This story originally appeared in Encore Magazine Nov. 1. It is republished here as part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. The SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. To learn more, visit swmichjournalism.com.
When Katie Boertman, 50, left her career as a marketing strategist with Stryker in January 2025, she didn’t know what would be next on the horizon.
She was making good money and doing good work, but she wasn’t having the community impact she wanted. Two months later, Boertman’s husband asked her, “What would make you happy?”…