Alumni Spotlight: Mieke Stoub
Published July 10, 2026
Current Job Title
Marketing Manager for Local First of West Michigan
Describe your current position.
I oversee and execute all marketing efforts for Local First of West Michigan and the Good For Michigan initiative.
To what extent does writing relate to your current position? What type of writing/design do you do for work?
I write on a daily basis. Whether it's writing a clear email to stakeholders, updating website content, or designing promotional materials for the organization's programming, writing and document design are both integral to my job.
Please describe your path from graduation at GVSU to your current position.
The July after graduation, I took a part-time job working for a small nonprofit. It didn't pay the greatest, but it used all the skills I had acquired during my education. I also took an unpaid internship with Local First to fill my time and gather more knowledge. Two years later, I outgrew the part-time job just in time for the position at Local First to open. I sent in my application package, interviewed, and was hired.
What parts of the writing major had the strongest impact on you as a professional?
The semester-long projects were really meaningful. They taught time-management and set the bar for the work I'd be doing in the workforce.
What advice would you offer to current/future writing majors at Grand Valley?
Build relationships intentionally and honestly. It's more than swapping business cards at a mixer – it's about following up and finding ways to collaborate in a meaningful way. It's not only about "who you know,” it's about "who knows you."