Valentine Eriksen spent decades building a career in the hospitality industry in Michigan and Miami Beach.
He managed restaurants and nightclubs, including the iconic LGBTQ+ nightclub Twist in South Beach.
But the 68-year-old longed for a change—he wanted to start his own business in the Magic City.
So five decades after first stepping into a higher education classroom, he returned to college.
“I came back to college to refresh my skills, but it’s turned into something much bigger than that,” Eriksen said.
The Michigan native enrolled in Miami Dade College in the fall semester of 2025 as a journalism and business student. His road to MDC has been a long one.
Born in Jackson, Michigan in 1957, Eriksen grew up during the height of the baby boomers generation. He graduated from Lumen Christi High School in 1976 and enrolled at Jackson Community College immediately after.
However, he left JCC before getting his associate’s degree in accounting and economics. He would eventually complete a culinary program at Michigan State University and start working in the hospitality industry.
“I thought I would go back in a couple of years,” Eriksen said. “But that job kind of kept going, and then I got another job, and I just kept progressing in my career.”
In August of 1988, Valentine, who goes by Valentino as an ode to his grandfather’s middle name, opened Otello’s Ristorante in his hometown. The business had an 11 year run.
“He is really very [talented] at cooking…he must have got it from his grandmother,” said Valentine’s sister, Renee Eriksen.
Although he enjoyed his life in Michigan, Eriksen dreamt of living in a large city, so he moved to Miami in 2002.
After relocating to South Florida, Eriksen became the general manager of Twist, a popular South Beach nightclub. He worked there for 20 years.
That career was a stable one until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the hospitality industry—then he started questioning his future.
Eriksen soon developed a plan for a startup that combines digital media, media production and e-commerce. As he worked on the project, he realized the business world had changed dramatically since he first entered it and he decided to go back to school.
“I thought being my age would feel awkward,” Eriksen said. “But everybody’s been very nice and has made me feel welcome.”
The affable Eriksen effortlessly became a fixture at the College.
Last year, after learning that the school’s media relations department based at the Wolfson Campus had an opening for a student work-study position he was intrigued.
“He dropped off his resume about five or six times,” said Stephanie Zapata, the department’s director. “He told me, ‘My grandfather always said the squeaky wheel gets the grease.’”
Shortly after, Eriksen’s persistence paid off. The department hired him this past November.
Today, Eriksen assists with a variety of projects. His responsibilities include helping compile an MDC experts list that will be used by the media, supporting special events such as graduation where he assisted photographers and doing an inventory of equipment that will be moved to the department’s remodeled space.
“He goes above and beyond,” Zapata said. “He really does a full report every time he submits something and it’s pretty incredible.”
She added: “Valentino is who I want to grow up to be. He’s a great example of what students should embody and a great example of what coworkers should embody as well.”
Eriksen plans to continue developing his digital startup through resources available to him at MDC, including the Idea Center, which supports students who want to start their own business.
“My main purpose now is to create a legacy for the future and help others achieve their goals and passions,” Eriksen said.
After he graduates next summer, he hopes to launch his business, the Eriksen Group Incorporated.
This spring semester, Eriksen plans to study abroad in Madrid, Spain, after receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The scholarship, which is awarded by the U.S. Department of State, awards undergraduate students up to $5,000 to study or intern abroad.
During his time there, he hopes to complete an internship with Google and improve his Spanish-speaking skills.
“I think no matter what your age, you should always be open to learning,” Eriksen said.
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