Student Awarded Funding to Start Business at Middlesex CC

Gabrielle Rodriguez came to Middlesex Community College to put her dreams into action. In MCC’s Launch Your Business Now certificate program, Rodriguez had the opportunity to pitch for seed funding to the Everyday Entrepreneurs Venture Fund (EEVF) and was awarded $17,000 to launch her business Fleek Beatz Beauty.

“My plan for the present and future is to learn as much as I possibly can, so that I may position myself to one day assist other women of color and provide them opportunity, as the EEVF has graciously done for me,” Rodriguez said.

From Dracut, the 29-year-old is a mother of five boys and wants to show them the importance of pursuing a passion. Rodriguez is proud to support her family and is committed to being a lifelong learner as she grows and develops her business and as a professional. MCC was the start of what she considers an already rewarding experience.

“I chose to attend MCC to obtain the education that I needed to make my dreams a reality, become my own boss, change my family’s lives, generate wealth, and of course to disrupt the beauty industry for women of color,” she said.

Rodriguez credits her education at Middlesex for helping her make her business plan a reality. She is most grateful for the mentorship from her professors Stacie Hargis and Franky Descoteaux, as well as for their support. The knowledge they have given her ­– combined with funding from the EEVF – has shown her what it means to be a successful entrepreneur.

“Every day I wake up and start my to do list of action tasks, and I sit in front of this beautiful computer with everything I need to run my business around me,” she said. “I say to myself ‘wow, they believe in me, they believe in my vision, they believe in my mission. My confidence is sky high and it's all because of these amazing people at MCC.”

For her work, Rodriguez was nominated to be a part of MCC’s new chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), a five-step development program that hones leadership, communication and team building among other skills. As part of NSLS, she has more opportunity to receive scholarships and guidance, network, and develop her business mindset.

Referring to the opportunities and support system she has been given at Middlesex as a “mini village,” Rodriguez believes she has been set up for success.

“The professors, education and resources you receive is unmatched,” she said. “No matter what you want to study, you will leave MCC a smarter and better person ­– period.”

Whether working towards an associate degree, earning credits for an advanced degree or upgrading skills, MCC has students covered with 20 business degree and certificate programs ­– including bookkeeping, payroll, sales, automotive or aviation mechanics, human resources, management, marketing, retail buying, hotel management, convention planning, tourism and launch your own business.

MCC’s Business program helps students go into the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_business.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a Business degree at Middlesex.

Registration is open for both MCC’s WinterSession and Spring Semester. WinterSession runs January 4-22. The Spring semester starts January 26. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register for classes.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!