Meet Our Alumni

April Anderson knows a thing or two about running a successful business. She did earn an MBA, after all, from the University of Michigan, but it’s her baking (finessed by a pastry degree from Macomb) that brings in the customers at Good Cakes and Bakes in Detroit.

“I get a real peace when I’m in the kitchen,” says Anderson, who started baking under her mother’s watchful eye at 9. “Being in the kitchen calms all my nerves and fears.  It’s like I was made for this.”

Anderson and her wife, Michelle, use only organic, locally sourced ingredients and even offer vegan options.  The bakery menu changes daily, but carrot cake cupcakes and gooey butter cake are usually in the mix. Oprah Winfrey enjoyed the latter when she visited FoodLab Detroit, an organization dedicated to sustainable food that Anderson is actively involved in.  But it’s when she’s kneading together yeast, flour, cinnamon and sugar that the pastry chef is truly in her glory.

“My favorite thing to bake,” acknowledges Anderson, “are cinnamon rolls.”

Good Cakes and Bakes has earned many accolades and fans since opening in 2013.  Just this year: The Detroit Free Press called it the “hottest bakery in Detroit,” its owners were invited to be the official pastry chefs at the James Beard Media Awards in New York, and more than 80 percent of its Yelp reviewers give it five stars.  Anderson’s most treasured testament, however, came courtesy of the late Aretha Franklin. Fond of the bakery’s red velvet and pineapple upside down cakes, the singer and Detroit resident instructed her team to order 40 for the annual community holiday dinners she hosted.  Following Franklin’s death in August, Anderson posted a tribute to the Detroit icon on the bakery’s Facebook page noting, “It was an honor to know she knew about our small bakery, and loved it.”

Working in finance until her son graduated high school, Anderson decided in 2010 to make a bold move, buoyed by the encouragement of her wife and parents. “I knew that if I didn’t take the leap then, I was never going to do it,” says Anderson.  “It was the perfect time in Detroit to start a business – there were so many new programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs.” A Detroit native whose longtime dream was to open a bakery in her hometown, Anderson now began researching culinary programs.

“Macomb was the school offering pastry arts as a degree, and that was very important to me. I loved that all the chefs were either still working in the industry or had worked in the industry for several years,” says Anderson. “I am so happy I chose Macomb. Without…Macomb, we wouldn’t be able to create some of the unique recipes we have. And, without the community support, we wouldn’t be growing the way we are.”

Patrick Adams grew up on Tiger’s baseball and is still a fan.  But the professional baseball player he looks up to most never wore the Old English D and played catch with him in the backyard of his family’s Warren home.

“As far as idols go, I would have to say it’s my dad,” says Adams, a Macomb alumnus and leftfielder with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, part of the United Shores Professional Baseball League (USPBL). “My dad was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and played in the Giants’ organization as well. I have constantly picked his brain about the game since I was little.”

A De La Salle High School graduate who played football there and briefly (2 weeks) for Albion College, Adams enrolled at Macomb after deciding he preferred the baseball diamond to the gridiron.  He joined the Monarchs’ baseball team during his first year, receiving an athletic scholarship to play the second.

“I wanted to go to Macomb because it was close to home and I would get a chance to play baseball,” says Adams. “I also had excellent professors and learned a great deal there. My academic experience at Macomb was great. It set me up for success while being affordable.”

After earning an Associate Degree in General Studies, Adams transferred to Wayne State University, where he majored in journalism and was a .341 hitter with the Wayne State Warriors. It was Wayne State’s head baseball coach who encouraged him to tryout for the Hoppers and Adams began his professional baseball career in the USPBL this year.

“Playing for the Hoppers is like a dream come true,” he acknowledges. “Having the chance to continue playing baseball and it being so close to home is something I do not take for granted. My first season is going well. I have played consistently and learned on the fly how to be a professional, in terms of routine and work ethic.”

The Hoppers play three, sometimes four, games a week and practice most non-game days.

“Monday is technically a league-wide off day,” says Adams, “but everyone is still hitting, throwing and lifting.”

That perseverance is what Adams hopes may lead to being picked up by an affiliated team, priming him for a spot in the majors. Considering that 20 of its players have been drafted by major league teams since the USPBL was founded in 2016, it’s more than a longshot. Still, he plans on returning to Wayne State to finish his degree and is looking at other baseball-related options.

“After I finish playing, I would love get into coaching, especially at the college level,” says Adams. “I know that playing baseball at Macomb is directly correlated to any success I have had in the game. I had the opportunity to play every day and develop more than I ever did before.”

Alexis Asher has a story more than a few college students can relate to and with a happy ending that puts Cinderella’s to shame.

She reluctantly enrolled at Macomb after high school because, she says, “My mom told me I was going to college.” A lack of interest coupled with two jobs resulted in academic probation and the loss of her financial aid.  Dropping out for awhile, Asher returned in 2016 with a newfound sense of purpose and the conviction that she could do better.

“At one point, I had a grade point average less than 2.0. That was unacceptable,” shares Asher. “Now I’m on the dean’s list, and I’ve become that person at parties that always wants to talk about school.”

Asher graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in May and is now pursuing a certificate in Behavioral Sciences.  It’s the start of a career path that she discovered after googling “psychology” on the Internet.  Her plans are to work with those on the Autism disorder spectrum as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCABA) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), which require bachelor and master degrees, respectively.

“I was looking for a career that lets me help as many people as I can by working one-on-one with them.” says Asher, who soon starts a job with a home support network for those with autism. “I will be helping them manage everyday and other tasks.”

Asher is planning to transfer to Wayne State University, which offers a program tied directly to earning a BCABA and BCBA.  She also intends to earn a doctorate. It’s quite a turnaround from her first attempt at college, Asher acknowledges, and she gives credit to some of the mentors she’s had along the way.

“The teachers here are excellent, especially Dr. Wickline (psychology professor), who is amazing,” says Asher.  “I didn’t realize when I started here that everyone is more than willing to help you.  Thankfully, I came to Macomb first because if had taken seven years of classes at a university, I’d be drowning in debt.”

Asher, who continues to work multiple jobs, is on a work study-assignment in Macomb’s Admissions Department.  This summer, it gave her the chance to practice that one-on-one technique that will be so crucial in her future career.

“I got to go through the admissions process with my little sister,” says Asher.  “Like I told her, Macomb is an awesome place. I am glad I came back.”

Before she even graduated from Macomb’s Medical Assistant Program this May, Nancy Mochan was saving lives, although it’s uncertain just how many.

“I was leaving work at 2 p.m. when I pulled behind a brand new Ford F150 to exit the parking lot.  I noticed the man was looking downward, like he was texting, and I gave the horn a little toot to let him know he was holding up traffic,” relates Mochan. “After a few more minutes, I pulled around and noticed he was slumped over the wheel.”

Mochan parked her car on a side street as she called 911.  Waiting for the EMS and police to arrive, which, she says “seemed like an eternity but was only a few minutes,” she tried unsuccessfully to open the door of the truck. Then she tried to rouse the driver by pounding. He briefly stirred before falling limp again.  A police officer was first on the scene and he busted out the window and quickly ascertained the situation. “Stay with me,” the officer yelled to the man while retrieving an orange box from the patrol car. At first, Mochan thought the man might have had a heart attack.  But that orange box contained Narcan, which quickly reversed the effects of an opioid overdose.

“The man became pretty combative when he was revived and had to be strapped down to the gurney and taken to the hospital,” says Mochan. “The police officer said that I saved the man’s life.  But I don’t feel like I did anything special.”

Still, just a block down from the Home Depot where Mochan works is an elementary school, and the possibility how the afternoon might have played out didn’t escape her.

“He could have killed a child or another driver on the road,” says Mochan. “His truck was still in drive, that’s why I was unable to open the door.”

Although she dismisses her recent life-saving effort as a case of being in the right place at the right time, deciding to become a medical assistant was a well-thought-out move for the former medical receptionist.

“After I was laid off after about 15 years, it appeared that “medical receptionist” was a field that was being phased out,” relates Mochan, who received tuition assistance from Michigan Works! to attend Macomb. “I enjoy working with people and helping them, but I never thought I would like working the medical end of helping patients.”

But, at Macomb, Mochan discovered she does like caring for patients, and to a greater degree than she ever thought possible.

“My experience at Macomb was great and I am very happy with the decisions I have made,” says Mochan.  “I have thought a lot lately about becoming a nurse or a patient advocate.  Who knows?”

Breanne Butler, a graduate of Macomb’s culinary program, has had her creations shouted out by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, earned a personal seal of approval from Martha Stewart, and designed pastries for fashion royalty. Not bad for a self-proclaimed “underdog” without the expensive credentials of many around her.

“I’m not culinary royalty,” Butler said. “Don’t forget, there are certain things that are constants. In culinary school, there’s only one way to make a chiffon cake or pasta dough. You could learn for $1,000 or you could learn for $100. I’ve witnessed it throughout my career – I’ve hired people who spent $90,000 on their education, and at the end of the day it’s all about technique, drive, and passion.”

Butler said that growing up between Roseville, Sterling Heights and Detroit, “the thought of going to a university or spending tens of thousands of dollars on education was always daunting.” She dual enrolled at Macomb while still in high school, saving money for her later studies and the opportunities that waited beyond them.

“There is no way I would have been able to move to New York if I had student debt,” she said. “Macomb is a gold mine. Don’t scoff at them or think, ‘oh, but I’m going to miss out on college.’ It might seem like missing out in the moment because you don’t have the dorm, fraternity, sorority, or whatever, but long-game, you’re putting yourself in a better position.”

After putting her degrees in practice at a bakery in Royal Oak, Butler moved to New York City, worked her way up to sous chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant, became Facebook’s in-house pastry chef (making viral creations like a “dessert slider” spread of cheeseburger cupcakes, sugar cookie fries and raspberry jam ketchup), and now runs her own company that’s catered to a diverse group of cultural heavyweights. She’s also finding ways to use her cooking talents to address the issues of sexism she says she’s faced throughout her career.

“The thought of people calling me right away – ‘can you come in?’ ‘can you come in?’ – is mind-blowing; I was so used to it being a struggle to find a job,” she said. “I’m so thankful for Macomb because they teach you the technique, they teach you the building blocks, then they say, ‘be creative with it.’”

Mason Lewis jumped on a fast track to an engineering career while still in high school, and by the time the ambitious 20-year-old exits Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree she will have accumulated more than five years of computer aided design (CAD) experience at American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM).

“I started out as a co-op (cooperative education student) in November 2015, graduated from Macomb in May 2016 and became a salary employee (at AAM) in June 2016,” says Lewis, who is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. “I work in Design Services, 40 hours a week.”

Just five years ago, Lewis was a sophomore at Warren’s Cousino High School when she found out about the Early College of Macomb.  The collaborative effort between the College and the Macomb Intermediate School District provides eligible students with a free, fast track to an associate degree.  Acknowledging that she often felt bored in her high school classes, it was a pace much to Lewis’ liking.

“With so many different classes there are also different teaching styles, which helps more people succeed,” observes Lewis. “I loved the hands-on classes and being able to choose my electives.”

Lewis excelled in her product design and development classes at Macomb and became the youngest student to ever receive a scholarship from the American Society of Body Engineers Foundation, upon nomination of one of her professors, James Carlson.

“He’s an amazing teacher,” says Lewis. “I’m so glad he saw my potential and did all he could as a teacher to help it flourish. He was the one who sent me to Career Services for co-op (placement).  Macomb has many amazing teachers but Jim helped me get to where I am today.”

At AAM, Lewis updates and creates CAD models and drawings, and coordinates the transfer of data between the company and two of its major customers. AAM provides tuition assistance to its employees that, combined with her regular paycheck and a transfer scholarship from Wayne, means Lewis will graduate debt free.  After she earns a bachelor’s degree, she intends to begin a master’s degree program in either business administration or engineering management.

“I would love to become an engineering manager or lead an engineering department,” says Lewis, who notes all of her credits from Macomb transferred to Wayne.  “I go to school part time so it will take me a little longer to graduate, but it will be worth it.”