The Inaugural Founders and Brands Shaping What’s Next
Meet The Top 10 Businesses to Watch
August 18, 2026
Next On Scene Media Team
THE EDITORIAL NEWSROOM
The Inaugural Founders and Brands Shaping What’s Next
Meet The Top 10 Businesses to Watch
Meet The Top 10 Businesses to Watch
The Inaugural Founders and Brands Shaping What’s Next
Melanie Fleet
Founder | Fleet Homes & Fleet Builds
Melanie Fleet is the founder of Fleet Homes and Fleet Builds, where she is transforming the real estate experience through expert guidance, thoughtful design, and quality new construction. Since launching her career in 2009, she has helped hundreds of families buy and sell homes while building one of the region's top-producing real estate businesses.
Driven by a passion for both real estate and development, Melanie now leads projects from concept to completion, creating homes that blend craftsmanship, functionality, and lasting value. She is also the founder of Boston Women in Building, a networking community that connects women across real estate, construction, design, and development to collaborate, learn, and grow together.
Whether she's helping clients find their next home or developing new communities, Melanie is committed to building meaningful relationships, creating lasting impact, and shaping the future of real estate.
Connect With Melanie
Instagram: @fleethomesrealestate
LinkedIn: Melanie Fleet
Photo Credit: Sarah Owen (@sarahowencreativeservices)
Amanda Gardner
Owner & Lead Designer | Luxe Balloons Boston
Amanda Gardner is the Owner and Lead Designer of Luxe Balloons Boston, a luxury event styling company transforming celebrations into unforgettable experiences through elevated balloon installations and custom event décor. Since founding the business in 2023, she has become known for creating bold, sophisticated designs for corporate events, weddings, grand openings, restaurants, community events, and private celebrations throughout Greater Boston.
Built from the ground up while balancing a full-time corporate career, raising two young children, and supporting her husband through his cancer journey, Amanda's business is rooted in resilience, creativity, and determination. Her passion for exceptional design, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to creating meaningful moments have made Luxe Balloons Boston a trusted name in luxury event décor.
Connect With Amanda
Website: www.luxeballoonsboston.com
Instagram: @luxeballoonsboston
Photo Credit: Stefanie Palmacci Photography
Megha Patil
Founder | Fashion Designer & Fashion Business Consultant
Megha Patil is a designer, entrepreneur, and storyteller redefining fashion through creativity, craftsmanship, and purpose. With nearly two decades of experience across fashion, retail, styling, and global markets, she has built brands that celebrate individuality while creating meaningful connections.
She is the founder of Happy Lilliput, a whimsical fashion and lifestyle brand inspired by imagination and childhood wonder, as well as Atelier By M Global, a luxury fashion house focused on conscious couture, ethical craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling.
With experience spanning India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Megha brings together heritage artistry and modern luxury while championing creativity with impact. Beyond fashion, she is committed to empowering communities, mentoring emerging creatives, and building a legacy rooted in beauty, purpose, and innovation.
Connect With Megha
Website: www.atelierbym.com
LinkedIn: Megha Patil
Photo Credit: Miriam Meza (@miriammezaphotography)
Becky Jackson Curran
Disability Inclusion Advocate | Motivational Speaker & Media Consultant
Becky Jackson Curran is a nationally respected disability inclusion advocate, motivational speaker, and media consultant dedicated to advancing authentic representation for people with disabilities. Born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, she has built her career around challenging perceptions, breaking barriers, and creating a more inclusive world.
Her professional experience includes roles at Creative Artists Agency, CBS Television Studios, and SAG-AFTRA, where she supported initiatives focused on improving representation across entertainment and news media. Becky is also the founder of DisABILITY In Media, a platform promoting positive disability inclusion through storytelling, education, and social media.
Having delivered more than 600 presentations across the United States, Canada, and Kenya, Becky has spoken to schools, nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies. Through her advocacy, advisory work, and two TEDx Talks, she continues to champion a future where people of all abilities are seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Connect With Becky
Instagram: @beckymotivates LinkedIn: Becky Jackson Curran
Photo Credit: cashmanphoto.com
Alexa Centeno
Founder & CEO | Vella Haus
Alexa Centeno is the founder and CEO of Vella Haus, a rapidly growing home staging company and franchise brand redefining how entrepreneurs enter the real estate industry. After building a successful luxury home staging business in New England, Alexa expanded the company through Vella Haus Franchising, giving aspiring business owners access to proven systems, hands-on training, and ongoing mentorship.
With a background in finance and more than 15 years of business ownership experience, Alexa brings together operational strategy, creativity, and a passion for entrepreneurship. Through Vella Haus, she has helped hundreds of homes stand out in competitive real estate markets while creating opportunities for others to build businesses of their own.
As a wife and mother of three, Alexa is passionate about helping entrepreneurs create meaningful careers, long-term financial opportunity, and generational wealth through business ownership. Her mission is to continue expanding Vella Haus nationwide while elevating the standard of home staging and empowering entrepreneurs with the tools, guidance, and support they need to launch, grow, and scale successful businesses.
Connect With Alexa
Instagram: @vellahausfranchise
LinkedIn: Alexa Centeno
Photo Credit: Magda Women by Mag
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Medeiros
Title Insurance Leader | Business Development & Agency Growth
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Medeiros is a title insurance leader with more than two decades of experience helping attorneys, law firms, title agents, and industry professionals strengthen their businesses and achieve sustainable growth.
Throughout her career, Jackie has supported hundreds of professionals across New England through agency development, technology implementation, workflow efficiencies, education, strategic relationship building, and business growth initiatives. Her deep understanding of the title industry allows her to connect modern solutions with the evolving needs of today’s title agents.
Known for her authentic, relationship-first approach, Jackie believes the future of the industry lies in modern title insurance created for modern title agents. She is passionate about helping professionals work more efficiently, embrace innovation, build meaningful partnerships, and create businesses positioned for long-term success.
Jackie’s philosophy of “sales without selling” is rooted in trust, consistency, education, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed. Whether she is mentoring an industry professional, introducing people who can help one another grow, or sharing ideas that improve the way a business operates, Jackie leads by creating value and building lasting relationships.
Beyond her professional work, Jackie serves as a Board Member of AREAA and remains actively involved in mentorship, collaboration, and community leadership.
A proud working mom, Jackie believes the strongest businesses are built through relationships, resilience, education, and community—values that continue to guide how she leads, serves, and supports others every day.
Connect With Jackie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiebmedeiros/
Website: https://jackiemedeiros.com/
Photo Credit: Tiffany Chapman
Timm Heffron
Founder & Owner | Swimm with Timm
What began as a high school job teaching swim lessons has grown into a purpose-driven business helping thousands of children build confidence, strength, and safety in the water.
After stepping away from swimming and working full-time as a UPS driver, Timm found himself drawn back to the pool in 2016. Starting with just seven swimmers across four Sunday morning classes, he quickly realized there was an opportunity to create a different kind of swim program—one centered around keeping children moving, engaged, and swimming as much as possible during every lesson.
That philosophy became the foundation of Swimm with Timm, officially launched in 2017. By 2018, the program had grown to approximately 120 swimmers, and continued expanding with the addition of instructors, new programming, and eventually the Danvers YMCA Dolfins swim team.
Today, Timm Swimm Inc. has become a growing community built around progress, fun, trust, and a genuine commitment to helping kids feel comfortable and capable in the water.
For Timm, what started as a weekend side project ultimately became something much bigger: a career, a community, and a mission to make a lasting impact on children and families through swimming.
Connect with Timm
Website: www.swimmwithtimm.com
Instagram: @swimmwithtimm
Amanda Stickel
Founder | Stickel Financial Services
Amanda Stickel is the founder of Stickel Financial Services, where she empowers women entrepreneurs and growing business owners to turn financial uncertainty into clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth. As an IRS Enrolled Agent with nearly 15 years of accounting and tax experience, Amanda helps clients understand the story behind their numbers so they can make informed decisions about cash flow, pricing, taxes, hiring, and long-term profitability.
More than an accountant, Amanda serves as a trusted financial partner, helping business owners uncover opportunities, eliminate financial blind spots, and build strategies for lasting success. She believes that understanding your finances is one of the greatest forms of self-care, giving entrepreneurs the confidence and control to lead both their businesses and their lives with purpose.
Connect With Amanda
Website: www.stickeltax.com
LinkedIn: Amanda Stickel
Photo Credit: Sarissa Melissa Photography
Christina Truscello
Founder & CEO | TEAL Hair and Makeup Studio
Christina Truscello is the Founder & CEO of TEAL Hair and Makeup Studio, a seven-figure Massachusetts beauty brand known for luxury hair services, elevated client experiences, and a culture where both clients and stylists feel valued.
Since founding TEAL in 2012, Christina has grown the business from a two-person team into a sought-after destination for luxury blonding, dimensional color, extensions, and bridal beauty. With more than two decades in the industry, her career has evolved from working behind thechair and Boston Fashion Week to leading a thriving salon, mentoring beauty professionals, and coaching business owners.
Christina is known for combining high standards with a relatable, people-first leadership style. Today, she helps stylists, salon owners, and beauty professionals increase profitability, build loyal teams, strengthen company culture, and make smarter, ROI-driven business decisions.
Her mission extends beyond growing successful salons. Christina is passionate about helping women in beauty build businesses that support their lives, create long-term wealth, and provide greater freedom.
Through TEAL and her mentorship work, Christina continues to raise the standard for what leadership, culture, and sustainable success can look like in the beauty industry.
Connect With Christina
Instagram: @tealhairchick
Website: www.teal-studio.com
Photo Credit: Merissa Connolly, Illume by MC
Tina Ruark-Baker
Fractional Revenue Growth Advisor |
LinkedIn Strategist & Keynote Speaker
Tina Ruark-Baker is a three-time entrepreneur, Fractional Revenue Growth Advisor, LinkedIn Strategist, and Keynote Speaker who helps founders, leadership teams, and sales organizations grow with greater intention, visibility, and trust.
After building and successfully selling two companies, Tina brought more than 25 years of C-suite marketing and business development experience into TRB Creative, her fractional advisory practice. Her career began in the competitive corporate landscape of New York City, where she developed the strategic foundation that now informs her work with businesses looking to strengthen revenue, leadership, and long-term growth.
Trust sits at the center of Tina’s approach. Through strategic advising, executive partnership, and hands-on guidance, she works closely with organizations to identify opportunities, challenge conventional thinking, and create sustainable momentum.
Tina is also the creator of RevLab, a revenue-driven leadership community, and Unlock LinkedIn, a platform designed to help business leaders build visibility, credibility, and revenue through LinkedIn.
Known for combining strategic precision with a genuine investment in the people she serves, Tina continues to build, advise, speak, and lead with one clear philosophy: play to win.
Connect With Tina
LinkedIn: Tina Ruark-Baker
Website: www.trbcreative.com
Photo Credit: Tina Ruark-Baker
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