Greg Kulander's educational journey began with two transformative study abroad experiences as a Washington State University student—trips to China and Denmark that would ultimately shape his career and worldview. Today, as owner of Huntington Learning Center in Bethany, he channels decades of international experience into helping local students achieve academic success.

Growing up in Bellevue, Washington, Kulander graduated from WSU in 1985 with a business degree, but those early international experiences proved to be "precursors to much longer stays later." He spent 12 years in Denmark and eight years in China between 1985 and 2004, eventually earning a Ph.D. in Chinese studies. His dissertation examined Chinese educational reforms during the country's transition from a planned to market economy—research that deepened his understanding of how different educational systems adapt and evolve.

After returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2005, Kulander settled in the Portland area and raised three children who all graduated from Lincoln High School's International Baccalaureate program. His diverse professional background includes roles as an academic, international businessman during the dot-com era, and non-profit leader providing experiential learning opportunities for youth in Oregon and Washington.

It was during his non-profit work that Kulander made a crucial discovery about student success. "We were addressing the motivation issue that many students face—why do I need to learn this—by showing them connections between school and work," he explains. "But I discovered that if you don't ensure students' skill levels are where they're supposed to be, all the motivation in the world won't help."

This insight led him to Huntington Learning Center, a franchise system with nearly 50 years of experience in personalized education. Greg acquired the Bethany location in 2014, which opened in 2007. He later expanded across centers in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Huntington's mission aligns perfectly with Kulander's educational philosophy: providing exceptional education to every student by focusing on both academic fundamentals and confidence building. 

The center serves an impressively diverse student population, from those learning beginning phonics to advanced students tackling calculus and AP science classes. Many arrive with learning disabilities like dyslexia or attention deficit disorders, while others are English language learners or students who've fallen behind due to health issues or classroom challenges.

What distinguishes Huntington is their personalized approach. "All of our teachers are credentialed and experienced, and every student's program is developed specifically for them and managed on an ongoing basis by our full-time staff," Kulander emphasizes.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced significant adaptations, including new safety protocols and the launch of online services. "It was a great learning experience that resulted in us now being able to offer a robust platform for online learning," he notes. "This is much appreciated by the many busy teenagers we work with."

Community engagement remains central to Huntington's identity. The center participates in Bethany Village events, sponsors school organizations and fundraisers, and partners with local PTOs to offer practice ACT and SAT tests at high schools and libraries.

Looking ahead, Kulander has expanded the Bethany location with additional upstairs space and is pursuing his most ambitious goal: building relationships at the school district level to provide in-school tutoring for at-risk youth. "It's a more complicated process involving government procurement procedures, but it's worthwhile if we're able to help more kids, particularly those who can't otherwise afford our services."

Now remarried to a retired physician turned high school science teacher, Kulander finds himself surrounded by young people—his three multilingual adult children, two grandchildren in Cambridge, England, and four stepchildren. This expanded family reinforces his commitment to youth development.

His advice to parents reflects his global perspective: "Experience is the best teacher! Provide your children with opportunities to learn outside of the school environment and help them understand how what they learn in school connects to the outside world."

Through Huntington Learning Center, Kulander continues building bridges between diverse educational experiences and local community needs, one student at a time.

15220 NW Laidlaw Rd STE 110, Portland, OR 97229 http://huntingtonhelps.com/locations/portland-or

(503) 533-5700