Nirvana Upfitters was founded to design and upfit vans in which to travel, work and live, differentiated by our attention to precision engineering and aesthetic design. We want you to have a high-functioning adventure vessel that takes you where you want to go—while pleasing your senses, igniting your imagination, and kindling your passion for life.
Jude Connelly was born in Boulder, Colorado and grew up in a rural part of central Massachusetts in a family that loves outdoor adventure. Jude worked locally and played sports throughout high school and college, graduating from The Bromfield School in Harvard, MA and Fitchburg State University. He completed post-graduate education in specialty woodcraft and design at the famed Yestermorrow School in Waitsfield, Vermont. Among Jude's pursuits today are hiking, camping, swimming, rock climbing, snowboarding, and #VANLIFE adventures. Jude can often be found taking a post-work swim in Bare Hill Pond, backflipping from the train bridge into the Nashua River, or “sending” a local rock climbing route. His rock climbing interests have played a pivotal role in driving his passion for adventure travel—from New England, to the American West to the Greek Islands, Cuba and beyond.
After college, Jude worked for six years as a scientist at a pair of innovative biotech companies in Boston. In 2013, the arc of his life would change forever when his older brother, Dylan, another outdoor enthusiast and close friend, died of a brain tumor. Through this tragedy, Jude realized that life can be short and that it is important to pursue one’s passions with the time you have. So, after six weeks of hiking with a life-long friend in the Swiss Alps, where he did some soul-searching, Jude left the biotech field and enrolled at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Waitsfield, Vermont to pursue his building passion and learn the art and science of speciality woodcraft and design. After graduating from Yestermorrow, Jude started his career in designing and building. He quickly gained a dedicated following, valued for his unique talents of cabinet making, finish carpentry, and his ability to transform the living spaces of his customers.
In 2015, Jude upfit a Mercedes Sprinter Van (2015 2500 4X4 170WB) and headed west. Designing and building the van, adventuring in it, interacting with people all over the country brought together Jude’s highest passions. During these travels, many people asked for a tour of the van—at campgrounds, at parks and wilderness sites or just around town. Jude listened to the life stories of folks he met on the road, and took note of their hopes and dreams. With a desire to help others realize their dreams, Jude founded Nirvana Upfitters.
Since its founding in 2018, Nirvana Upfitters has grown to be a leading outdoor adventure van creator in the United States. Nirvana specializes in fully custom van conversions while helping all vanlifers with their partial build and component installation needs. As more and more people are pursing lives of purpose with a focus on outdoor adventure, Nirvana Upfitters is well positioned to transform dreamers to doers.
seized the role of van builder at Nirvana Upfitters in the spring of 2021 and is now the Shop Lead. With a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Alex is the “quant” one on the team, although his van design and building skills are first rate. A lifelong camper and van enthusiast, Alex can be seen kayak-fishing in the lakes of the Adirondacks with the red glow of sunset in view, and only the dip of his paddle to break the wilderness silence. His favorite National Park is Bryce Canyon.
joined Nirvana’s Cabinetry, Foundations and Finish team in January of 2022 after graduating from the renowned North Bennet Street School where he learned to hone “hand skills in concert with evolving technology, and to preserve and advance craft traditions.” Tom hit the ground running as he applied his training to some of our most challenging design and build projects, demonstrating his skills with great care and style. Growing up in New England, Tom often kindles his passions at his island cabin on Lake Winnipesaukee where he continues to build as he connects with the natural world of the New Hampshire Lakes Region in the foothills of the White Mountains.
wears so many hats at Nirvana Upfitters that it is hard to keep up as she has embraced our entrepreneurial environment since joining the Company in 2019. She developed Nirvana’s initial systems for procurement, bookkeeping, customer relations, and project management; and she is also the Company’s chief seamstress who creates Nirvana’s unique, colorful, and highly sought-after van curtains. Mary is often found adventuring and camping with her husband, kids, grandkids, and friends all over the United States—on beaches and in mountains, forests, and at music festivals. Big Sur is among her favorite places.
Nirvana Upfitters’ founder, CEO and President, is an outdoor adventurer extraordinaire and vanlife visionary. When coupled with his practical science and engineering experience gained over many years, and his formal training in both biotechnology (Fitchburg State College) and woodcraft design and building (Yestermorrow), Jude’s unique leadership abilities have propelled him and Nirvana to a top position in the Northeast’s outdoor adventure travel sector. Jude can be found rock climbing all over the world, playing soccer, hiking, swimming, camping, and yes…kindling his passions in his van.
Pat has been dubbed Nirvana Upfitters’ Chief Passion Kindler by Nirvana’s founder—Pat’s son, Jude. Pat has served Jude and Nirvana as an advisor from the beginning. A scientist, teacher, writer and entrepreneur, Pat is formally retired, but busies himself as a volunteer for nonprofit organizations focused on helping sick kids, supporting land conservation, and teaching creative writing. Pat can be seen traveling with his wife Mary in their van, the Wandering Aengus, adventuring in the wilds or by the sea, or mixing it up in the backyard with their children, grandchildren, or a host of friends.
