“Business exists for the betterment of the community.” For the Verplank family, this instilled belief has been passed down from generation to generation. 

As a founder of the West Michigan-based company Shape Corp., Gary and Vicki Verplank saw Grand Valley as an opportunity to invest in the education of their future employees and make an impact on the community. Today, their children, Shape Corp. executive chairs Tony and Kyle Verplank, are continuing this mission. 

“Both Mom and Dad believed that a strong local university was key to a vibrant West Michigan,” Kyle said. “They were strong believers in Grand Valley from the beginning and their passion for its success was heartfelt and genuine.” 

Shape Corp. was founded in 1974. As the company grew, the need for talent accelerated and the company’s platform for giving back expanded. 

“The relationship with Grand Valley started in the 1980s and has been evolving ever since. Many of the key people who have made Shape a success are proud alumni of Grand Valley,” said Kyle. 

Thanks to Tony, Kyle and the Shape Corp. family, the relationship with Grand Valley continues to grow, and the tradition of giving back is shared with a new generation. 

“The values my parents instilled in us are the greatest assets they could have passed on. The success of the company has allowed us to exercise those values to invest in others and the community around us,” Tony said. “Passing these values on to our own children is one of the greatest opportunities in front of us.” 

With Shape Corp.’s recent gift, a significant endowment was established for the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing to promote innovation and meet the greatest needs for engineering students. In celebration of this gift and their longstanding commitment to engineering students, Grand Valley named its Innovation Design Center in Shape Corp.’s honor. 

“Learning to apply creative thinking to real-world challenges is one of the best ways to prepare future generations for success,” said Tony. “The Shape Corp. Innovation Design Center is uniquely qualified to offer students that experience. We’re proud we can be a part of that effort.” 

Back to Your Impact

Back to Giving Home