THE PEOPLE WHO FORM BETTER LIVES

Meet Kimberly Lumsden: From Michigan to St. Croix and Back to Vantage Plastics

What would you do if you could live almost anywhere in the world? For Kimberly (Stebbins) Lumsden and her husband, Vince, that question led to a three-day visit to St. Croix—and a new chapter of their lives that lasted 13 years.

Today, Kimberly is part of our Human Resources team at the Wilder Road facility in Bay City, Michigan, where she has worked for about two and a half years. She and Vince now live in Saginaw, where Kimberly was born and raised. But the road that brought her home was anything but ordinary.

Kimberly graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in communication and psychology. Her career in human resources began at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Grosse Pointe, where she was hired as an HR Assistant. She credits the mentors she met there with helping her learn employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, orientation, and other aspects of the profession.

What Kimberly enjoys most about HR is the opportunity to make a tangible difference. She values helping build a strong, engaged team, supporting employees as they grow, and shaping a workplace culture where everyone feels valued. That appreciation for people has remained a common thread throughout her career.

A Three-Day Visit That Became 13 Years

After getting married, Kimberly and Vince were living in the Detroit area during the 2008–2009 housing crisis. Finding housing was difficult, and Vince asked a question that opened the door to something unexpected: “If there was any place in the world you’d want to live, where would it be?”

They considered the U.S. Virgin Islands and traveled to St. Croix for a three-day visit. They liked what they found. In May 2010, they made the move. Kimberly worked in human resources for an oil, gas, and construction company, while Vince put his experience in the building trades to work in construction project management.

Island Life: Beautiful, Welcoming—and a Little Different

Kimberly remembers the warmth of the community as much as the warm weather. Many residents had come from somewhere else, and that helped people form close relationships quickly. “You almost immediately become a family. People invite each other into their homes for holidays, or just to get together,” she shared.

There were trade-offs, of course. With temperatures generally between 70 and 85 degrees, the weather was hard to complain about. But you could not simply jump in a car to visit family on the mainland, and everyday conveniences such as next-day deliveries and familiar restaurant choices were limited.

Making a Difference in the Community

One experience Kimberly especially values was being involved in the construction of two senior housing buildings near the local hospital, each providing 40 living units. “It was an honor helping the local community and employing people from the community to build two beautiful senior housing buildings above the local hospital,” she said.

That opportunity to help others is a meaningful part of her story, and it is easy to see the connection to the work she does today in human resources.

Horses, Johnny Cakes, and Unexpected Adventures

Kimberly also found time for a few adventures. She took a six-month break from HR to work as a horseback tour guide, giving her more time around horses—and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beach and water.

And here is a distinction you might not expect: Kimberly is a two-time women’s champion of a local Johnny Cake eating contest. The five-minute competition, held at Ziggies Gas Station, was part of a community fundraising event. Kimberly describes Johnny Cakes as a type of fry bread with a hollow center. It is certainly a memorable addition to her résumé!

Back Home in Michigan

After their years in St. Croix, Kimberly and Vince spent time in Georgia before returning to Michigan. Along the way, Kimberly developed a particular enthusiasm for collecting cowboy boots. She and Vince also enjoy cars and car shows. Kimberly likes reading, crime stories, thrillers, and action movies, and she spends many weekends at the range through the Field and Stream Club of Saginaw.

Most of all, she enjoys time with Vince and family. As Kimberly puts it, “We are kind of homebodies for the most part. Just easy going and chill.”

The People Behind Our Mission

One of the privileges of working together is learning about the experiences that have shaped the people around us. Kimberly’s story includes a willingness to try something new, a strong sense of community, and an appreciation for the relationships that make a place feel like home.

We are grateful to have Kimberly as part of the Vantage Plastics Family of Companies. Through her work in Human Resources and the person she is, she helps bring our mission to life: Forming Solutions. Forming Better Lives. Forming Sustainable Futures.