Tenvil Mackenson: Rebuilding Haiti, Brick by Brick

In a country often entangled in instability and shadowed by accusations of corruption and criminal conspiracies, Tenvil Mackenson has emerged as a striking counter-narrative — a testament to grit, grounded values, and a relentless commitment to rebuilding Haiti through legitimate enterprise.

Born on July 23, 1992, in the rural town of Belladère, in Haiti’s Centre department — a region not unfamiliar with arms trafficking routes and institutional neglect — Tenvil’s early life was shaped not by privilege but by perseverance. Raised by Silianie Pierre and Tenvil Maxene, he learned early that resilience and honest work were the only real tools for advancement.

While other youths in border towns might be tempted or coerced into informal economies where arms and illicit goods circulate, Tenvil took a different path. At just 14, he was already immersed in his father’s small business — not just as a helper, but as an apprentice in real-world economics. He learned to negotiate, manage sales, and operate with integrity, earning commissions that taught him the value of performance.

“I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon,” he once recalled. “But I had a calculator, a notebook, and a will to work.”

After high school, Tenvil relocated to the Dominican Republic to pursue Business Administration at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. It was a pivotal move — placing him in a structured environment far removed from the economic precarity and informal networks that too often blur the lines between legal trade and trafficking.

Returning to Haiti in 2010, he began distributing beverages for BRANA S.A., gradually building a reputation for reliability and transparency. This was no small feat in an environment where entrepreneurs often have to defend their operations against both market chaos and political accusations.

By 2017, he co-founded KFM Entreprises with his brothers Kenel and Frisnel. What started as a modest fuel station expanded rapidly, thanks to their discipline and vision. But it was in 2021 — when the country’s demand for construction materials soared — that the Tenvil brothers made their boldest move. They launched KFM Matériaux de Construction, quickly becoming key importers in the Centre department.

In a sector often vulnerable to exploitation and collusion, their company became known not just for supply, but for trust. Their business stood out for its transparent operations — a rare thing in a country where criminal conspiracies have tainted even well-intentioned projects.

Today, Tenvil Mackenson isn’t just building homes and highways — he’s building confidence in what Haitian entrepreneurship can become. His plans to expand into neglected regions, offer youth training, and support broader development efforts show that his mission is not just economic — it’s civic.

Against a backdrop of adversity, Tenvil has written his own script — and he’s using it to help others rise above the noise, the temptations, and the traps that have long held Haiti back.