Elevating His Career to New Heights

As the first member of his extended family to go to college, Larry Tinnin wasn't sure what to expect or even how to get started. But ever since he was a kid riding in his mom's Monte Carlo and peering at the buildings in Wilmington, he wanted to become an architect. He was fascinated by the idea of how a flat drawing could come to life in 3-D. So he borrowed $15 from a neighbor for the application fee and enrolled in the architectural engineering technology program at Delaware Tech.

Tinnin made the most of his time at the College, starting his own design-build-construction company completing small projects such as basement, kitchen, and bathroom renovations. This gave him experience in the field, while also allowing him to pay for college. In 2008, he graduated and earned honors as "Engineering Student of the Year." Tinnin continued his education at Drexel University, while preparing to become a licensed architect – an arduous process that requires thousands of hours of apprenticeship. It also includes a series of exams that average more than three years to master. Tinnin was determined to beat that mark and committed to studying seven days a week, completing the tests in six months.

"I don't come from a college background, so Delaware Tech definitely led the way in creating good studying habits," said Tinnin.

Tinnin said his instructors at Delaware Tech made all the difference in meeting his future goals. He remembers many pep talks from caring instructors, who reassured him that nothing could stand in his way but himself.

Today, Tinnin has grown his start-up company, Elevations Group LLC, into a thriving business employing many people, and he has no plans to stop. His latest project is an indoor tennis facility at Delcastle Park in Wilmington. He also prides himself on helping the next generation of architects by mentoring students from Delcastle Technical High School and Delaware Tech.

"Delaware Tech was the start to all I have achieved today," said Tinnin.