2022
W I N N E R S
Vanessa Calixto
Founder & creative director
El Salón, in Worcester
Who is most responsible for the person you are today?
My parents, Sandra Alvarez-Calixto and Saul Calixto. As migrants making the
decision to flee from their home country, leaving behind the only things they
knew to come to a place promising a better life, is not an easy decision to
make, contrary to popular belief. They made sacrifices to ensure a better life,
if not for them but for their children. They allowed me to have the opportunity
to make my own decisions based on what makes me happy, which is a luxury
they did not always have. For that, I am grateful.
Lauren Crossman-
Nanof
Owner, Revive Painting & Finishing, in Clinton
If you gave a keynote speech at a college graduation, what advice
would you give?
This is another chapter in your book. It's an early chapter. It's okay
to not have everything figured out yet. Most likely, you'll fail a few
times, but always learn from it. Move forward on your path, enjoy the
twists and turns the path leads, and make an impact on a few people
along the way.
