EXPERTS
Bella Petite's Experts are well-respected industry leading professionals with unique insight into subjects ranging from fashion trends to business strategy. These highly educated women are qualified to share their experience and advice on a variety of subjects, and they are also passionate about supporting the interests of petite women! Together with Bella Petite, these Experts are here to offer valuable advice and promote the interests of petite women in their respective industries. | GINGER PUGLIA: TREND EXPERT Ginger Puglia President of GingerFinds: Fashion, entertainment, LifeStyle Trend Expert and Board Member of Bella Petite Publishing, Inc. NY, New York: Ginger is a Fox News Trend Host and owner of trend intensive company that is focused strictly on clients and corporations with a strong aesthetic mission. Ginger consults on merchandising, styling, strategic planning and talent acquisition all with companies on the forefront cutting edge thinking. Ginger will be contributing trend reports and articles for Bella Petite on fashion, entertainment and lifestyle. Bella Petite Hour Fashion Edition with Ginger. |
 | MARIA GAMB: BUSINESS EXPERT Maria Gamb is the CEO and Founder of NMS Communications, LLC. She’s an advocate of ”no more stress,” hence her company is aptly named “NMS" Known as "The Change Agent" she has over twenty years in corporate management at Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Gamb has worked in various capacities as Designer, Product Manager and Director for; Macy's, Geoffrey Been, Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren. |
 | DASHAMA KONAH: LIFESTYLE EXPERT Dashama is a petite model, celebrity yoga teacher and lifestyle expert, who travels the world teaching yoga retreats and yoga teacher certification programs in exotic locations globally. She is the best selling author of Journey to Joyful, creator of Perfect 10 Lifestyle online community, Pranashama Yoga Institute and the Global 30 Day Yoga Challenge. Her philanthropic outreach includes Yoga for Foster Children & Orphans, Rainforest Alliance and Clinton Global Initiative. Her DVDs, books, lifestyle transformation programs and eco fashion line can be found in Dashama's online Boutique. Her articles on Bella Petite are written to educate, illuminate and inspire you to be the best you can be and to live your life to the fullest. |
 | ELIZABETH LIONS: JOBS EXPERT Elizabeth has an education in psychology from the University of Maine. She started her career as a headhunter a decade ago, calling on some of the most powerful male leaders at companies such as Intel, Mentor Graphics and Microsoft. While recovering from cancer in 2009, Elizabeth launched her first book, "Recession Proof Yourself!", which gained national recognition. She is a professional speaker, writer and counselor, which clearly separates herself from other career coaches. Her column for Bella Petite focuses on women's unique work related issues and leadership. Elizabeth's intention is to arm women with powerful information to assist grooming their careers and ultimately building powerful female leadership within business. Elizabeth knows why you are hired, fired and promoted - before you do! For more about Elizabeth's philosophies, click! |
 | JACQUELINE PEROS: CORPORATE IMAGE & STYLE EXPERT Jacqueline is a certified Image Consultant from the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City specializing in image and wardrobe management for individuals and corporations. Additionally, she is the President of the New York Tri-State Chapter for the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI). AICI is the leading and largest professional association of personal and corporate image consultants worldwide. My extensive corporate background that includes working as a marketing executive in the technology sector, as well as developing branding strategies, the latter of which has served as a natural springboard, enables me to help individuals develop their own personal brand to further their careers and enhance their lifestyles. JMPstyle |
 | MAGGIE F. KEENAN Ed.D: BRAND PHILANTHROPY STRATEGIST Giving Advice is a cause marketing and brand philanthropy boutique consultancy that works with fashion, beauty, fitness and health brands who want to make a difference. This is the place where brands and causes connect for the greater good. Maggie Keenan is working with Bella Petite to connect our sponsors with causes important to women. Dedicated to providing cause marketing and philanthropy services to brands, her focus and determination means her clients make stronger and more synergistic connections with causes and customers. Companies are attracted by her passion and vision for what she sees possible for their contribution to the world. With an uncanny ability to connect ideas, people and causes, Maggie sees opportunities all around for anyone that desires to be a force for change. An avid runner and former runway model, you can find Maggie on the road or runway when she isn't in her office. |
 | VANESSA DELEON: INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERT Vanessa DeLeon always knew she had a place in the arts. However, she never expected the fast rise to success she has fortunately enjoyed. She can be seen in such shows as HGTV's Generation Renovation, Designer's Challenge, Bang For Your Buck, and Design Star, as well as numerous publications including New York Spaces, Design NJ, (201) home, Latina Magazine, Time, Entertainment, and Cosmopolitan. She is currently also a featured designer on the Food Network's Restaurant Impossible. |
 | PAULETTE SZYMONIAK-HAGINS, PHD Dr. Szymoniak-Hagin’s expertise in the cosmetology and beauty field span more than 26 years. She modeled extensively for USA Petites, John Robert Powers and Casablanca Elite and various salon magazines including Sassy. A former USA Petite Model Pageant winner held at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas has continued to follow the trends of the beauty industry and set a few of her own. She offers beauty services to movie studios, celebrity stars and fashion models. Dr. Szymoniak-Hagins is dedicated to being one of the best in the beauty industry. Concern for her client’s hair/skin is always her main priority. She believes that the technical aspects of outer beauty only serve to enhance inner beauty. In conjunction with her other qualifications, clients will receive the benefit of both.Whatever your age or ethnic background, Dr. Szymoniak-Hagins speaks your language when it comes to hair and skin care. This column will provide you with information to benefit you in hair, skin and scalp and nutrition, total health care for women of all ages and ethnicities. You will learn more about hair-styles, cuts, color, latest hair trends from around the globe. And learn about skin-disorders, protection, exfoliation and makeup. |
 | LYNETTE MCNEILL: ENTERTAINMENT EXPERT Lynette has been billed as “LA’s hottest acting coach.” Lynette has been in the entertainment business for over 30 years. She is responsible for developing many of Hollywood’s most talented artist; Ellen Degeneres, Janeane Garofalo, Anne Archer, Adam Sandler, Jane Leeves (“Frasier,”) Faith Ford (“Hope and Faith,”) Jason Lee, Giovanni Ribisi and Adam Goldberg to name a few! Lynette’s workshops are by invitation only. |
 | JEANENE CANNON: FITNESS EXPERT Jeanene is a Certified Personal Trainer & Corrective Exercise Specialist via the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is a former top NPC Figure Competitor. She also holds a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Health/Mental Health. Jeanene owns and operates Physique Complete, LLC in N.CA a full service Personal Training company and is a contributing health/fitness writer for Bella Petite. Teaching hundreds over the past 6 years in her various boot camp, cycling, and sports conditioning classes. Jeanene has helped many women to lose weight and become healthier via her perinatal fitness classes, personal training and nutritional counseling. Jeanene has been a speaker and health/fitness writer for various local organizations. She is a petite model who appeared on TV Land Network's “She’s Got The Look, Season 3”. |
 | KELLY GITTER: FASHION STYLIST, DESIGNER & RETAIL EXPERT Kelly comes to us with a stellar retail and wholesale background in both designer and contemporary sportswear. Notably she was the director of Visual Merchandising for Scoop NYC during their prime. Kelly was key in the launch of Scoop’s famous flagship Soho store and over the course of her eight years with Scoop she helped grow their chain into eleven stores! Over the last several years she has been working on various consulting jobs including the Director of Buying and Visual Merchandising for GC William New York, a Madison Avenue Boutique where she handled all product-related trend intensive matters. As an added benefit, Kelly is an accessory designer and has owned her own line and designed for a company who created private label designs for numerous brands including J.Crew, Belk, Gap, Banana Republic, Macy's Talbots, to name just a few. In addition, Kelly has consulted with noted fashion designers Vivienne Tam and Elie Tahari. She has been hired to organize people's closets and is hired regularly as a personal stylist for many of her past clients. She is Currently consulting for a trend, fashion recruiting firm called Ginger Finds, where she is passionately placing people in positions similar to the jobs she has carried herself, over the course of her career. Fashion is Kelly's true passion! |
 | SHONDA CHASE, R.N.: BEAUTY EXPERT Palm Springs, California Shonda Chase is a noted Beauty and Skincare Expert. She holds an advanced Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and is owner of the Revive Salon and Spa in beautiful Palm Springs, California. Shonda’s been trained by expert leading physicians like Dr. Mark Bailey. Shonda provides skincare advice and services to many of the world’s most beautiful and noted faces in Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Newport Beach. We’ll get the facts on the latest skincare treatments to the stars that you want to know about! We look forward to Chase's articles on beauty secrets and skincare techniques to help you have beautiful ageless skin. Plus, many petite model makeovers will be provided by Salon Revive! |
 | STEFANIE SACKS, M.S., C.N.S: CULINARY NUTRITION EXPERT Stefanie Sacks, M.S., CNS is a Culinary Nutritionist who works hands-on with individuals and groups in transition to a healthier way of eating as a food counselor, nutrition educator and chef instructor. She has been studying food and healing for twenty-five years, has her Masters of Science in nutrition from Columbia University, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. Some contributions include: Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr, a 21-day meal plan and 70 recipes to Power Up, Unleash your Natural Energy, Revitalize your Health and Feel 10 Years Younger by Dr. Woodson Merrell and Kathy Merrell. She also offered her culinary nutrition expertise to Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge, ABC, Runner’s World, Fitness, O Magazine, Body and Soul, Teen Vogue, Oxygen and Self. Stefanie's column will feature the latest nutrition news, innovative culinary nutrition education and personalized nutrition therapy and culinary guidance. Sacks will empowers you with her insights and innate ability to connect you through food! |
