BUSINESS VOICES

ADVICE FROM LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS uestion: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Q CHELSEA MAGDALENO DESERT ROOTS SALON

Ever since I was a young girl I knew I always wanted to be a beautician. I loved going to my hairdresser and watching her and seeing all she would do. I would play with my sister and aunts’ hair all the time and always loved the way it made them happy. I knew I wanted to make other people feel good and more beautiful and what better way then with doing their hair?

WENDY STEWARD EDWARD JONES

VERONDA HILLS OWNER OF NIZHONI HAIR STUDIO BY VERONDA

Growing up, I always wanted to join the Marine Corps or be a nurse. I wanted to travel the world and help people. When I graduated high school, I became a CNA and decided that the nursing field wasn’t for me. It wasn’t until Beauty School that I discovered my passion for hair. It made me feel artistic, and making people feel beautiful became addictive! I strive to make every client in my chair feel better than before!

SERENA KOOGLE OWNER OF REBEL AND ROVE

When I was a little girl I dreamed of having a job in the Arts and living in a super cute studio apartment in LA or New York, maybe Seattle. As I grew older I found myself exactly where I was meant to be. Running a small business in a small town. I blame those cookie sales that I did every year as a Girl Scout.

LUCILA SEDANO CHEF OWNER & EXECUTIVE CHEF

I wasn’t exactly sure about what I wanted to be- but I just knew I wanted to be The Best. So I started studying business administration and continued with dietetics, a few nutrition classes and culinary arts, then I finally obtained a bachelors in Business Management. Then I took all of my training and knowledge and started my own business.

FAVI MAYORGA RIGHT AWAY LENDING

I have always wanted to be a high school counselor.

In high school, I had two career plans: real estate agent or social worker. How different they both are! Our high school had a career exploration class and I was able to extern at a local real estate office and at the Salvation Army. It was a lot of fun at both places! Working and continuing to volunteer at Salvation Army through high school sparked my passion for giving back. Now I am involved with Fort Yuma Rotary, Alzheimer’s Association, and serve on nonprofit boards.