BEAUMONT, Texas — A Black-owned business in Beaumont is addressing a national health care shortage.
Tanna Lafleur owns Elite Evolution Skills and Training Center on Highland Avenue in Beaumont. This center offers flexible schedules for those aspiring to become medical professionals.
Lafleur's goal is to help people get through the door so they can train to become pharmacy technicians or medical assistants.
She has spent her entire professional career in the medical field since she was 18 years old. Now, 30 years later, LaFleur is realizing her dream as a business owner and giving her aspiring students the same affordable opportunities she had.
“It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” LaFleur said.
Three years ago, LaFleur had a vision.
“My dream was always to be a nurse. My dream was always to own my own school,” she said.
She knows firsthand what it's like to create something from nothing.
“When I was 18, as a nursing assistant, I took various certification classes because I wasn't ready for college. Not everyone can be college material,” LaFleur said.
Her training center offers potential students the same opportunities she has.
“I wanted to reach out to the community again and offer them the same path I chose,” LaFleur told 12News.
That's why she started Elite Evolution in March 2021.
The training center offers two- to eight-week courses online and in-person for those looking to become nursing assistants or pharmacy technicians.
The center also offers affordable IV certification, CPR training, and continuing education courses.
“For nursing assistants, you don't need a high school diploma. You don't need a GED. We try to give discounts whenever possible,” she said. “They want to find a place to start, and this is a start.”
LaFleur was born into a family where both his father and grandfather were black business owners. She says the memory of her late mother keeps her going and lives on through her graduation bell at the training center, which was inspired by her mother's cancer journey.
“At some point, she rang the gun bell, so not only is that bell in memory of my mom, but it's also a graduation bell,” LaFleur said.
Lafleur told 12News he has dedicated his life to the community and is honored to proudly represent one of the many Black-owned businesses in Southeast Texas.
“For me, being part of the Black-Owned Business Coalition means a lot. I'm participating in something that helps the community. I'm really happy. I'm very happy,” she said.
Accreditation is done through various organizations, LaFleur said, but Elite Evolutions is not affiliated with any other schools and is not yet accredited.
If you are considering starting your career in the medical profession or would like to take additional classes, you can get more information about schedules and programs on the Elite Evolution website.
