BUSINESS
14
I could talk and I could sell. I was born to be an entrepreneur. After
quitting college in 1982, I returned home and started a company,
Today’s Painting, and have never looked back. I chose to hold on to
my commitment to me.
What minority-owned business on the Treasure Coast do you want
to give a shout-out to?
I want to give a shout out to a good friend and mentor, Vernon
Dixon the owner of Dixon’s Check Cashing.
JULISSA MERCADO
THE SKIN SPOT
What is the most challenging part of doing
business every day?
When I moved to Florida without knowing
anyone to pursue this career, I knew it wouldn’t
be nothing short of challenging. I left everything
I knew in New Jersey to follow a dream that I had
no idea would actually take off. I funded everything with loans and
borrowed money to open up the shop I have today. By a year and a
half, I was able to clear my debt and invest in a piece of equipment
that I only dreamed of ever affording. The tasks I undertook were
challenging in themselves, but mentally I had to truly believe I could
do it. And I did.
How do you achieve a healthy work-life balance?
When opening the shop, I feared not having security so much
that I had no idea how to balance life and work. All I knew was if I
keep working I’ll get closer to where I need to be. I found myself sick,
overworked and burned out. I quickly learned that having boundaries
for myself was the only way I’d be able to have longevity in what
I do. My life hacks include extending myself the grace to take breaks
when I need it and to ask for help when I need it as well. I make sure I
get enough sleep; I take supplements to keep my gut health in check;
I take lunch breaks, and actually use them to eat. Once I learned to
take care of myself first, I was able to take care of people from a space
of wholeness, which ultimately helped the business succeed.
What led you to own your own business?
After completing my undergraduate degree in women’s and
gender studies, I knew I wanted to work predominantly in service to
women, and more specifically women of color. This community has
been historically under serviced and self-care was never an emphasis
in the community I grew up in. Skincare became the vessel in which I
was able to serve that community in the best and healthiest way.
What minority-owned business on the Treasure Coast do you want
to give a shout-out to?
The Braid Dr and Poppin Curls and Beauty Bar.
TCBusiness.com
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JEROME RHYANT
TREE TRIMMERS USA LLC
What is the most challenging part of doing
business every day?
Starting a business is a significant achievement
for many entrepreneurs, but I have found that
maintaining one is the greater challenge. There
are many common challenges every business
faces, whether you are running a large or small operation. These
include hiring the right people, building a brand, developing a customer
base, identifying my weaknesses and hiring the right people to
compensate for what I don’t do well. Great teams build dreams.
How do you achieve a healthy work-life balance?
We often think about work-life balance as a trade-off between time
spent at work and time spent on other non-work activities. The idea
of balance is easy enough to explain, but what does it mean? I find
time to spend with family, friends and hobbies. Plan to combine work
activities with leisure, social or fitness activities. I enjoy singing, playing
music and ministry as hobbies.
What led you to own your own business?
After completing high school, I took a year off, prior to going to college.
I took a summer job working for a body shop, where I had some
prior experience and I enjoyed doing body work. I worked for two
weeks and was told that I had a great attitude and good work ethics,
but the owner didn’t think the paint and body work industry was a
good fit for me. I was fired and was heartbroken for more than two
weeks. I made a promise to myself, that I would never allow anyone
to ever break my heart again over a nine-to-five job. I purchased a
Cutlass car that I painted, remodeled and sold. I was successful in
buying three other cars, one at a time, remodeling and reselling them
for a profit. I began to recruit my former high school coaches, Coach
Green and Coach Farinella. I talked them into hiring me to paint their
cars. Prior to college I discovered I had a few things working for me,
DR. CHAUNCELOR HOWELL
TREASURE COAST BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TCBCC.BIZ
To serve as a business resource, a voice, advocate,
of any entity with a focus on Black and
minority business matters.
What is the most challenging part of doing
business every day?
Recruitment
How do you achieve a healthy work-life balance?
Time management is a must and cannot be understated if a
healthy work-life balance is to be achieved.
What led you to own your own business?
There was a gap that needed to be filled within the region at-large.
What minority-owned business on the Treasure Coast do you want
to give a shout-out to?
As the TCBCC’s founder/president, I do not have a favorite minorityowned
business, as I equally support them all.
TESSA ADAMS
PHATZ CHICK N SHACK
We are the best buffalo wings restaurant in the
nation. Phatz provides the best food, atmosphere
and wing sauce in the nation. Stop by and grab
anything from Chicken N Waffles to one of our
delicious Tender Salads to our amazing Shrimp
Tacos. And you can’t forget about our World-
Famous Finger Lickin Wing Sauce that can be used on everything but
mainly on the wings.
What is the most challenging part of doing business every day?
The most challenging part of doing business for me is finding willing
workers with good work habits. All I really need for you to do is
show up and be willing to learn. One thing I do know is how to teach
you to do the job right.
How do you achieve a healthy work-life balance?
I have learned to trust the process I have put in place and to trust
my leaders to carry out the vision of the company.
What led you to own your own business?
I had my son right out of high school and knew I did not want to
be another statistic. I went to cosmetology school and after completing
that I worked for someone for a couple of years. I learned the
business, opened my own salon and ran it for 28 years. When I met
my husband, we bought a building with a fully equipped restaurant
to open Phatz Chick N Shack and it has been up hill ever since. I love
creating jobs and teaching.
What minority-owned business on the Treasure Coast do you want
to give a shout-out to?
I would like to give a shout to three minority owned businesses …
Kinfolks Chicken and Waffle, Tasty Links and Sunrise City Café. They
are great people, great owners and truly have a passion for what they
do each and every day.
/TCBusiness.com