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Spotlights » Jason Paulateer, '96 & '05
In today's fast-paced world of competing career and family demands, it can be difficult to find the time to fulfill your passions and make a real impact in your community. Jason Paulateer, '98 & '05, a local executive at National City Bank, father of eight children (five of which were adopted), and member of numerous community organizations, seems to have mastered this work-life balance - and still finds time to volunteer along the way.
In an economy where many in his field are happy to even have jobs, Paulateer says he feels blessed to have been able to match up his life's work with his heart. "I've worked in the banking industry in some capacity for over 13 years, but no matter what I kept getting drawn back to working with non-profits." As vice president and executive director of National City's Community Development Association of Michigan, he now works to help non-profit and for-profit businesses obtain funding for urban real estate projects. He is proud to have been able to assist with the revitalization of several Grand Rapids neighborhoods by partnering to turn abandoned, dilapidated buildings into beautiful, thriving organizations. "Most people have to go to work and find personal time to give back, I get to go to work to give back," he says.
And give back he does in all areas of his life. Paulateer is local treasurer and a life-member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., as well as its district marshal (chairman of the committee tasked with hosting its 5-state district conference.) He is a board member for Wedgwood Christian Services and the YMCA - David D. Hunting Branch. His community involvement garnered him the W.W. Plummer GIANT Humanitarian Award in 2007, and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce named him the Financial Services Advocate of the Year during their annual Minority Business Celebration. In addition, National City Corporation has recognized his performance with Corporate Excel Awards, one of the highest honors bestowed upon its employees.
Paulateer holds both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business who honored him with their Up and Coming Alumni of the Year award. He received a bachelor of business administration in management in 1996, and a master of business administration with a finance emphasis in 2005. He says that giving back to the community was always in his nature but credits Grand Valley with helping to pull it out of him.
He especially enjoys returning to his alma mater to share his experiences with current students, partially in response to an encounter he had. Paulateer says that one of his most memorable experiences at Grand Valley was attending a Minority Business Enterprise Center event where a human resources executive from Steelcase was giving interviewing tips to students. At the end of the program, the presenter handed out his business card and told the students to call him if they wanted to set up a mock interview, which Paulateer later did. "I've never forgotten his openness and the impact that made on my career. I hope that I can share some of my experiences and in turn help a student today," says Paulateer. "They say you learn from mistakes, but that doesn't mean you have to make them all yourself."
Jason and his wife Chapri (Bell) Paulateer, '96, have three biological daughters, and initiated the licensing process to become foster parents in late 1996. The couple has since adopted a sibling group consisting of five children from their community. The bustling family resides in Grand Rapids.
Added July 2009
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