12 minute read
Beyond the Classroom: MHCC Alumni Thriving as Entrepreneurs in Food, Design, and Healthcare
Beyond the Classroom: MHCC Alumni Thriving as Entrepreneurs in Food, Design, and Healthcare
Meet graduates from Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) who are now successful business owners. Ranging from launching a line of allergen free Haitian cuisine food products to starting a prominent marketing studio to being the owner of a well-respected chiropractic practice, read on to learn how they got to where they are today and their advice for anyone who is looking to start their own business.
Elsy Dinvil: From Haiti to Entrepreneurship in Healthy Haitian Cuisine
Before Elsy Dinvil was the owner of the thriving business Creole Me Up, she was a student at MHCC with a deep passion for Haitian cuisine. Born and raised in Jérémie, Haiti, Dinvil’s journey led her to the US with a full scholarship in 1991, where she studied food science technology at MHCC.
Adapting to a new country, language, and educational system was not without its challenges. Dinvil recalls her first days at MHCC as she arrived from her tropical homeland.
“My first days at Mt. Hood Community College was frightening because I came from a tropical country. I remember long days of learning English and then when everyone was hot because it was the summer, I was still cold because in Haiti the weather was like 100 some degrees,” Dinvil said, “It was so much work to learn a foreign language and study chemistry… the professors kind of like took us under their wings so that we could move on.”
Despite the cultural and climatic differences, she stuck with it, taking classes in English as a second language, chemistry, geometry, and other subjects. Her education in food science technology gave her the knowledge and skills, which would prove vital in her later career in culinary arts.
Dinvil’s path took a turn when she returned to Haiti after completing her studies at MHCC. For six years, she worked with prominent organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE)-Haiti. Her life took a turn when she began having severe digestive issues, leading to a colon surgery. Her time through illness and healing sparked a passion for learning the profound connection between food and health. This event became a huge reason she started her business, Creole Me Up, which launched in 2017. The core mission of her business is to provide chemical and allergen-free, plant-based products with rich flavors, offering a healthier alternative in the kitchen while staying true to her Haitian roots, culture, and background.
In the early days of her business, Dinvil faced money problems and a lack of housing.
“In 2017, when I started, I didn’t have any money from my struggles with food allergies and health issues. I was struggling a lot, getting kicked out of people’s houses because I couldn’t pay rent, sleeping in my car a few times, cleaning up in libraries around town because I was so broke,” Dinvil said.
A turning point came when she crossed paths with Jaime Soltero, the owner of the food truck and catering business Tamale Boy. He recognized Dinvil’s passion and hard work and offered her support and mentorship. Through his help, Dinvil found herself in his kitchen, learning the ins and outs of the culinary industry and kick-starting her own business.
Dinvil’s journey from Haiti to entrepreneurship shows her unwavering commitment to her dream. Her story has shaped her views on entrepreneurship. Her advice to aspiring business owners is rooted in the wisdom she has gained over the years. “What I would tell people is you don’t have to have everything figured out, things will change and you need to be flexible when the changes happen.”
Visit Creole Me Up’s website to learn more about their products.
Shauna Haider: Designing Her Dream Life
Shauna Haider’s decision to attend MHCC was rooted in her goal to avoid student loan debt. She attended the college not once but three times, pursuing a general transfer degree, taking a marketing class, and eventually earning a graphic design degree, which laid the groundwork for her career.
When Haider, who is now a successful entrepreneur and founder of a prominent brand studio, We Are Branch, decided to go for a design degree, she had a meeting with a four-year school in Portland that went poorly, so she turned to MHCC.
“I called MHCC to see if I could get into their program for graphic design and the head of the department was like ‘We can get you in it’s not a problem’ and she was so nice and welcoming and that’s kind of the energy I felt the whole time I was there,” Haider said.
Her time at MHCC was marked by supportive instructors and fast-paced, clear coursework. Her graphic design instructor, Christina Maier, played a central role in guiding her and connecting her with her first internship, setting her on a path to success.
“It just felt like they actually wanted to help me get the experience I needed as quickly as possible and get me on my way and get me a job,” Haider said.
Haider started blogging in 2001, sharing her design work as her skills grew. Her instructor, Maier, helped her find her way in the world of freelancing, and gave her advice even beyond the formal program. Haider’s early freelance work included a massive project for Virgin Records, which funded her second year of classes. This early success gave her a taste of what she could do in the design world.
“That was a really big deal just to have something I designed like in every record store in Portland,” Haider said.
Along with the support of the MHCC staff, the absence of huge student debt provided her with a solid base to launch her career. She credits the low cost, ease of attending college close to home, and a fast-paced program for enabling her to start her business much sooner than others who may have been burdened with student loan debt.
While Haider’s journey has been marked by many wins, she didn’t escape the trials faced by many entrepreneurs. In the early days, she admits that she didn’t look closely enough at the money, stating she wished she had hired a professional accountant sooner. Client issues and a lack of experience were also part of her learning curve. But, as Haider stresses, entrepreneurship is never easy. She feels that the key is seeing it through, saying, “If it was easy, everybody would do it.”
To people who want to start their own businesses, Haider offers helpful advice. First, she suggests taking classes in business or marketing to learn basic business concepts. Second, she thinks students should stay in close contact with their program teachers, as these mentors often have connections in the industry. Over the years, Haider has reached many goals, from working with Virgin Records to designing Forever 21’s blog and being featured in design books and magazines. Looking to the future, she has really narrowed in on where she wants to direct her efforts.
“I’m definitely 100% focused going forward on brand strategy and brand identity... helping female-founded business really step it up is where I want to focus,” Haider said.
For Haider, success means having freedom. It means living life on her terms and having financial freedom, creative freedom, and the freedom to define her path in life. She believes it’s about having the exact life and business she desires and being genuinely excited about the work being done. “To me, success is getting to define your life on your own terms and not having to answer to anybody.”
Visit We Are Branch’s website to learn more about their branding services.
Dr. Stephanie Tolonen: Changing Lives Through Chiropractic Care
Dr. Stephanie Tolonen is the owner of Active Oregon Chiropractic and an MHCC alumnus. Her journey from being a college student trying to decide where to go in life to becoming a thriving chiropractic physician and business owner is a testament to the value of flexibility and hard work.
Born and raised in Portland, Dr. Tolonen enrolled at MHCC in 2004, where she eventually obtained an Associate of Art degree. Her time at MHCC allowed her to explore many fields of study, from criminal justice and psychology to in who I am today, from fueling my curiosity with people and how they operate to how to better serve them as a provider,” Dr. Tolonen said.
While at MHCC, a vital moment came when she took a career and life planning class. This course helped her realize that a career in health care was the right fit for her. She also began to wonder if entrepreneurship was part of that direction.
“I wanted to have a flexible schedule for when or if I started a family, get to work for myself, and create a space where I felt really comfortable and happy,” Dr. Tolonen said.
After leaving MHCC, Dr. Tolonen continued her studies at Portland State University with a focus on health studies and a pre-physical therapy track, but her plans changed when she remained on the waitlist and didn’t get into physical therapy school.
Around this time, she and her husband were hit by a drunk driver in their car and both of them needed care for their injuries. He chose to see a chiropractor and eventually convinced her to see one too, which led her to see the benefits of chiropractic care, and offered her a new view on her career path.
“It was really eye-opening to me to see that a lot of the appeal I had of the physical therapy realm was also offered by the chiropractic realm,” Dr. Tolonen said.
This moment marked a turning point in her career, and she has not looked back since. But this journey was not without its challenges. Dr. Tolonen recalls having an identity crisis when she graduated from University of Western States with her Doctor of Chiropractic.
The change from being a student to practicing health care brought up a lot fears and stress, particularly about venturing into the business side of her profession. She faced issues of where to start the process like creating intake forms, learning insurance processes, and billing. The big concern was how to get exposure and find patients in the real world.
“There were some days where that fear almost kind of debilitated me,” Dr. Tolonen said. After seeing patients out of her house to keep costs low and shadowing a few local chiropractic clinics, Dr. Tolonen set up shop and started to get the hang of owning her own practice. She shared some words of advice for people who may be on the verge of starting their own businesses.
“First of all, and maybe most importantly, is having a solid system of support. You will need that help in your journey... The other thing is being comfortable asking questions. No one is good at everything and it’s okay to ask for help, you can never know too much,” Dr. Tolonen said.
Since starting her practice in 2013, Dr. Tolonen has earned more certifications to expand her knowledge and the range of services she offers. She won the Best Healthcare Award in Oregon City in 2017. Another big milestone for her has been adding more providers to her team, and getting to buy her practice’s building which was finalized in late 2023.
“I will not have to move again and that is huge moment for me because I feel a lot of anxiety thinking about that ‘what ifs’ like ‘What if my lease goes up? What if I have to move? How am I going to deal with changing my address with the insurances? How is a move going to impact patients?’” Dr. Tolonen said. “I feel very fortunate to not have to worry about that anymore. I have a lot to celebrate and I feel very grateful.”
Dr. Tolonen also said she is thankful that her classes and teachers at MHCC led her down the best career path for her.
“I had a lot of gratitude for the career and life planning class because I don’t think I would’ve been able to sort through that list of possibilities of ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ without it,” Dr. Tolonen said. For people who are looking
Tolonen advised them to keep an open mind on what success may look like for them, and not to give up if things go wrong.
“Success is defined very differently for everyone at different stages of our lives. Your definition of success can change as you grow, and it should. At this point, success is what provides me fulfillment and happiness,” Dr. Tolonen said, “Your mindset of how you look at setbacks and failures might need to change and I had to use these things as learning experiences. Having a learning and solutions mindset for a business owner and anyone new to the entrepreneurial world is really helpful."
Visit Active Oregon Chiropractic's website to learn more about their services.
