Over the years, Suffolk Cape Cod has been home to many students who owned their own businesses. Our practical, hands-on courses in public relations, advertising and marketing communication fit the needs of developing entrepreneurs. Three of these alumns tell their stories.

Jitka Borowick, Cleangreen, 3180 Main Street, Barnstable MA

I came from the Czech Republic in 2003. I wanted to experience living in a different country and learn English. I started ESL (English as a Second Language) at Cape Cod Community College, and a year later became a full-time student. While I was there,
I heard about Suffolk Cape Cod. It seemed unreal to have the opportunity to earn a degree from a great university without leaving Cape Cod. Evening and weekend classes seemed perfect.
I started to work towards that goal.

In 2003 I started Cleangreen, a natural cleaning company. I always wanted to run my own business and at the same time have a positive impact on the environment. Cleangreen seemed the perfect fit - cleaning people's homes and offices using natural products and methods. I started by myself, later added another person, and now I employ nine people during the summer.

In 2008 I graduated from CCCC and transferred to Suffolk Cape Cod. I took so many classes that helped me run my business better - public relations, journalism, feature writing, event planning, advertising and many more. I learned how to put together a marketing plan, how to work better in a team, how to listen. My dream will come true when I graduate with a Bachelor's degree from Suffolk University in September 2011.

David Troutman, Scargo Cafe, 799 Main Street, Dennis MA

Prior to opening Scargo Café, I worked in all aspects of foodservice. After a particularly difficult exchange with an employer, I convinced my brother we should open our own place.

We opened our doors in 1987. It originally seated 65 patrons, and is now double that size. We currently gross $2.5m annually and employ 55-65 people, depending on season. We now own the three buildings next door, which allows for staff housing and additional parking, as well as rental income.

In the early days, I worked 80+ hours a week, doing everything from cooking to lawn care. With each passing year, my hours declined and my job became more narrowly defined. For the past several years there has been a layer of management that allows me to be a mentor, policy consultant, coach, and advisor. I do a lot of numbers crunching, government paperwork, as well as community outreach.

I started at Suffolk Cape Cod in 2003, and got my degree in 2006. Aside from achieving what had been a lifetime goal, the program helped me to improve my writing skills, implement a strategy of quality networking, as well as develop skills for working effectively as part of a larger group. I also gained insight into dealing with the media, all of which have been of enormous use as a business owner.

Irina Macphee, Pastiche, 1595 Route 6A, West Barnstable MA

We are an interior design firm located in West Barnstable and Dennisport on Cape Cod. We service primarily Cape Cod, the Islands, Boston, and Southern New England.

I started Pastiche over 20 years ago out of my kitchen, for $200. When my husband left me with four children - - two in diapers, a four-year-old and a six- year-old, I found myself at a crossroads.
I could either go to work for someone else and pay for childcare, or try to make a go of working from home using the skills I had. On faith, I moved forward. What I didn't know, I sought to learn.

I view my business as a living, breathing entity that is ever changing and evolving. My business has gone from heavy retail with some interior design, to the opposite. Our clientele is now 85% residential and 15% commercial interior design. We have a showroom offering furniture and accents for the home, and I now offer my own line of case goods (wood furniture) and upholstery that are constructed in the USA.

Since I do all the marketing, advertising and PR for the company, it made sense to seek an education at Suffolk Cape Cod. This program offers a flexible schedule for the working professional and excellent courses that are up-to-date in the industry. The personal attention given to each student and the relationships acquired because of this are both rare and priceless. Dr. Secci has given me excellent guidance as to what courses would best fit my schedule and business goals.

I was able to use the skills and knowledge acquired at Suffolk Cape Cod immediately. For example, I am presently doing a new website, and have changed the look of my advertising. Skills learned in my event planning class were useful when I co-chaired the non-profit event Fete en Plein Air this summer. The courses taken at Suffolk Cape Cod have helped me stay current in my business and industry on all fronts in marketing and communication.