As a child in Ethiopia, Tashitaa Tufaa walked five miles to school and back each day. Today, he runs Metropolitan Transportation Network (MTN), a multimillion-dollar company that carries more than 15,000 Minnesota children to school, on field trips, and to other destinations every day. MTN began modestly with a single van, but Tufaa’s superb negotiating skills (he had dreamed of being a diplomat) helped the business grow exponentially.
Tufaa is one of 14 siblings who grew up working on a farm. After college, he taught at a school before coming to the United States as a refugee in 1992. He worked as a dishwasher, security guard, factory worker, and shuttle driver, often holding down several jobs at a time, before striking out on his own with MTN.
“When a person is free, you can do anything,” he told the Voice of America. “So appreciate what you have, work so very hard, and get rid of the wrong pride we have back home that if you have a college degree you have to be in a professional line [of work] and you can't dig the potatoes or do the dishes. Work is work and go out there and do what is available. Be proud of it.” Employing hundreds of Minnesotans, MTN is committed to developing and rewarding the talents of its employees — some of whom have gone on to start their own successful businesses. As an inspiration and as a mentor, Tufaa has helped make the American Dream possible for others.
Among his many honors, Tufaa received the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Outstanding Refugee Award and in 2012 was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Metropolitan Economic Development Association in Minneapolis.
