Meet Jeremy Louters, Partner at Plante Moran, Grand Rapids, MI.

Q. How did you get started on your life path?

When I was five, my father took a position as a Calvin professor. My mom also joined the Calvin workforce, so that upbringing was a compelling reason to continue the legacy and go to Calvin. Of course, I wanted to go someplace “far away,” but I was able to have some adventure through interims and international trips to Australia and Costa Rica.

Q. Is there such thing as a childhood wish to be an accountant? (Maybe, but Louters didn’t have it.)

A. “No, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I thought about engineering and so that’s where I started.” A semester later, he was disillusioned. “It sounds strange because accounting is detailed, but for me, engineering was different than detailed. It was so technical and detailed! I didn’t love it. Knowing when to pivot and when to be willing to change and see the writing on the wall is important. That’s when I started exploring business and psychology and trying things. And I stumbled into accounting. I’m glad I saw it and pivoted quickly.”

Business classes brought an introduction to public accounting class, and he found he DID love it, and made accounting his major. Louters laughs as he recalls, “I remember coming back to my housemates and telling them, ‘This is way more fun and cooler than the accountants you see on TV shows!’—and that sold me!”

Q. What was the impact of the Calvin experience on your journey?

“From the beginning—I’d say the public accounting class gave me a direction. Then my cousin’s enthusiasm over an internship led me to attend a Calvin career fair—which got me a summer internship at Plante Moran, and ultimately, my career start. Calvin’s career services is really plugged in.”

Reflecting on campus life, Louters says, “You can get a degree anywhere, but what’s unique about Calvin is more than just the academics. It’s lifelong relationships. Even though we are scattered around the world, my Calvin friends were big influences. They inspired me during college and instilled accountability.”

Q. Did you ever want to shift gears?

A. For Louters, the transition from student to professional was a pretty straight line. But as we know, there is often that inner question of “what if.”

Four years into his professional life, Louters found himself wanting to know. He left Plante Moran, moving into the private accounting space. “We can all relate to the exploratory process and career progression. I followed that, and I came to realize that the grass wasn’t greener. I missed the variety and pace of my previous role and fortunately, was able to return to PM.”

Today, Louters says that becoming a partner with Plante Moran is a truly rewarding achievement. “A lot goes into it. Being made partner shows me how much support I’ve had from my wife, my peers and clients. It validates all the hard work. This role lets me excel and use all my gifts, while being a positive influence as a team leader.”

Do you know a Calvin alumnus doing great things? Drop us a note at business@calvin.edu to nominate yourself or a fellow alum.