Workin’ It (Part 2) 2009
Chef/Owner, Bristen’s Eatery
Carleen Haughton, owner of Bristen’s Eatery in Crown Heights, Brooklyn was born in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to the United States in 1984. She graduated from Hofstra University with a BS in Economics and Finance, and worked on Wall Street for 18 years. After 9/11, Haughton “decided it was important to do what I was passionate about.” In 2007, she graduated from The Institute of Culinary Education and opened Bristen’s Eatery. Haughton is committed to keeping prices affordable, while also using the best ingredients from local farmers and other local businesses. The menu includes hearty dishes such as omelettes, French toast, pancakes, generously stuffed paninis and burgers. Bristen’s is also dedicated to the community and working with youth. Her goal is to maintain a safe place for people to exchange information, have community meetings, play dates or just chat.
The Rest of the Best Of 2009’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs
Alina Wilczynski
Founder, Moonkissed Media
A self-described “life-passion-enthusiast,” Alina Wilczynski, founder of Moonkissed Media, is a creative director, branding specialist, photographer, and multimedia artist. Known to many as leader and co-founder of OP.LYNX, The Women’s Network of Out Professionals, Wilczynski has produced events featuring women entrepreneurs, executives, filmmakers, authors and professional athletes. A follower of the Wabi-Sabi philosophy, which seeks to note that in every moment “everything is either devolving towards or evolving from nothingness—and nothingness, instead of being empty space, is alive with possibility,” Wilczynski explains that, “When a company, product or event is created with the expressed intent of cultivating a community, the space around that endeavor is alive with possibility, expansion, and evolution.” Moonkissed Media, her latest manifestation, is a creative channel for message-driven marketing and design, emotionally-resonant written communications, and commercial photography. Wilczynski is driven by her desire to advance the work of next-generation thinkers, passionate entrepreneurs; who apply the power of what they do to progressive endeavors.
