COMMITMENT
Harrison Hummel IV & Michele Hummel
Harrison: Chief Operating Officer, Hummel’s Office Plus
Michele: Executive Director, NEXT
A Shared Commitment, a Life Together
Harrison and Michele Hummel are lifelong Mohawk Valley residents who raised their family and built their careers here. Harrison is Chief Operating Officer of Hummel’s Office Plus, a fourth-generation, family-owned office supply company, and Michele leads NEXT, a nonprofit she founded to support nonprofits, municipalities and community development. Giving back has been part of both their lives since childhood. It’s also how they found each other.
They met while serving on the Fund Development Committee for the House of the Good Shepherd. “We’ve always believed that when you invest your time in your community, you get so much more back than you ever expected,” Michele says. “And we’re living proof. After all, we found each other!”
Harrison learned about giving from his father, Chip. “Everyone has the ability to give of themselves in some way. It does not matter what they give, how they give, or how often they give. If everyone could find a cause important to them, and find a way to contribute, we could make a tremendous difference in the lives of a lot of people in the Mohawk Valley. My father, Chip, has always believed that and has instilled that belief in me and my brothers and sisters. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to do my part.”
Michele remembers the excitement surrounding Farm Aid and her first CROP Walk in grade school. “I still remember how good it felt to know that something I was doing, even as a child, could help someone else. That feeling never really left me.” Those early experiences still influence how they give back.
Harrison serves on the boards of Arc Herkimer and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, as well as the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council. His service with Arc Herkimer spans 24 years. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Arc Herkimer Board. For over 20 years, I have had the privilege of working with caring, committed staff, the pleasure of working with dedicated, mission-oriented board members, and the blessing of watching the people this agency supports fulfill their potential in a different way each and every day.”
Michele has served on numerous boards and is a longtime member of the Mohawk Valley Rotary Club. She established NEXT after seeing, while leading the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce, how much nonprofits and municipalities needed resources and expertise to move community projects forward.
Harrison enjoys helping organizations make decisions through board service, while Michele takes a hands-on approach. “When I see a need or something that could be done, I want to figure out how to make it happen and bring the right people together to get it done.” That might mean bringing nonprofits together to share ideas or helping raise money to open a public pool. They support one another’s commitments and hope to pass that example along to the next generation.
At the Arc Herkimer Black Tie Event, they heard about Teddy, a young man who wanted a job, a paycheck and the feeling that he was contributing. Arc Herkimer provided training and support, including help arranging transportation. He now has a job he takes pride in, but what stayed with them was his wish to feel like a working man.
On the drive home, they looked at one another and said, “This is why we do what we do.” Michele explains, “It’s easy to get caught up in the meetings, the budgets, the challenges, and everything that goes into running organizations. But stories like Teddy’s remind us that behind all of that work is a real person whose life has changed. And that makes every bit of it worthwhile.”
For anyone considering volunteering, they suggest exploring organizations until something feels like a good fit, then making sure they can give it the time it deserves. “Organizations need people who are willing to show up, follow through, and contribute.” Their advice is to take an active role and share their time, talents and ideas. “You don’t have to change the world, but you can certainly make a difference in your little corner of it.”
This Thanksgiving, they are especially grateful for family. They welcomed their third grandson, Nicholas, in October, and all three grandsons bring them tremendous joy. Everyone is happy and healthy, and they treasure their time together. “We have so much to be grateful for, but nothing compares to the love of family and the time we get to spend together.”
