It isn’t easy starting one new business, let alone three. But that’s just what Dan Tietema, a 1993 graduate of Aquinas College, has done. Outgoing, easy to talk to, and proud of his long history with the Grand Rapids and the College, Tietema shared his story of success, what gives him the courage to take risks, and advice for current students or recent graduates looking to take those first steps into a hectic economy.

A self-described entrepreneur, Tietema studied communication at Aquinas, a program which offers insight and training into the ways in which individuals, organizations, companies and more send and receive messages between themselves. Tietema cites Aquinas’ proximity to his home, as well as his ability to work while completing his education, as positives that made achieving a meaningful higher educational experience possible. “[Aquinas] being a Catholic school was a priority for me,” said Tietema

Once he began his studies, Tietema found Aquinas lived up to its reputation as a college dedicated to academics and service to others. “I grew up in Grand Rapids,” he said. “I had been very familiar with Aquinas. I know they bring a lot to the table. One of the great benefits of attending Aquinas is the ability to build connections, networks, and relationships with people within Grand Rapids.”

Tietema is grateful for the opportunities his education afforded him. “I think those connections and relationships from Aquinas have allowed me to pursue my businesses that I’ve started and other interests, such as running for politics within the city of Grand Rapids.”

Consistent with his Aquinas education, Tietema has dedicated himself to the pursuit of his goals. He has been highly successful. “Since 1993, I started a bottled water company: Cascade Bottled Water. From that, I became the regional vice president at the American Heart Association. From there, I started Omni Medical Waste, which is a company that was designed to manage and haul medical waste from our West Michigan physician offices. After selling that, I started Organicycle, which is an organic waste recycling company, recycling yard waste, food waste, paper waste.”

Tietema’s Organicycle is dedicated to the concept of sustainability, ensuring a healthier planet. He notes that he was a student at Aquinas years before the College had a sustainable business program. “Having been in the waste industry for ten years, and being an entrepreneur, looking for trends and niches and looking for opportunities, I had been following the organic waste recycling industry very closely for the last four or five years,” Tietema said of his inspiration for Organicycle. “Through my connections through community and political leaders throughout the area, I recognized that there’s a growing movement in Grand Rapids to start sustainable businesses.”

“Of course, it helps that Aquinas has been making a big push, so I followed that very closely,” said Tietema. “I feel that this is next - this is where we’re headed in the waste industry, this is where we’re headed when it comes to dealing with trash and what we’re doing with our recyclables.”

“Since starting this company, I’ve dealt with many of the community leaders and many of the colleges throughout our area. Everyone wants to get on board, but there’s no question that Aquinas is leading the way. As an alum, I’m proud to know that they’re the leaders in this push.”

As he looks to the future and the growth of Organicycle, Tietema has advice for AQ’s newest graduating class and for those still at Aquinas thinking about their own careers and life paths: “The main thing is have ideas - think through it, find what the challenges are and go after it. You’ve got an Aquinas degree; that gives you some credibility. Don’t be afraid of the obstacles. Just learn new ways to overcome them, and believe in what you bring to the table.”