enjoy today. I am married to Luke Robinson, also a GRCS (’92) and Calvin (’96) alumnus, and we have 3 children. Luke works at Calvin University. Dean, our oldest son, is currently a sophomore at Christian High. Grant and Zoe are our twins. They attend GR Christian Middle School and are wrapping up 7th grade.

So, what brings me to New 2 You? If you ask any of the search committee members (or me!) the answer is pretty straightforward – GOD! After I worked a parent volunteer shift at New 2 You this winter, where Karen mentioned that they were looking for a manager for the store, I felt increasingly called to apply for this position, and affirmed of the decision since then.

But as a little background into my journey here, I began my first job at the age of 14 working in an upscale kitchen store in Breton Village, Haymarket Square. I like to say I caught the “retail bug” as a teenager and never really let it go. I went on to work at kitchen and housewares store Williams Sonoma in downtown Chicago and then in Grand Rapids during and after college. And in 2003, my older sister Amy Ruis decided to open a retail store, Art of the Table (she had also caught the “retail bug” as a teen) in the revitalizing Wealthy Street corridor, and asked me to work alongside her to establish and open the store. I have stayed connected there as an employee and/ or regular customer/ cheerleader since then, often assisting with merchandising as a “hobby” when I worked elsewhere.

In the meantime, God also called me to explore the world of human services through both education and work in residential treatment, summer camp, mental health, school and community development as well as nonprofit organizational and program management. In 2022, I felt a need for a bit of a break from the intensity of the social service field, and God’s timing was impeccable – my sister Amy was going through some staffing transitions at her stores and she needed my assistance. What I thought would be a brief “social work sabbatical” turned into two years of meaningful work at Art of the Table, where I sensed God calling me to remain in retail work – but I also felt a call to utilize my gifts in the nonprofit world again, particularly working toward a meaningful mission… which leads me to that winter day, fulfilling our family’s annual New 2 You volunteer shift.

Needless to say, this role at New 2 You is just a beautiful fit for my passions and interests. I am very excited to work alongside and get to know each of you (and very glad you all wear nametags, so I can learn your names!) I recognize I have very big shoes to fill as Karen looks toward retirement, and I hope you’ll help me learn and grow as I take on this position!

You’ll see me slowly get started at the store a few days in later May, and I look forward to joining you officially on June 3!

Andrea Robinson