BUSINESS INITIATIVE$ ALUMNI DIRECTORY
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BUSINESS INITIATIVE$ ALUMNI DIRECTORY |
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Class of ’99–’00
Hattie Baxter
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
H.B. Stitchery
43 Sargent St., 1st floor
Hartford, CT 06105
525-2233
Awa Fall
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
3705 Burleigh Hill Court
Burtonsville, MD 20866
(301) 476-7907
“RAMA provides children’s clothes, particularly from African fabrics. RAMA will also use a combination of plain and African fabrics, to make different kinds of styles (African, American, European, etc…). RAMA is using unique fabrics that will also make the finished product unique. RAMA also offers tailoring and alteration services to women and men as well.”
Cherisse Jarmen
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
57 Sumner St.
Hartford, CT 06105
525-7549
“Wearable Art will create and design wearable art, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jewelry. The primary customers will be women with a discerning eye and unique taste.”
Orlando Perez Rivera
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
15 Wildflower Rd.
East Hartford, CT 06118
Modernistic Hair Design will be a full-service salon, offering all types of hair care as well as products and services for clients’ other beauty and health needs. The proprietor is a licensed cosmetologist with experience, and tailors each customer’s look to his/her desires. Currently, hair appointments are available—I will come to you.
Donna Shabazz
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
17 Jackson St.
Manchester, CT 06040
643-5469
“Ollie’s Dollies/Up North Java Shoppe
objectives for the first three years of operation include:
1. the
creation of a unique environment that will differentiate Ollie’s Dollies/Up North
Java Shoppe from local coffee houses and gift boutiques
2. monthly
showcase of local artist, crafters and bakers within the community
3. the
creations of an environment that will bring people with diverse interests and backgrounds
together in a common forum
4. fresh
roasted specialty coffee, herbal teas, ethnic desserts and unique gift selections
Class of Spring, ‘00
Marie Alston
203 Westbourne Parkway
Hartford, CT 06112
727-1105
Chez Marie Boutique, will target seniors, and “will offer the customer a unique shopping experience for unusual and distinctive items. To sell merchandise that will make the purchaser feel that she/he is someone special and will leave with the thought of returning the next time there is a need for that special item, be it a gift for someone or for their personal use. I will take the business to the customer.”
Rosia Balfour
756 S. Quaker Lane
West Hartford, CT 06110
and partner
Jaqueline Miller
20 Sapphire St.
Enfield, CT 06082
749-9457
“Are you tired of going to health clubs where you’re just another face in the crowd? Are you uncomfortable working out with men? Do you find dieting and exercising a challenge? Then, Body Sculpt is the place for you. Come join us, where you will not be just another face in the crowd. Our facility is for women only. We provide a quiet environment that offers customized personal training, nutritional consultation and group aerobic classes that are structured to your lifestyle. Let’s work together to sculpt your body to its fullest potential. We are dedicated to giving you individualized attention but we also work to enrich your mind, body and empower your spirit. We are dedicated to women’s health, fitness and self-care. Come; see what we are all about!
Denise Clapsaddle
620 East Main St.
New Britain, CT 06051
224-3935
I plan to offer Personal Coaching to motivated persons interested in expanding their creative responses to all aspects of life. After graduating from “Coach University” I will be highly qualified to help clients, on a highly individualized basis, increase their motivation, sharpen their personal insights, and improve their career and lifestyle planning abilities.
Shana Foster
408 Barbour St., #4
Hartford, CT 06120
525-4824
Gregory R. Guite
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
620 E. Main St.
New Britain, CT 06051
224-3935
If you have experienced these and other problems you might want to try Motion Photography. We deliver the Kodak Moment every time. Our short term goal is to provide photographic services for pet owners, youth, high school, and college sports. Our long term goal is to work freelance for newspapers, magazines, and stock libraries.”
Tuere Stringer
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Manchester, CT 06040
646-2132
“The Fit Kids facility offers an event-packed environment exclusively for children, where they will be able to find information on mental health, fitness, and nutrition. A lot of children’s physical and educational activities have been replaced by today’s technology. Fit Kids aims to meet the needs of people with children who suffer from the demanding economy, causing a stressful work schedule, as well as the need for children eager for fun, learning, and activity.”
Class of Fall, "00
Darryl Atterberry
131 Carey Ave.
Meriden, CT
(203) 238-9254
gatterberry@hotmail.com
I plan to open a franchise cleaning service, dealing specifically in hazardous waste removal. I will focus on commercial spaces, and plan to develop the business to employ 3 to 4 employees. We will offer competitive prices with superior services.
Alisha Gunn
297 Plainfield St.
Hartford, CT
(860) 246-1247
PROPERTEEOFAG@aol.com
Alisha’s goal is to open A Step Up,
a shoe store in downtown Hartford, specializing in fashion shoes for women professionals
who don’t mind spending a lot on quality shoes that look fantastic! Ultimately, she plans to design and manufacture
her own shoes as well.
Jervis Nelson
100 Benton Ave., Apt. 108
Hartford, CT 06114
(h) 548-9767
The Third Eye will be a bookstore with a community emphasis, focusing on cultural diversity and heritage literature. My bookstore will also provide an intimate venue for poetry slams, musical artists, and children’s readings. Come in to The Third Eye and rejuvenate your mind and your spirit.
Francesca Piantedosi
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
810 Farmington Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06119
(860) 523-5686
Guided Challenges, LLC offers networking services to individuals in need of help. Guided Challenges connects people to human services and other organizations at both the local and the national level.
Toni Reyes
112 Roslyn St.
Hartford, CT 06106
(w) 251-5779
(860) 953-1150
Building Blocks of our Future will be a full-service daycare housed in corporate offices in downtown Hartford. Building Blocks will be unique in its approach to caring for employees’ children at the parents’ workplace. We will provide trained certified staff in a quality atmosphere, with a trained nurse on call, nutritious snacks and meals, and pick-up and drop-off for children in certain situations when parents are unable to offer transportation. We will help build your child’s present to ensure a wonderful future!
Barrington Warner
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
44 Lebanon St.
Hartford, CT 06112
(860) 243-5621
Presently, Barry creates his own line of men’s shirts available in several retail outlets in Hartford. He also offers various arts & crafts products. The products emphasize the spiritual aspects of life, the philosophical attitudes of their creator. Barry plans to pull together these offerings and market them through a new website.
Class of Fall, ’01
Elaine Birthwright
71 Ford Rd.
Windsor, CT 06095
683-2635
“360 Degrees is a roller skating rink for our community and especially for our youth. This roller skating rink will help to bring a change to our youth and bring entertainment in our community. 360 Degrees will be a place for youth to go after school. We will also provide roller skating sessions for beginners and have a time for the more advanced skaters. This would be a place for our youth to express themselves and have a fun-filled atmosphere with all types of music and entertainment. This rink would bring our community together no matter what race or religion.”
Harold Hall
7 Woodland St., #110
Hartford, CT 06105
293-1562
“Doggie Daycare: constantly striving to be and provide the best doggone care available at a rather nice price. Doggie Daycare is a start-up business that will primarily serve the towns of West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Burlington, and Simsbury. As the name implies it will be operated in much the same manner as a child daycare center. In that customers will drop their dog or dogs off in the morning and then pick them up in the late afternoon or early evenings. With people’s lives busier than ever our service will allow people more time to attend to their other affairs. Doggie Daycare will also place a strong emphasis on a homey environment rather than the traditional cold kennel environment.”
Gertrude Nelson
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
47 Barry Circle
Bloomfield, CT 06002
242-8571
Garden of Eden Flowers and Gift Shop provides silk, dried, and fresh floral arrangements, gift baskets, and wedding needs. Garden of Eden offers packages for weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, etc., and delivery is included.
Aixa Nunez
129 Cornwall St.
Hartford, CT 06112
727-0867
Marvelous Makeovers will target middle to upper-middle class women who want the convenience of one-stop shopping for their personal care. Marvelous Makeovers is the practical solution for personal enhancement needs and offers the ability to show a new look to customers who have already become aware of our culture’s emphasis on beauty. Each customer then becomes a walking advertisement for the boutique.
Corey Rodgers
92 Green St.
Hartford, CT 06120
614-6956
“Kingston Coffee will serve coffee of all kinds, teas, bagels and muffins, mugs, and CDs of the music played in the store. Our atmosphere will be perfect for relaxing as if you were on vacation in Jamaica. Only at Kingston Coffee will you find the best consumer choice loose and bag tea, and the freshest pastries that our community bakery as to offer. Kingston Coffee’s main goal is to give each and every customer superior service along with the world’s finest coffee available to the public.”
Class of Spring, ‘02
Jane Colello
100 Cold Spring Rd., Apt. 607
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
and partner
Solidea Prims
423 Conestoga St.
Windsor, CT 06095
798-3435
“Club Cappuccino is a coffee bar designed to provide an entertaining environment while serving a variety of coffees, teas, specialty drinks, and desserts. Entertainment will be on nights and weekends. We plan to move into catering for local businesses and other functions once we are established. Club Cappuccino will be a place that will give our customers a fun and casual atmosphere where they can come and socialize and be entertained. Our coffee bar will serve specialty drinks, espresso-based drinks, flavored coffees, teas, pastries, and signature desserts. Club Cappuccino will have entertainment such as poetry readings, comedy night, and local talents.”
Tobi Graham
159 Burnham St.
Hartford, CT 06112
243-5001
“Tobi’s Mini Market will be a self-owned market that provides service for and throughout the community. It will carry products such as deli meats, breads, dairy products, vegetable and household products, etc. I hope to draw my customers in with my kindness and helpfulness, and to have my store seen from miles away with my bright lights and my big store-front sign. Tobi’s Mini Market is also convenience when you don’t have time in your busy schedule to stop at the big supermarket such as Stop & Shop, Shaws and Big Y.”
Kevin Martin
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
1 Village Green Dr.
New Britain, CT 06053
832-9453
Two Fly Entertainment is a multi-faceted
entertainment company bringing new fresh talent to the recording industry. There is currently no major recording company
located in Connecticut, so Too Fly Entertainment
will be poised to take advantage of the local and regional markets. Too Fly
Entertainment will manage local artists, help them to record CDs, and then shop their
CDs to major manufacturers for record deals. We
will also seek out publishing contracts for original songs, as we currently have over 500
original songs in our archives.
Solidea Prims – see above listing for Club Cappucciono
Kimberly Ramos
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
70 Randal Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06110
521-1065
“Kimberly Ann Associates, LLC specializes in medical billing and collections, such as insurance problems and collecting accounts receivables. I follow up on claims and outstanding accounts every week. I will be serving physicians in the Hartford/West Hartford area. I have 11 years experience in the medical field, mainly with ear, nose and throat physicians and a cardiologist. I am willing to take on the challenge of new specialties.”
Corey T. Smith
36 Victory St.
Hartford, CT 06106
953-8978
At Jersey City, our emphasis is to provide quality products at the fairest price. Jersey City offers a variety of authentic throwback jerseys along with sneakers, lettermen jackets, and hats. Our product will fulfill the needs and wants of all basketball, football and baseball fans. Jersey City was developed by sports fans with a niche for fashion. The idea is to bring the past to the present. Our product will offer sports fans from all eras the chance to enjoy the merchandise of their once favorite player or players.”
Class of Fall, ’02
Dionne Abrams
69 Wyllys St.
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 206-2789
“SOL SPA is a peaceful, elegant, Asian styled wellness and retreat and day spa for women. Providing natural and holistic services including hydrotherapy (use of water; hot, cold, steam or ice), reflexology and massage therapy services for the average to the upper middle class professional woman to replenish; restore and rejuvenate her mind, body & soul.”
Effie Barnes Lucas
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
20 Kent St.
Hartford, CT 06112
547-1796
“EBL Money Management will provide training to
renters and homeowners on how to: assess their assets, know when debt gets dangerous,
build new credit, reestablish credit and find comfort zones for controlling spending
styles or habits. The mission of EBL Money Management is to provide individual
households with a money management system designed to their specific needs. We pledge to provide the training, knowledge,
personal one-on-one counseling and assistance that each consumer wants and needs to
protect their money and build their assets.”
Allison Norman
44 Colonial St.
West Hartford, CT 06110
233-5246
Allison plans to open a casual dining café/bistro in the Hartford area.
Kathy Reid
404 West Preston St.
Hartford, CT 06114
956-9474
“Heritage—Art for the Soul will be a virtual gallery that provides a medium to purchase African American and Black art by artist across the globe. Offerings will range from open edition, limited and mini prints and posters to ceramic plates, statues, and figurines. In order to encourage an all inclusive shopping experience, Heritage will offer art that celebrates the lifestyle, culture, heritage, and history of African Americans and people of color that can be purchased from the venue of the World Wide Web.”
Kenya Washington
22 Diana Lane
Windsor, CT 06095
687-1216
Kenya plans to create a small publishing house that will offer personal books on spirituality, self-help, and more. She is herself a published poet and artist, and can be found in the Hartford area reading her work at poetry offerings and spoken word concerts. Her presentation of the original work “Survivors Not Victims” was a cornerstone of our most recent BI$ graduation ceremony.
Claudene Ho-lung
549 Hillside Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106
212-7503
Claudene plans to open her own health/day spa. She would like to have massages, airotherapy and relaxation techniques such as yoga classes, hot tubs and steam rooms.
Tricia Lewin
97 Vine St., #107
Hartford, CT 06112
Tricia’s restaurant will have a Jamaican, island theme. Her focus is on couples, and she plans to provide a meal in an atmosphere “for lovers, with quiet environment, romantic lighting, and excellent food with flair.” One of her signature dishes will be curried goat.
Inonge Nyumbu
140 Russ St., Apt. N203
Hartford, CT 06106
Inonge’s background includes experience with jewelry creation, styling, and merchandising. Her jewelry import business offers an array of unique African jewelry that include exclusive fashions for the stylish woman who knows her own look.
Nicholas Thompson
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
833 Park St.
Hartford, CT
524-8182
“Thompson’s Catering Service will provide Metro Hartford as well as the community with our services…Tired of cooking? Have Thompson’s Catering do the cooking for you. Choose from our Jamaican, Spanish, and American dishes. If you’re in need of a great taste, we’ll be there. So give us a call! If we can’t work with you…who will?”
Mary Vasquez
42 Acton St.
Hartford, CT 06120
251-8338
Mary’s Chickens will provide the freshest quality poultry, killed, cleaned and prepared on the premises, for families who prefer freshness over supermarket packaging. Chickens can also be purchased live, which is a preference for many Hispanic and Jamaican customers.
Carolyn Atkins
30 Walter Place
East Hartford, CT 06108
528-1104
“Simply Irresistible Cuisine: Professional Chef providing families with home cooked meals, created with a personal touch. The benefits of my services are to provide for families, working professionals and elderly who have no time in their busy schedules to prepare meals for themselves or their families. Clients will expect and receive personal attention regarding their meal.”
Toni Cranford
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
93 Woodlawn Circle
East Hartford, CT 06108
289-8357
www.TNTRECORDINGS.NET
“T-N-T Recordings offers an affordable expert service of mixing, recording, and producing music with a focus on management of young, aspiring R & B and Hip-Hop artists. T-N-T Recordings began existence in February 2004. Our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for both private recording sessions and management projects. T-N-T Recordings has several recording artists who have completed a promotional CD and artists currently working on solo projects… T-N-T Recordings produces high quality music…T-N-T has positioned itself with a high quality product priced for any income market. It rates high n quality, but affordable in price.”
Beverly Dakers
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
85 Winthrop Rd.
Windsor, CT 06095
683-0381
“Social Security Disability Client Services, LLC will assist persons with disabilities in obtaining Social Security benefits by providing the highest quality professional service. I will assist clients in completion of the initial, reconsideration, administrative law judge (ALJ) and questionnaires, and other related forms as needed.”
Ronnie Sanders
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
P.O. Box 135
Rockville, CT 06066
875-0202
www.ssdisabilityclient.com
“Ronnie’s Spirit mission is to provide a unique experience in a short space of time by opening up the heart and mind with music that soothes the soul and also provides food for thought. Ronnie’s Spirit is a home based DJ and motivational speaker service. The DJ service offers a wide varity of music to hotels, lounges, resorts and weddings as well as services to smaller concerns, i.e. bowling alleys, fairs and school dances. DJ services will create a relaxing, romantic and soulful atmosphere. Motivational speaker services will be provided to local community organizations, clubs, women’s groups, schools and corporate businesses. It will provide thought, wisdom, experience, humor and workshops to customers who have a desire for positive direction via music and speech.”
Nicole Sturges
60 Niles St., Apt. B-5
Hartford, CT 06105
524-1813
“Dolphin Country’s mission is to create a safe but chic indoor environment for entertainment, exercise, and relaxation. Dolphin Country is a country club located in or near the city, that provides indoor entertainment and relaxation…and provides superb services to members and nonmembers. We have an Olympic size swimming pool, kiddy pool, a gym, two indoor tennis courts, basketball court, miniature golf, full service spa, Jacuzzis, billiard room, game room, smoking lounge, bar & dance room, ballroom, and fine dining…Dolphin Country’s target member/market are adults ranging from ages 21-50, and who have an income of at least $30,000, and like relaxing or being entertained in a classy, chic environment.”
Contact us for more information