BELLA BOSS

BELLA Boss BELLAbosses7 we admire

By Janene Mascarella

Running a thriving business takes drive, determination, and a whole lot of hustle! We’re spotlighting seven savvy entrepreneurs whose immense success proves how a little belief and a big leap of faith can land you a leading role in your own life. Looking to recalibrate your career path? Let their accomplishments be your compass.

TANISSA Carmon

Houston, TX UNTOURAGE THE LABEL LLC OWNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR UntourageTheLabel.com

MY BUSINESS: Untourage The Label is the denim brand I recently launched to appeal to hip Generation X and millenial women looking for an edgier style of jeans. I not only own the brand, but also serve as its creative director as I design the line myself.

In addition to operating my own businesses, I also serve as chief operating officer of my two sons’ (Branden & Bryce Thompson) multi-million dollar enterprise, Thompson & Thompson LLC. I oversee a team of professionals hired to manage the day-today operations of our offices in Houston and Los Angeles.

IN THE BEGINNING: I began my career as a hairstylist and opened my first business, “Untourage Salon Retreat,” 20 years ago. Many years later, after much thought and consideration, I decided to start “Untourage The Label” after experiencing frustration in not finding denim that suited my particular style. After spending nearly two decades making women feel beautiful through hairstyling, I slowly ventured into fashion and began experimenting with design—which I feel was always my calling! Now I’m creating on a different type of canvas with designs that not only embellishes a woman’s style but reflects her taste.

Photography by Sean Coleman

MOST REWARDING: I love witnessing a client’s reaction after receiving just a simple haircut and I understand the impact it has not only on a women’s self worth, but on the image she presents to the world. I’m very focused on details in everything I do and my reward comes when seeing the results of my labor bring pleasure to others.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: I’ve always believed that if I dream it, I can achieve it, and even though it may seem out of reach at times, I don’t stop and keep going no matter what! 39

JEREMIAH Dalton

Centerport, NY SUFFOLK COUNTY HOUSE BUYERS - CEO SuffolkCountyHouseBuyers.com

MY BUSINESS: We buy, renovate, and resell homes all around Long Island (mostly Suffolk County). We are extremely passionate about revitalizing neighborhoods one house at a time. We also provide cash offers to homeowners in need of a fast and convenient closing on their terms.

IN THE BEGINNING: I was an attorney working for a labor union when I realized I would never have the upward mobility I always desired. I grew up in construction and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit coupled with a desire to invest in real estate so I knew this was the right path for me. Above all, I wanted to show my children you can live life on your own terms and do the things you have always dreamed of versus being stuck in an environment that does nothing for your growth.

MOST REWARDING: Creating opportunities for others while also creating the life for myself that I always wanted. Also watching houses make these massive transformations in a matter of weeks never gets old.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: I never get greedy. I look to give to those who believe in me, whether it is my staff, my contractors, investors, or people I buy from or sell to. In the end I am focused more on building relationships than I am about the bottom dollar.

DOREEN Laskiewicz

Jackson, NJ DOREEN LASKIEWICZ PHOTOGRAPHY LLC OWNER DoreenPhotography.com

MY BUSINESS: My company focuses on people. I also restore old photographs and help families retain memories for future generations. One of the things I use to set myself apart in an oversaturated market is the ability to combine my photography with graphic elements. This is especially popular with the young athletes and dancers who I photograph. I also enjoy nature photography, which I have loved seeing in the recent issues of BELLA Magazine.

IN THE BEGINNING: As a life in the arts (I’m a graduate of Westminster Choir College and a music teacher for three decades), this has been another way to express myself. It evolved naturally from wanting to take better pictures of my kids when they were little. I was hungry to learn how to produce the types of images I would see professionals create, so I took every opportunity to learn, practice, and be critiqued by professionals.

MOST REWARDING: The most rewarding aspect of my business is knowing that what I create will be there for generations to come as a reminder of the people in their lives who love them.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: The secret to my success is my continuous drive to learn the technical aspects of photography and graphic design. It’s the technical mastery of your craft that allows you to reach your artistic potential.

LUIS Casco

Los Angeles, CA LUIS CASCO MAKEUP OWNER LuisCasco.com

MY BUSINESS: I am a well-known beauty expert and make-up artist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. I have been lead makeup artist for award shows and other high-end events, including the Primetime and Daytime Emmys. Leading makeup teams for some of the top Fashion Weeks in the world, including New York, Moscow, and Paris, I have also worked with leading celebrities, photographers, and fashion designers.

IN THE BEGINNING: Born in El Salvador as a diplomat’s son, I emigrated to the United States at the age of 15 after my family had to flee their country due to a civil war. Despite a privileged childhood, I arrived in the US with next to nothing and experienced many hardships. Soon, however, my passion for beauty and fashion lead me down a successful career path, becoming a self-made expert. I returned to my country of birth in 2012, when I accepted an award for my trajectory and was featured in the book, “The 100 Most Successful Salvadorans in the World.”

MOST REWARDING: I am a gifted speaker who loves transmitting the passion for my work. I frequently travel around the world to offer my motivational beauty expertise. I have engaged in a range of speaking tours and have spoken at major beauty trade shows, where thousands of people have listened to me offer makeup tips and discuss fashion trends.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: I’m passionate about my work. I love makeup, beauty, and helping others follow their dreams.

VIVIAN Nacionales

Staten Island, NY NACIONALES NAILS - CEO NacionalesNails.com TheLatinaNailPolishLady.com

MY BUSINESS: Nacionales Nails is a private label nail polish company. I run the day-to-day operations, including maintaining our website, fulfilling orders, meeting regularly with our manufacturer, photographing and editing, managing social media, and everything else that goes along with sustaining a new business.

IN THE BEGINNING: Back in 1999, one of my sisters and I launched the company after noticing there were none specifically targeting the Latina community. For many reasons, including working full-time jobs and raising children, we decided to close down our company after a few years. The timing was just not right. In September 2018, after retiring from my teaching position with the New York City Department of Education, my husband and I decided to give the idea another go. Fortunately, our manufacturer, who had always been super supportive, welcomed us back with open arms and with the same enthusiasm as years before.

MOST REWARDING: The most rewarding aspect is the number of connections made with customers and other business owners excited about our nail polish and our “Polish the World” focus. I have also met such an impressive number of female business owners out there hustling and doing amazing things. I am so proud to be part of a community that is excited for us and what we do and is willing to share and engage so that we all can do better and be better.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: Celebrating the diversity of our country through something as simple as nail polish has really touched Latinas and our non-Latina sisters in ways I never imagined. Whether it’s the beautiful array of colors we offer or the Spanish names of the polishes themselves, it connects us as humans.

GRAHAM Nation

Los Angeles, CA EDITORIAL/CELEBRITY HAIRSTYLIST GrahamNation.com

MY BUSINESS: I’m a hairstylist based in Los Angeles, CA. I specialize in editorial and celebrity hairstyling. Giving someone selflove and confidence through hair gives me so much joy as a human.

IN THE BEGINNING: I’ve always been in a creative field since I could remember; before hair I was a musician touring around the world. Playing the drums in a band, I’ve always loved working with my hands and heart.

MOST REWARDING: I absolutely love making people feel as beautiful as I can! Giving someone self confidence when they look in the mirror is the best part of my job, hands down.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: Consistency, focus, and never giving up!

CHERYL Gentry

New York, NY GLOW GLOBAL EVENTS FOUNDER AND CEO GlowGlobalEvents.com

MY BUSINESS: I’m the founder and CEO of Glow Global Events, an award-winning full-service event management agency based in New York. My team and I manage more than $20 million in event budgets each year, and we strive to not only help companies achieve their business goals but also ensure their events have true, long-lasting impact.

We work with amazing non-profits, including United Way of New York City and the Africa-America Institute, as well as foundations investing in emerging markets like the Omidyar Foundation, innovative corporations like LabCorp, and entertainment powerhouse A+E Network, to name a few. We were thrilled to be ranked No. 145 on the Inc. 5000 2020 list of the nation’s fastestgrowing privately-held companies in America, with a three-year impressive revenue growth of 2585.56% percent.

IN THE BEGINNING: At the beginning of my career, I worked for Marriott Hotels Corporation, and a large part of my job included planning corporate events, parties, and seminars. I went on to work in the music business at Arista Records and the fashion industry for IC Isaacs, the licensee for labels like Hugo Boss and Girbaud. Both music and fashion are really event-driven. I gained even more exposure on what it took to produce great events, and I took note of how those events affected the attendees. I realized then that I was more passionate about event planning than any of my other duties, and I branched out on my own. I founded Glow Global Events in 1998, and fast-forward to present day...we’ve been in business for more than 20 years and we’re still growing.

MOST REWARDING: I believe that there is no better way to influence how people think, act, or feel than through an event. So, of course, I’m proud every time an event runs smoothly and a client is pleased, but what really excites me is impact. Did we do something more than just pull people together in a room or on a virtual platform? I get really excited about connecting people from different countries, raising money for underserved communities, and increasing awareness about important causes.

SECRET TO MY SUCCESS: More than anything, I’d say my fearlessness has driven my success. Outside of work, I’ve skydived at 10,000 feet, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, walked with lions, and gone gorilla trekking in Uganda. I’ve applied that same sense of adventure and risk-taking to my business. For example, though the pandemic presented a lot of unexpected challenges, Glow pivoted to virtual events and we’ve seen the business grow at a time when a lot of companies are struggling. We weren’t afraid to try something new, and it worked in our favor. That has always been my approach.

REINVENTION SKILLS

What is something new you’ve developed or discovered recently?

VANESSA COPPES

CEO + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

What a year of revelation 2020 was! As a business owner, this year has tested me beyond expectations; it even brought me to my knees on several occasions. The interesting part, however, has been that even in the darkest days, I have always saw the light.

The most important lesson for me has been to fully let go + let God. I used to kinda live this way pre-pandemic. Living the way we have been living since March has cemented my belief in truly + fully living in a space of allowance. We may have believed we were, but we are not in control of anything. Life has served up so much uncertainty that learning to dance in this flow has been the gift—and I think I’m an OK dancer! Grateful for it all + looking to 2021 full of hope + resilience.

JANENE MASCARELLA

BEAUTY DIRECTOR

We took this photo at Bagatelle NYC last year, just a few weeks before we heard the word coronavirus for the first time. I had no idea that in the following months, I would come to miss my beautiful friends so dearly. What I have learned during this pandemic is how much I cherish spending time with them.

After we posed for this picture and ate a delicious and posh brunch, in true Bagatelle fashion, the lights went down, we kicked off our heels and danced on the tables, ordered bottles of Dom Perignon and partied like it was 1999 at 2 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. (We had no idea it kind of was!)

Now, it’s more important than ever for me to always make time for my girlfriends, to show up, check in, and make a point to be present in their lives. What I have learned from this global pandemic is that my girlfriends truly mean the world to me!

JENNIFER DECILLIS

PUBLISHER

In true reinvention fashion, 2020 was a year of reviving our appreciation for the things we have, renovating our mindset, and redefining what is truly important to us. I personally began to recognize the overindulgences of my daily life and gained a newfound sense of gratitude for the basics—the things we sometimes lose touch with, like health and family.

I think our time in quarantine forced us to scale back in so many ways—like splurging on spa days or lavish dinners—and ultimately, for me, sparked a desire to change. From making small modifications, like refining the at-home manicure instead of a biweekly trip to the nail salon, to my dedicated pandemic project of self-taught cooking sessions in lieu of delivery apps and expensive restaurants, I began to realize how many luxuries I wanted to live without. The occasional takeout order is inevitable, and dinner with the girls is sometimes a necessary form of self-care, but teaching myself how to cook truly became therapeutic, not to mention economical. (Plus, hello—it’s a skill I probably should have sharpened by now!)

It may seem like a small adjustment, but cooking has become a craft I love experimenting with and one I will use long after the woes of lockdown life have subsided.

GINA LAGUARDIA

JESSICA LICCIARDELLO

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

At the beginning of the quarantine, I started taking more walks in the local nature reserves and reconnected with my love of nature. I enjoyed taking things a bit slower. After a few weeks of walking I was noticing the wildlife more and more, especially the birds.

I began taking my camera with me and photographing the wildlife I encountered.

This turned into a full-fledged hobby, in which I was able to connect with a local group of nature lovers and identify the birds I was photographing. It’s been a reminder that there is more to this world than what we have built, more than our everyday problems. There is an entire world of natural beauty, and life exists right in front of us. Now I have a lovely collection of photos that not only remind me of this time, but have also given me a new appreciation for where I live.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Over the past few months, thanks in large part to the pandemic, I’ve learned the true meaning and power of adaptability. Truly, humans can essentially endure whatever comes our way — we pivot, adjust, accept, and adapt. I’ve always been an easygoing person; I avoid conflict and “go with the flow.” While I’ve tried to be more firm in my approach as I’ve gotten older, I think my spirit of compromise has been an asset to me during these difficult months.

I’ve tried to show appreciation and love in greater quantity to my family and friends, since we weren’t able to get together in person for so long. It’s shown me that I can go long periods without the “luxuries” I’ve spoiled myself with like eyelash extensions, hair dye, and manicures. I’ve been able to adapt my exercise routine to the elements of nature, working out in both cold and hot weather.

In my opinion, part of adapting is understanding the true value of every action, experience, and individual, and doing whatever it takes to hold tight to those things even if the experience itself looks and feels different than before.

The year 2020 will certainly be remembered as a time of pausing, learning, reflecting, and discovering. While we have been able to keep ourselves busy with our styling business in a more remote way, we have also found some needed downtime to discover new hobbies that have brought us so much joy.

We often forget to relish in the simple things like cooking, reading, or playing board games. Quarantine has encouraged us to start enjoying activities like these. One hobby, in particular, was Mahjong. Since we can play this fun and challenging game online, it is a safe way to stay socially connected to friends. We can play by ourselves, with each other, or with others. We grab a glass of our favorite wine and get caught up in Bam, Cracks, and Dots. If you haven’t tried it already, we urge you to take up this new hobby as well. You will become obsessed like we are!

VIVIAN NACIONALES

BELLA TV PRODUCER

Being at home with my husband (who is teaching from home) and for a good while, my two adult daughters as we waited for the city to reopen, I began to reflect on all of our years together as a family, and how important it is not to take each other for granted. I also decided this would be a good time to perfect some recipes (arroz con gandules, sofrito, adobo) and to try some new recipes from the “Wheat Belly Diet Cookbook,” specifically, the chocolate chip cookies.

Also, my husband, Peter, and I recently purchased a new camera and updated other video equipment to move closer to a plan we had to produce our own shows. We are now up and running. I am the Latina half of “A Jewish Mother and a Latina,” Peter is our cameraman, and my friend, a newly retired teacher, Tracy, is the Jewish mother. Looking forward to some fun times!

JONATHAN CALIXTO

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR

I love this question because since the start of the pandemic with “BELLA Make it Work,” a BELLA TV segment I host, I have been asking guests weekly, “What have you learned during this time that you will bring with you into this new normal?” Now, answering that for myself, I can see why they had to take a minute, or got emotional reflecting on the past few months.

The biggest lesson I have learned during this time is the power of giving back. When I was watching how the rates of homelessness in the U.S. were rising due to the pandemic, I immediately turned to my family about an idea to assist our homeless elderly and LGBTQ+ youth community. Without hesitation they jumped to help, and with their support we got out close to 200 bags that provided food and hygienic essentials for homeless people.

This picture is a representation of how inspired I am by them and their willingness to provide for others despite whatever obstacles they were facing because of the times we are living in. With this lesson, it reinforces the idea of leading with kindness and paying it forward. Every small act of kindness can mean a great deal for someone else.

LYNETTE BARBIERI

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

The COVID pandemic has undoubtedly impacted all of us in many ways, both negative and positive. Some of my more pleasant memories, for example, include cutting firewood with a chainsaw, refurbishing some old furniture, trying new recipes, and planting a vegetable garden. Spending six weeks with my granddaughters was—of course—the highlight.

I used the extra time to learn new things by researching, reading, and attending virtual workshops and conferences. I also learned how adaptable I am capable of being. I discovered that I can work pretty much anywhere under any circumstances and teach myself anything that I am interested in if I'm determined.

But the number one thing I have taken from all this uncertainty is what it means to be grateful—grateful for my family, grateful for my health, and grateful for time. Before the pandemic, I spent so much energy running around in fear of missing out that I forgot to pause and enjoy it all.

Being forced to slow down made me realize that it's OK to not be everywhere at once and not be everything for everybody. I understand now how important it is to prioritize self-care in order to properly care for the people I love.

It's been a tough year for all of us, but the one quote that keeps popping into mind is this: “A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong it is until it's in hot water.”

I'm grateful for realizing my strength, as well as the importance of rest. I'm proud of who I am and the relationships I’ve built. I know how lucky I am for the valuable time I’ve been able to spend with my family.

Hard times push us to challenge ourselves, build resilience, and grow. These times pass, but the lessons we take from them define how we choose to live the rest of our lives.