Nannette Wikol is the supportive wife of Murray D Wikol, a successful business leader based in Michigan. She stands beside her husband through his business ventures and their shared mission to help families affected by autism.
The couple lives in Michigan, where they’ve built their family and charitable organizations. Nannette grew up in the Midwest with strong family values that shaped her approach to life, relationships, and the challenges she would later face with her family.
Many people know Murray D Wikol for his work in real estate development through his company ProVisions, LLC. But fewer know about the important role his wife plays in both their business and charitable efforts throughout Michigan and beyond.
What sets Nannette apart is her dedication to turning personal challenges into opportunities to help others. When their daughter was diagnosed with autism in 1992, she didn’t just focus on her family’s needs but looked at how she could help other families facing similar situations.
Together with her husband, she has created lasting resources for families affected by autism. Their journey became a mission to ensure no family would face an autism diagnosis without proper support, resources, and a community to turn to for help.
The Wikol Family Story
Murray and Nannette Wikol have been married for many years, building both a family and a legacy of helping others. Their life together demonstrates how couples can turn personal challenges into meaningful community work.
The couple has two daughters named Alexandra and Anika. Their younger daughter, Anika, was diagnosed with autism in 1992, a time when autism resources and support networks were much more limited than they are today.
When Anika received her diagnosis, the Wikols were given very little guidance. There were few resources available to help them understand autism or how to best support their daughter’s development and needs in the early 1990s.
This lack of support became the driving force behind their decision to create resources for other families. They didn’t want parents to feel alone or lost when facing an autism diagnosis, as they had experienced firsthand the confusion and isolation that can follow.
Their family story is not just about facing challenges but about creating solutions. The Wikols took their personal experience and transformed it into a mission that has helped countless Michigan families over the past three decades.
What began as a personal journey to understand and support their daughter has grown into organizations that serve the broader autism community. Their family story shows how personal challenges can inspire positive change when approached with determination and compassion.
Founding the ACT Network (1995)
In 1995, Murray and Nannette Wikol founded the Autistic Children’s Treatment Network, often called the ACT Network. They created this organization just three years after their daughter’s autism diagnosis.
The ACT Network began with a simple but powerful mission. The Wikols wanted to create a place where families and professionals could turn for help, guidance, and resources related to autism spectrum disorders.
Their vision came from personal experience. After receiving little support following Anika’s diagnosis, they knew firsthand how important it was to have access to information, community, and professional guidance when navigating autism.
Starting a nonprofit organization wasn’t easy, especially in the mid-1990s when autism awareness was much lower than it is today. The Wikols faced challenges in funding, awareness, and building professional networks to support their vision.
Despite these obstacles, they persisted in building the ACT Network from the ground up. They connected with medical professionals, educators, and other parents to create a comprehensive support system for families affected by autism in Michigan.
Their dedication paid off as the organization began to make a real difference in how families experienced an autism diagnosis. Rather than feeling lost and alone, families connected with the ACT Network found guidance, understanding, and practical help during a challenging time.
The Early Intervention Center (2001)
By 2001, the Wikols were ready to expand their impact by opening The Early Intervention Center. This center grew out of the ACT Network and focused specifically on providing direct services to children with autism.
The Early Intervention Center, often called EIC, provides one-on-one applied behavior analysis therapy for children on the autism spectrum. They serve children from as young as 18 months up to 9 years old, focusing on the critical early development years.
Nannette and Murray understood the importance of early intervention from both research and personal experience. They knew that support during these formative years could significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for children with autism.
The center offers both half-day and full-day programs tailored to each child’s specific needs. This personalized approach ensures that each child receives the exact support they need to develop and thrive despite the challenges of autism.
What makes the EIC special is its foundation in evidence-based practices combined with the personal touch that comes from founders who understand autism from a parent’s perspective. This combination creates a unique environment where both children and families feel supported.
Under Nannette’s influence, the center maintains a warm, welcoming atmosphere alongside its professional services. Parents often comment on how the center feels like an extension of family rather than a clinical setting, making the experience more comfortable for everyone involved.
From its opening in 2001 through 2025, the Early Intervention Center has helped hundreds of Michigan families. Its growth reflects both the increasing awareness of autism and the continuing need for specialized early intervention services in the community.
The Partnership Dynamic
Murray and Nannette Wikol demonstrate how couples can work together effectively in both business and charitable endeavors. Their partnership shows strength in how they balance and complement each other’s skills and approaches.
While Murray brings his business acumen from his work at ProVisions, LLC, Nannette contributes emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of families’ needs. Together, they create organizations that are both well-run and deeply compassionate.
Many who know the couple note how Nannette offers valuable insights and fresh perspectives on Murray’s business projects. She helps him think “outside the box” and consider the human impact of business decisions.
Their teamwork extends beyond their professional lives into their philanthropic work. The success of both the ACT Network and the Early Intervention Center reflects how effectively they collaborate on projects close to their hearts.
Nannette is described as Murray’s “biggest supporter” who stands by him through challenges. This support goes both ways, as Murray has championed their shared vision for autism support services from the beginning.
What makes their partnership work is mutual respect and shared values. They both believe in the importance of giving back to their community and using their resources and experiences to help others facing similar challenges.
Community Impact
The Wikols’ work has created a lasting impact on Michigan’s autism community over the past three decades. Their organizations have filled crucial gaps in services for families affected by autism throughout the state.
Nannette and Murray are actively involved in their local community of Troy, Michigan. They regularly participate in community events and volunteer opportunities, showing their commitment extends beyond their established organizations.
The couple supports University of Michigan outreach programs related to autism research and awareness. Their connections to the university help bridge the gap between academic research and practical support for families.
Their fundraising efforts have helped sustain and grow autism services in Michigan. While early reports mentioned raising $70,000, their continued fundraising has supported three decades of service through their organizations.
Beyond the direct services they provide, the Wikols have helped increase autism awareness throughout Michigan. Their advocacy has contributed to greater understanding and acceptance of autism in communities where they work.
Parents who have benefited from the Wikols’ organizations often become advocates themselves. This ripple effect has created a stronger, more connected autism community throughout Michigan that continues to grow and support new families.
Current Work
In 2025, Nannette and Murray Wikol continue their autism advocacy work while adapting to changing needs in the autism community. Their organizations have evolved to incorporate new research and approaches over the years.
The Early Intervention Center remains active in providing essential services to children with autism. Their focus on evidence-based practices ensures children receive the most effective support available based on current understanding of autism spectrum disorders.
While specific 2025 news articles about Nannette are limited, the couple’s ongoing involvement with autism advocacy aligns with broader developments in the field. Michigan’s autism community has several active initiatives in 2025, including the Navigating Autism Today Conference.
Their legacy is most visible in the lives changed through their work. Families who received support through the ACT Network and Early Intervention Center in the 1990s and early 2000s now have adult children whose lives were shaped by that early support.
The Wikols’ most significant contribution has been creating a blueprint for how personal challenges can transform into community resources. Their model of turning a personal journey with autism into widespread support for others continues to inspire similar efforts.
Their work connects to growing recognition of the importance of early intervention and family support in autism treatment. As understanding of autism continues to evolve, the foundation they built provides a stable base for the ongoing development of services.
The Personal Side of Nannette Wikol
Beyond her public work, Nannette Wikol is known for her warm personality and genuine concern for families affected by autism. Those who work with her describe her approach as both practical and deeply compassionate.
Her Midwest upbringing instilled values of hard work, kindness, and helping others. These qualities shine through in how she interacts with families seeking support through the organizations she helped create.
Nannette understands firsthand the emotional journey of parenting a child with autism. This personal experience makes her particularly effective at connecting with parents who are just beginning to navigate life after an autism diagnosis.
She believes in the power of emotional support alongside practical help. Families who have worked with Nannette often mention how her understanding and encouragement were just as valuable as the formal services their children received.
The Wikols find joy in seeing the progress of children who receive early intervention. Celebrating these milestones with families has been a rewarding aspect of their work throughout the years.
Though they maintain privacy about many aspects of their personal life, their commitment to their daughters and to helping other families reveals their family values. Their partnership shows how couples can work together to create meaningful change.
Conclusion
Nannette Wikol’s journey alongside her husband, Murray, demonstrates how personal challenges can inspire powerful community change. Their story shows the impact one couple can have when they dedicate themselves to helping others.
From the diagnosis of their daughter Anika in 1992 to their continuing work in 2025, the Wikols have transformed the landscape of autism support in Michigan. Their organizations provide crucial services that might otherwise be unavailable to many families.
The partnership between Murray and Nannette showcases the strength that comes from combining business acumen with personal compassion. Together, they’ve created sustainable organizations that continue to serve the community for decades.
Their legacy extends beyond the organizations they founded to the countless families who found hope and help through their work. Each child who received early intervention represents a life potentially changed for the better.
For those interested in supporting the Wikols’ work, the Early Intervention Center continues to provide services in 2025. Their model of early intervention and family support remains relevant even as understanding of autism continues to evolve.
The story of Murray D Wikol’s wife is ultimately about turning personal experience into public good. Nannette Wikol’s journey from a mother facing her daughter’s autism diagnosis to a leader in autism advocacy exemplifies how individuals can create meaningful change in their communities.
While much has changed in autism understanding and treatment since 1992, the need for compassionate support and evidence-based services remains. The foundation built by Nannette and Murray Wikol continues to provide exactly that for Michigan families affected by autism.
