GARDEN STATE LEADERS IN BUSINESS, CULTURE, AND THE ARTSSHARE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWERS, GO-TO FORMS OF SELF-CARE, AND ULTIMATE FITNESS ICONS

BY BLUE SULLIVAN, ELIZABETH HAZARD, AND ZACHARY WEG

PHOTOS BY TOM ZAPCIC AND SARA STADTMILLERlL

Victor Giamanco /Executive Vice President, Contemporary Motor Cars /cmcbenz.com

Victor Giamanco has been with Little Silver’s Contemporary Motor Cars for only three of its 45-year existence, but the New Jersey native has already made his mark. Having known owners Scott Coleman and Allan Sockol for over 30years, Giamanco now serves as executive vice president of the authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership, overseeing its daily operations. “I’ve been involved, on an individual basis, as a car owner and car enthusiast for many years,” he said. “Just through purchasing, I became very friendly and close with owner Scott and Allan. I continued to talk to them for many years and, as time progressed, there was a good t for us to join together.” For Giamanco, his role involves more than just selling cars. “We are very fortunate to have built a successful dealership because of the dedication and hard work of our Contemporary Motor Cars team. I am very proud to say our philosophy is to make sure every customer leaves the dealership happy and feels like they are part of the family.”

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWER?

Being sensitive to what our employees are thinking and feeling. That comes with being a positive role model.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FORM OF WELLNESS OR SELF-CARE?

Self-care can look different to everyone. To me, I feel the importance of self-care is to eat healthy, get a good night’s sleep, and have a positive outlook.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HEALTH OR FITNESS ICON?

It’s difficult to name a celebrity icon. I consider Allan, at the age of 94, an icon and a mentor. I admire and respect him for what he has accomplished in life and in the automobile industry

Saurabh Abrol Founder, Le Malt Hospitality Group / lemalt.com

It can be asserted without question that Saurabh Abrol presides over an ever-growing empire of bars, restaurants, and spirits retailers in New York and New Jersey. Within his Le Malt Hospitality group live some of the most exciting and successful locales for enjoying high-end food and spirits in the state, namely Le Malt Lounge, Le Malt Royale, Le Malt Imperiale, Wine Chateau, and Meximodo. Wine Chateau is the recipient of the rare 5-Star Rating by Social Spirits, and Le Malt has the kind of European elegance and sophistication that has attracted a constellation of stars, from Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello. But Saurahb’s is far from an overnight success story. He is singularly driven, and his striking achievements were born from over two decades of careful planning, focus, and tireless work. Born in Delhi, India, Abrol immigrated to the United States 33 years ago, just as the 1990s were dawning. After receiving his degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, he turned his attention to assisting his entrepre-neurial parents. From their modest neighbor-hood business he created Wine Chateau, a retail wine business that has since expanded nation-wide and boasts a strong online presence. In fact, he was awarded the 2017 Market Watch Leaders Alumni Award for Best Marketing. Abrol credits the Le Malt Hospitality Group Team and the unconditional support of his family for his success. In his rare moments of leisure, Saurahb professed to loving a glass of fine Napa Valley Cabernet, especially favoring a full-bodied red with a meaty dinner.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWER?
My professional super power is recognizing talent and skill in people and building a cohesive and extraordinary team with those individuals that will surpass all expectations to take our Le Malt Hospitality Group to the next level. Also, the ability to unlock the potential in each member of the team for their personal growth and the collective growth of the company.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FORM OF WELLNESS AND SELF-CARE?

Understanding that the word selfish has a bad reputation but on the other hand, it allows you to “self-care” toward a healthier mind, body, and soul. My self-care has been the ability to conquer the day by starting off at the gym first thing in the morning. No matter how cold, rainy, or tired I am, this gets my day going in the right direction. If I take care of myself, I can take care of the people around me with more positivity and motivation.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HEALTH OR FITNESS ICON?
The cliche answer is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Why I picked him is because he’s been able to accomplish a lot throughout the years while balancing his professional work, physique, and family at the same time. Many have tried this and failed, but that failure should be the fuel to work harder and smarter to accomplish the same outcome.

Meredith Burke, PA-C / Surgical Physician Assistant, Lombardi Plastic Surgery/ lombardiplasticsurgery.com

For Meredith Burke, the excellent work she performs as a surgical physician assistant at Lombardi Plastic Surgery Center is based in the pursuit of longevity, the daily victory of science and medicine over the ravages of time. Her own healthy skin and youthful visage is a testament to the success of this endeavor. “The trend in plastics and cosmetics is to hire young, attractive people,” she said. “As a 50-year-old in the eld of aesthetic medicine, I understand how vital it is to take care of yourself. I believe in morning and nightly skin care: vitamin C and Retinols mixed with heavy-duty moisturizer. I also believe in Fraxel or similar lasers yearly to repair sun damage, as well as simple aesthetic treatments like micro needling and dermaplaning to help rejuvenate the skin.” Burke’s 24 years in the industry will bring a new but welcomed challenge in the coming months with the opening of a new location, Lips and Dripz by Lombardi, in Marlboro, which will add new services like IV drips and weight loss management. However, this is just the latest adventure in a long and distinguished career that spans work in general, cardio thoracic, bariatric, and gynecologic medicine. She also worked in education, serving as an assistant professor at UMDNJ’s PA program, and is the proud mother of two young athlete sons (she isa former soccer player herself)

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWER?

I would have to say my professional super power would be the power to be everywhere at once, wearing a different hat at each place. I’ve been a full-time physician assistant for about 24 years to date. I’m also a wife and a full-time sports mom of two boys that play multiple sports all year long. I also enjoy serving as a mentor to the various students we have that shadow at our practice and even to the new PAs and nurses that come into our ever-growing practice. Dr. Lombardi has been my mentor for many years and his work ethic pushes us all to be/do our best as providers in the plastics field.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FORM OF WELLNESS OR SELF-CARE?

This is certainly the weakest aspect of my life. I sometimes feel like my fitness is via proxy at a soccer, lacrosse, or football fi eld or basketball court four to five nights a week. I try to take some time to walk and decompress during their practices. It’s also important to point out that plastic surgery is also a much more physical occupation than you’d think. Particularly performing surgery on patients, which includes static holding and liposuction, which is demanding on the abdominals and upper body, and requires continuous fi ne motor skills which strengthen hands. I was an avid sports player in soccer, softball, and track growing up, going so far as to having run in the prestigious Penn Relays. Some days I feel like a strenuous day of surgery was harder than a day of any of those sports.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HEALTH OR FITNESS ICON?

“Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?” Dwayne Johnson (aka “The Rock”) is such an influential fitness personality. He has some of the most drive and focus of anyone, both in his Hollywood career and the fitness industry. I admire his positivity and the work-life balance he seems to have obtained. I love how he prioritizes keeping himself both mentally and physically healthy

Tara Pimco / Owner, Hot Mess Studio / hotmessstudio.com

When you’re operating at the level of craft as Tara Pimco, owner of Hot Mess Studio in Asbury Park, you aren’t a mere hairstylist, you are a curator and artist of hairstyles. And nor do you have a mere crew of hair stylists – you have a beauty tribe. In only a few short years, Pimco has grown Hot Mess from a humble salon into a renowned beauty destination. The full-service studio specializes in everything from skincare to nails, lashes, waxing, and (of course) hair: cuts, color, extensions, blow-outs, blonding, styling, weddings, and more. In fact, Pimco and her shop are even innovating color, recently bringing in vibrant new dyes from Goldwell US. Pimco has been featured many times in articles and podcasts in recent years (in the tenth issue of Salon Evo North America, for example, and having an insightful chat with Amy Quinn [Asbury Park’s deputy mayor]and Joe Walsh on the popular local podcast Asbury Pod, offering her thoughts on what it was like to navigate and survive the pandemic as a salon owner.) She regularly shares the results of her labor on social media, providing style inspiration for current and future clients alike.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWER?

I would say my professional super power is staying cool under pressure. Being a salon owner is a high stress position. It might appear fun and glamorous from the outside but when you put a group of women in a building together, there’s a lot of emotions. Tensions can run high, and that’s just the internal culture. Then you have to consider the clients. We’re responsible for their image, the way they feel, their self confidence – it’s a big responsibility. Most times they are happy, but every once in a while you have an unhappy guest. You have to handle their feelings and emotions, but also the emotions and feelings of an artist whose work is being dissected and torn apart by the client. It’s important to make sure the client leaves happy and satisfied, and also that the artist feels supported and learns from the error made.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FORM OF WELLNESS OR SELF-CARE?

Travel. Getting away and just relaxing recharges my batteries. Experiencing a new place or going somewhere I know and love even for a day or two makes me feel brand new. If I can’t get away I love taking a yoga class or walking on the boardwalk. The sea is the most calming thing to me.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HEALTH OR FITNESS ICON?

I have two answers for this. I have a client who became a friend and is also my favorite yoga instructor. She’s not a celebrity, but I believe in supporting local and supporting other women. I watched her journey to becoming an instructor and how she had this magnificent butterfly moment of transformation in her life. It was so beautiful to watch, and her light shines into my heart when I am with her or take her classes. Her name is Ali Caulfield, IG: @alicaulfi eld. You can find her teaching Hot 26 at Synergy Hot Yoga in Little Silver or vinyasa at Poe in Fair Haven. She also works with collegiate athletes at Rutgers. My celebrity icon would be Deepak Chopra. I started practicing Transcendental Meditation as a small child. It’s been a constant in my life and something that has brought me to greater success and clarity. I almost died when I was 12, my appendix ruptured and went undiagnosed for ten days. The road to recovery was long but meditation and a lot of Ayurvedic meals made by my parents brought me back to health. These practices, and things I learned, are directly related to the influence of Deepak Chopra.

Anita Dormer, MD / Founder, PHI Aesthetics / dranitamedicalaesthetics.com

Anita Dormer, MD, (known as “Dr. Anita” by her clients and patients), the proprietor of PHI Aesthetics in Red Bank, is one of the region’s top specialists in medical aesthetics and regenerative medicine. After a long and rewarding career as a critical care doctor, she found her passion for skincare and cosmetic health. A pioneer in aesthetics medicine for over 24 years, Dr. Anita found a simple yet inimitable formula for success: deliver a higher quality result than the competition is capable of delivering, and be honest about the benefits and limitations of any given treatment for an individual. “Our goal is to make people happier by looking and feeling better about them-selves,” she said. “I’m able to combine medical knowledge and skill with my God given creative and artistic talents to achieve superior results for my clients. My objective is that a patient looks in the mirror and feels happier and more confident because of the work that I have done. I enjoy sprinkling this happiness in the universe.” Alongside an active, healthy lifestyle, Dr. Anita extols the benefits of proper skincare and maintenance. In order to provide her clients with the highest quality skin care products that actually make a difference on the skin, she created her own skincare line (appropriately named Dr. Anita). Working with a team of chemists for over a decade, she did extensive research to develop a perfume-free serum-based skincare line that addresses unmet needs and delivers observable results. Her skincare line is sought by countless patients and medical spas across the country.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWER?

Discernment, empathy, and honesty in chaos so patients can trust me to see through the hype that’s often found in the aesthetic industry, and to always keep their best interests in mind.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FORM OF WELLNESS OR SELF-CARE?

Yoga, music, and nature.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HEALTH OR FITNESS ICON?

David Sinclair, MD, a Harvard University longevity specialist

Christele Beam and Janine Mattera / Owners, Mane Maven / manemaven.co

Christele Beam is only 30, but she’s been in the beauty industry for half her life. Her passion was born in her grandfather’s Secaucus salon, where the then-teenager started taking clients and humbly asserting herself with acuity and a ability. Now, alongside partner Janine Mattera, she has her own salon: Mane Maven in Rumson. Launched two years ago, the award-winning studio draws both tri-state area residents and out-of-towners who make a special trip for Beam’s sharp styling and warm approach. “When they feel good, you’re able to do more,” she said. “You’re a hair stylist but you’re also a therapist, a friend…It’s not just about their hair but about their everyday lives. You’re a person they trust, so you honor that.” Along with her team of two stylists (with four more chairs to be filled), Beam doesn’t just simply style her many clients, but, whether through a personalized greeting or complimentary drink offering, makes them feel at home in her salon.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPER POWER?

I’m able to read people. I’m very in tune, so I can kind of pick up your vibe and energy and what you’re looking to create.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO FORM OFWELLNESS OR SELF-CARE?

I love to get massages, have spa days, hang out with my girlfriends, my boyfriend, or things like that, and just reconnect and refill my cup. Sometimes, it’s as simple as taking my dog for a walk.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY HEALTH OR FITNESS ICON?

Ah, that’s hard…Well, a stylist we [my partner Janine and I] constantly look up to is Jen Atkin because she’s taken it to a whole different level. She’s a stylist, she’s created her own product line, and her own tool. She’s very well-known. She’s out there making things happen. She’s changing it a little bit, putting a little twerk on it.