John Gruizenga was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from Vicksburg High School before going on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from Western Michigan University.
In 1973, John began his career at Steelcase, where he worked until 1995. During his tenure, he played a key leadership role in supervising the construction of the Context Plant, a facility that gained national recognition when Industry Week-magazine ranked it among the 10 Best Factories in the United States.

Following his time at Steelcase, John went on to own and operate a successful consulting business, applying his engineering expertise and industry experience to support a variety of projects and clients.
Outside of his professional life, John enjoys fishing, bicycling, and woodworking. He is an active member of Rotary and is involved in his faith community through the Community Church in Ada. Since 2020, John has served on the board of the St. Francis Sculpture Garden.