Millennium Magazine_10th Ed_Maripeg Bruder

119 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine ENTREPRENEURS FOUNDER, PRESIDENT Wig Warriors the Maureen S. Konopko Foundation Red Bank, NJ OWNER Wright Honey Gueydan, LA Millennium Magazine Featured Listee MICHELE KONOPKO LAWSON Since 2018, Michele Konopko Lawson has excelled as the founder and president of Wig Warriors the Maureen S. Konopko Foundation. Founded in honor of her stepmother, Wig Warriors is a nonprofit organization that aids women with cancer by providing hair and makeup services to women who are struggling with the cosmetic side effects of cancer treatment. Leveraging her innate talent in cosmetology, Ms. Lawson has also served as the owner of Hair and Company since 1989, a boutique salon that offers upscale hair and makeup services while maintaining a warm atmosphere to all clients. First studying at the Monmouth County Vocational School, Ms. Lawson was inspired to pursue a career in cosmetology after working diligently at a family friend’s hair salon in her formative years. After establishing her pronounced career, she was a volunteer for the Look Good Feel Better Program for 20 years and was a wig coordinator for the American Cancer Society, who honored her with the Feel Better Sunrise Award in 2012. Additionally, she has provided haircuts for Habcore Housing the Homeless. Ms. Lawson’s three sons and twin sister are also involved in Wig Warriors in administrative capacities. Timala Melancon’s family previously owned an apiary titled the Melancon Apiary, where they raised bees to fruition and harvested their honey. Although this was merely a hobby for Ms. Melancon’s husband, upon her retirement, she and her husband decided to turn it into a business. Since 2006, Ms. Melancon has served as the owner of Wright Honey in Gueydan, Louisiana. She previously draws upon years of experience in the education sector as a schoolteacher and holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which she attained in 1996. The author of the book “Marigold the Honeybee,” Ms. Melancon is especially proud of her years teaching and notes that she has always possessed a passion for education. Although retired, she is often invited to speak about honeybees in classrooms, where she gives away free samples of her honey. In light of her efforts, she was named 2012 Educator of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Educators. Looking forward, she intends to expand Wright Honey and sell her bees to beekeepers. Additionally, she would like to continue promoting raw honey as a natural product across Louisiana. TIMALA MELANCON

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