When Kristin Revere, MM, CED, NCS, became a mother, she hadn't imagined she'd one day be leading a team of 25 doulas, educators, and specialists through one of the most respected doula agencies in the Midwest.
But her own unexpected birth experience—and the absence of emotional support she longed for during that time—planted the seeds for what would become a revolutionary shift in West Michigan's birth and postpartum care landscape.
"I didn't even know what a doula was when I had my first child," Revere shared. "I had a textbook-perfect pregnancy—until suddenly, it wasn't. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 37 weeks and everything I'd planned for had to change."
A meticulous planner, Revere immersed herself in Lamaze classes, prenatal yoga, and even chiropractic care. Still, she felt emotionally unprepared and unsupported when things didn't go as expected. Her daughter Abbey spent four days in the NICU, thrusting Revere into the realities of new motherhood without the continuity of care and empathy she now provides to her own clients through Gold Coast Doulas.
"After that, I got deeply involved in breastfeeding education and advocacy," she explained. "When I had my second child, Seth, I knew I needed a doula, and that experience was so transformative—it made me realize how important this kind of support really is."
What began as a passion project quickly evolved. Revere started teaching childbirth classes and eventually trained as a doula herself—traveling out of state for workshops while still breastfeeding her son and running her own political and nonprofit consulting business. But the work pulled at her heartstrings in a way nothing else had.
"I thought I'd just take on a couple clients a year. But the demand grew—and so did my vision," she recalled.
In 2015, Revere co-founded Gold Coast Doulas alongside Karlye McNeely, RN, BSN, and later, once McNeely moved on, welcomed Alyssa Veneklase as co-owner. They pioneered West Michigan's first team-based doula care model—designed to make the work more sustainable and reduce burnout across the profession. Since then, the agency has grown to include day and overnight postpartum support, sleep consulting, lactation education, and virtual services, offering holistic care from pregnancy through baby's first year.
Now the sole owner of the agency, Revere has guided Gold Coast Doulas with the same blend of warmth, empathy, and business savvy that defines her approach to birth work and leadership.
"I've always been a corporate-leaning doula in a field that's very heart-centered," Revere said. "So, I brought structure, strategy, and sustainability to a space that's often undervalued, especially in the business community."
That mindset led Gold Coast Doulas to become the first B Corp-certified business in the birth and baby space globally. It's a distinction Revere doesn't take lightly.
"B Corp certification is grueling," she explained. "We had the volunteerism and community engagement down, but the sustainability metrics were tough. We had to make everything energy-efficient and eco-conscious, even tracking our emissions and giving sustainably."
Revere has also led conversations on national stages about insurance coverage for doula care and family support benefits for employees. In 2019, efforts from her and Veneklase helped a long-standing local business become one of the first employers in the region to include doula services in their employee health plans.
"It's portrayed as a luxury, but postpartum care shouldn't be reserved for the elite," Revere stressed. "We work hard to educate families about using FSA and HSA dollars or including doula support in baby registries. There are ways to make this accessible."
Today, Revere is focused on running the business side of Gold Coast Doulas, leading a team of independent doulas and educators with compassion and intention. She supports her contractors as they grow their own practices—many of whom have gone on to become nurses, midwives, or hospital-based lactation consultants.
"I'm not interested in being a gatekeeper," she said. "I want to lift others up and create career pathways in this field—not just side hustles."
That leadership style—and tireless advocacy—earned Revere the 2021 Top Women-Owned Business honor at the Grand Rapids Chamber EPIC Awards, among other honors and distinctions. She also recently completed the prestigious Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship, traveling to New York to connect with other women entrepreneurs.
"The work we do is sacred," she said. "But doulas burn out fast—often within three years. I'm always looking for ways to keep it sustainable for my team and impactful for the families we serve."
Now approaching Gold Coast's 10-year anniversary, Revere is focused on expanding postpartum services across the West Michigan Lakeshore, continuing to change perceptions about who doulas are and who they're for.
"People still assume doulas are only for home births or unmedicated deliveries," she said. "We support families in hospitals, families planning cesareans, families using formula ... There is no one right way to become a parent. Our job is to walk beside them, however that journey unfolds."
Her commitment is also reflected in her book, Supported: Your Guide to Birth & Baby, co-authored with Alyssa Veneklase. The book, also available on Audible, is an inclusive, evidence-based resource designed to empower parents without fear or judgment.
"It's the book we wish existed when we were starting out," Revere said. "It's about choosing your own path, knowing your options, and feeling supported along the way."
Outside of her professional world, Revere's life is rooted in family. She and husband Patrick are busy raising Abbey and Seth, and share a deep connection with Revere's stepdaughter, Maddy, who recently graduated from WMU. Though her days are often filled with work and logistics, Revere makes time to show up for her family, whether it's cheering from the sidelines or driving across town to lessons and events.
"I like to say that right now, my spare time is mostly spent carpooling," she laughed. "But I wouldn't trade it. These years go fast."
Revere still carves out space for her own dreams, too. A lifelong lover of flight—she once aspired to be an astronaut and even attended Space Camp—she checked a major goal off her bucket list last year when she took her first hot air balloon ride for her 50th birthday.
"It was everything I imagined," she recalled. "Peaceful, surreal. Like floating in a room in the sky."
Revere has built a life and business that lift others during their most vulnerable moments—offering stability, compassion, and strength when it matters most. With a decade behind her and big visions ahead, her work is just getting started.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
This article originally appeared in the Oct/Nov '25 issue of West Michigan Woman.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Braman Photography.
