Michelle Levi Elite Image
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EMPOWERSpring 2016 MAGAZINE Vol 6, Issue 1 Beauty Spotlight Michelle Levi Franklin Beauty School Celebrates 100 Years of Elite Image Beauty and Entrepreneurship Your Money Matters 1 | www.theempowermag.com Drop by and pick up a copy of Empower Magazine at one of the following business sites: EMPOWER Walgreen’s Pharmacy MAGAZINE 1307 FM 1092 (Murphy Road), Missouri City Houston’s This Is It Empower . Educate . Entertain 2712 Blodgett, Houston Amazing Smiles Dental 12660 Sandpiper, Houston Editor-In-Chief Leon Jenkins The Breakfast Klub 3711 Travis St., Houston Managing Editor Diane Tezeno Denny’s 6131 Highway 6 , Missouri City Contributing Writers Diane Tezeno Leon Jenkins R & R BBQ & Catering Services Andrea Henderson 5243 FM 521, Rosharon Sharron Jenkins Pamilla Hiner Frenchy’s 1737 Texas Parkway, Missouri City Magazine Design Estell Porter Web Development/Design Ray Shanklin Online Content Editor Diane Tezeno Editorial/subscription inquiries [email protected] Email story feedback [email protected] Know an entrepreneur or enterprising individual whose story you would like to share? Email story ideas to [email protected]. EMPOWER MAGAZINE ONLINE For business information and tips on entrepreneurship, visit our online digital magazine at DISTRIBUTION www.theempowermag.com. TO ADVERTISE Contact us at 832-816-1953 for advertising rates, to request a digital media kit or for information on ad submission deadlines. TO SUBSCRIBE A subscription is $25 annually for print magazines mailed directly to your home or business. Call 832-816-1953 to subscribe or visit www.theempowermag.com for Free Online magazine subscription. 2016 Empower Magazine All Rights Reserved. No part of our print or online magazine may be scanned or reproduced. Empower Magazine is distributed to a reach of 10,000 (e-subscribers and fill on-demand display racks.) and high traffic business sites in the Houston and surrounding communities. Our publishing office is located at 12660 Sandpiper, Houston, Texas 77035. Photo Credit: Cover and main story photo - Michael Sterling 2 | www.theempowermag.com www.theempowermag.com | 3 Empowered for Growth in 2016 CONTENTS EMPOWERMENT Spring 2016 Hello New Year – New Season – New Opportunities! Here at Empower Magazine we EMPOWERSpring MAGAZINE 2016 Cover Story are ramping up in 2016 to entertain as many ways as possible to showcase the best and the brightest among us - be it business or community leaders, kidpreneurs, gifted and 6 Money Matters talented inventors, record setters, dreamers and visionaries or even just people around Houston tax professional shares her journey to success the community making a measurable difference in service to others. By Diane Tezeno Empower Magazine is all about delivering the very best content throughout this year Feature Stories that is worthy of our readership. With this in mind, our cover is a testament to where uncompromising drive and determination can take you. Yes – Michelle Levi is a successful, 11 A Call For Change driven and determined business owner with a very compelling story. Also in the pages Actor-director Nate Parker’s “Birth of Nation” makes strong show at Sundance of this edition is a “Living the American Dream” spotlight on a Cuban-born native and By: Andrea Henderson three-time world boxing champ and his dying thirst to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of living in America. 12 Vera Moore Featured in Essence Vera Moore’s Riviera Red blush featured in Essence “Off the Charts” spotlight This edition shines the light on a number of very entertaining and insightful commentary By Diane Tezeno from savory cooking ideas, a highly recommended travel destination, beauty products in 32 Book Spotlight the spotlight to recommended books to add to your reading list, and the announcement The Kept Ones The Beginning Years - Vol. 1 of EM’s top 2015 “Person of the Year” vote-getters. 13 16th Annual Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Gala by Bunny Debarge Houston gala honors military musicians and the heritage of the Buffalo Soldiers By Leon Jenkins In addition to reading this edition from cover to cover, we encourage you to support the small business owners and authors that are featured in EM. As you flip through The Black Girl’s Guide to Living on Purpose this special “New Year, New Season, New Opportunities” edition of EM, be sure to also By Brie Daniels patronize our EM ad sponsors. 14 Mommy & Me Vision Board Party & Expo EM Red Carpet kidpreneur reporter Iyanni Pradia covers Houston expo 10 Ways Teenagers Mess Up Their Options As I often ask, once you have read this edition of EM, be sure to check us out online at By Diane Tezeno www.theempowermag.com where we continue to showcase community and business By Chris Jones coupled with numerous national interest stories. EM’s online presence allows us to more 16 Living the American Dream readily bring fresh content to you on a weekly basis penned by our featured columnists 26 Love is in the Air Cuban three-time world champion boxer’s rise from poverty to prominence and gifted freelance contributors from across the nation. By Chef Mariea Cobb By Sharron Jenkins If you know of someone who has taken a step of faith to live out their dreams, contact us Citrus Marinated Steak and Kale with Broccoli and we may share their story of inspiration with our readership. Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cake 18 Franklin Beauty School Celebrates 100 Years of Beauty and Entrepreneurship Bowtie Pasta And remember - By Andrea Henderson EM is a magazine created for your personal consumption and for sharing with others. So, be sure to check us out online at www.theempowermag.com. 21 The Great Escape From Winter Travel spotlight on San Juan, Puerto Rico By Pamilla Hiner EM offers a wealth of articles and information designed to inspire and uplift the entrepreneurial spirit and provides interesting business insights and information. It is a 30 On the Cutting Edge “must read” for today’s business entrepreneur and small business owner. Ennaid Therapeutics developing therapeutic cures for Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases By Diane Tezeno Empower Magazine 2015 Person of the Year Section 22 Chris Jones - Man on a Mission Washington native honored as Empower Magazine 2015 “Person of the Year” By Diane Tezeno LeonLeon C. Jenkins 26 Angelique Bartholomew Editor-In-Chief EM 2015 “Person of the Year” 1st runner-up By Leon Jenkins C4ACTION 27 Don Dotson EM 2015 “Person of the Year” 2nd runner-up By Leon Jenkins 4 | www.theempowermag.com www.theempowermag.com | 5 Money Matters By Diane Tezeno rowing up on Houston’s southeast side was a challenge for Michelle Levi. She was raised by her grandmother with a mother in prison and a father in rehab. Today, Levi has prevailed against the odds Gto open the doors to her own business and to chart her own course. But she would experience years of self-doubt and self-discovery before her path in life would become clear. In her sophomore year at Sharpstown High School she remembers enrolling late for classes and being forced to choose between the remaining elective classes that were available. The delay in enrolling in classes would play a pivotal role in her life and awaken a love and passion for numbers that would eventually lead her on the path to her calling. “At that time, bookkeeping was an elective offering and I thought this was great and was going to be an easy “A”. Mr. Rocqumore was my instructor and he made the class interesting and with each passing day, I Houston businesswoman works through the numbers Photo credit: Michael Sterling Michael credit: Photo 6 | www.theempowermag.com www.theempowermag.com | 7 Life Group, a nonprofit financial literacy organization executive space in the offices of the children and young adults. that seeks to educate and empower individuals to set Houston Urban League to a glimpse When asked if there were strong financial goals and manage their finances to of the downtown Houston skyline. any unique struggles she faced as a achieve a quality life. Leading a small staff of woman in business, Levi seems to Levi describes her mentor as both a friend and professional women, she has have come full circle as she again mentor and credits her for the lasting impact and entered the busiest season of her faces the challenge of striking a imprint she left on her life. She also attributes her tax and notary business as she and healthy balance between her family success to her mother’s encouragement to make wise her staff serve the tax preparation and her career. But this time, there is choices and to not make the same mistakes she had needs of her growing list of clients. a bright side. made in her life. A certified DBE, SBE/Woman- “One of the seasons that I am With renewed confidence and faith, Levi would owned small business owner, her enjoying is being able to have my embark on a successful 15-year career in finance and portfolio of services also includes young adult children support me in accounting, but would find herself with little time to bookkeeping, certified payroll, business and still be able to be their spend with her children. external and internal audits, mother. Time is an amazing gift that “Moving into management was a financial gain document management and tax we should cherish,” said Levi. with a negative impact on my family. Traveling for debt resolutions and consulting. The mother of five takes great business and family obligations was not setting well “Our days at Elite Image pride in her children and describes for us. The more I was promoted, the less I spent with usually start at 7:30 a.m.