Paying it forward

Michael Desnoyers knows what it’s like to be a struggling student so he’s using his success to help today’s learners

When Michael Desnoyers began his studies in Electronics at Mohawk College at 22, he had to get two part-time jobs to make his way.

His wife had lost her job and it wasn’t easy to pay the bills. But Desnoyers was determined to graduate. He had worked several years as a letter carrier but dreamed of opening a business.

“When I returned to school, I knew it was my last crack to get an education. And my years at Mohawk were the foundation for the path of my career.”

Now Desnoyers and his wife Carol (also a Mohawk alumnus) support the Michael Desnoyers Alumni of Distinction Scholarship and has contributed to Mohawk’s Gift Catalogue.

Desnoyers retired in 2018 as CEO of Etratech, an electronic controls manufacturing company he co-founded in 1989, five years after graduation. The Burlington company eventually grew to 400 employees worldwide and $77 million in annual revenue. It was acquired in 2017 by a Michigan-based multinational.

As his company grew, Desnoyers maintained close ties to the College, by hiring graduates, taking co-op students, teaching night-school, serving as a keynote speaker at convocations, and leading the way on donating equipment to the College.

Desnoyers says he and his wife are proud to be able to give back to Mohawk, especially because they know what a difference a scholarship can make.

He reflects on two small awards he won in College, saying the recognition and encouragement
meant even more than the money he received.

“Getting those awards told me that I was on the right path.”

Desnoyers was a recipient of an Alumni of Distinction Award from Mohawk College in 2006 and
was also nominated for a Premier’s Award by the College.

“Alumni like Michael are such a critical part of our Mohawk community,” says Wendy Makey, Director of Alumni Relations. “Their success is an inspiration to students and they contribute to the College in their time, their commitment to employing our students, and the giving of their financial support.”