Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Jeff Gervais has built a career spanning more than 33 years with MDI, where he currently serves as Operations Manager at the Cohasset facility. Prior to his move north, he held the same role at MDI’s Twin Cities location. Jeff and his wife, Nicole, have been together for over 24 years and are proud parents to a married daughter and grandparents to a lively two-year-old grandson. Relocating to Cohasset fulfilled their longtime dream of living in the area where they plan to retire. Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with family and embracing the great outdoors.

What inspired you to be involved with United Way?  One of our goals in moving to a smaller community was to start giving back. What better way to do that than through United Way, which supports so many meaningful programs and local needs?

What is the most rewarding thing you have taken from this experience? The most rewarding part has been seeing the genuine care and compassion that everyone demonstrates through their involvement.

What is one word you would use to sum up United Way’s work? Equity

What impresses you most about the Itasca Area? Without a doubt, it’s the people—their friendliness, generosity, and strong sense of community.

What is one thing about United Way that you think most people don’t know? Many people don’t realize that each United Way runs independently and that all donations stay local to support the community.

What advice would you give to a potential donor who is considering investing in United Way? If you ever have questions about where your donations go, just ask. United Way is very transparent, and you can feel confident knowing your support makes a direct impact in our community.