STATEN ISLAND LEADERS IN BUSINESS, CULTURE, AND THE ARTS SHARE GREATEST ADVICE IN BUSINESS, TOP FITNESS ICONS, AND THEIR ULTIMATE FORMS OF SELF-CARE
BY DANIELLE KIRIAKOS PHOTOS BY AMANDA DOMENECH
Michael Matarazzo Partner,
Pool Doctor / pooldoctorsi.com
Nearly 20 years ago, Michael Matarazzo became business partners with Richie and Robert Pasquale, contractors and brothers with a strong reputation for installing custom pools across Staten Island and New Jersey. As Richie’s brother-in-law, Michael identified a crucial aspect of owning a pool: it wasn’t just about the build. He saw an opportunity to create a company that could support every facet of the pool experience, from maintenance and renovations to smart technology that simplifies pool management. Since then, Michael has helped Pool Doctor grow into a full-service operation that supports every step of pool ownership. Technology has transformed the industry, and he has remained at the forefront. “Everything is becoming automated,” he said. “You can control your pump, heater, and lights all from your phone.”
For Michael, the real measure of success goes beyond business. It’s found in his clients’ joy, in the memories they’ll make for years to come. “A handshake is my honor,” he said. That promise is at the heart of everything he does.
WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
The best advice came from my father. He told me to focus on one thing and do it well. You don’t need to be a jack of all trades. If you focus on the task at hand and give people your word, your reputation is built on that. If you say you’re going to do something, make sure you do it and do it right. That’s how you’ll always be successful in life.
FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF SELF-CARE OR WELLNESS?
For me, it’s just being with family. I’m a family person.
WHO IS YOUR TOP FITNESS ICON?
I don’t follow anyone specifically. But here’s a funny story: there’s a famous bodybuilder named Mike Matarazzo, and people often ask if that’s me. It’s been a long-running joke that no, I’m not the bodybuilder. I’ve heard that for many years.
Dr. Shahmeen Irshad Founder and CEO,
Amara Medical NYC amaramedicalnyc.com
Dr. Shahmeen Irshad’s years in practice revealed a powerful but difficult truth: patient care was losing its meaning. This realization inspired her to build a different kind of practice, one where care extends beyond the door. After completing her internal medicine residency in 2022, she searched for work that aligned with her passions. Years of struggling with eczema and acne taught her how much skin health affects confidence and well-being. Aesthetic medicine offered the balance she wanted: medical safety paired with creativity and the chance to help people feel like themselves again.
In December 2024, she opened Amara Medical NYC in Staten Island. Certified by the American Board of Aesthetic Medicine, she provides laser treatments, injectables, weight management, and painless hair restoration.
“After any treatment, the look on my client’s face the happiness means everything,” she said. That joy keeps her motivated every day. With Amara just beginning, Dr. Irshad is shaping a new vision for patient care personal, thoughtful, and transformative.
WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
It came from my sister. “Don’t wait for all the stars to align just start.” There’s never going to be a perfect time, and business is all about taking risks.
FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF SELF-CARE OR WELLNESS?
Enjoying a good home-cooked family meal.
WHO IS YOUR TOP FITNESS ICON?
My husband. He’s really into fitness. After dropping me off at the hospital for residency, he’d head straight to the gym before traveling to Manhattan to start his workday.
Frank Scarso Founder and CEO,
Avanza Capital / avanzacapitalllc.com
After more than 20 years on Wall Street, Frank Scarso stepped away from the life he knew. He did not have a clear plan for what would come next, but he had vision, drive, and two decades of financial experience to draw from. In 2017, he launched Avanza Capital, a direct funding firm for businesses often overlooked by traditional lenders.
Credit challenges, lack of collateral, and slow bank decisions are obstacles many business owners face when seeking loan approvals. Avanza bridges that gap by offering quick access to funds sometimes within hours providing support when it’s needed most.
“My father always told me, if you’re going to do something, do it right and treat it like it’s your own,” Scarso said. That mindset shaped Avanza from the start, built with a keen understanding of what it takes to start over and keep going.
Over the last eight years, Avanza has expanded across 48 states and grown from a small operation into a respected midsize firm. A rebranding nearly two years ago brought in new partners, including Scarso’s wife, and staff to meet rising demand, strengthening the firm’s reputation for fast, efficient, and trustworthy service. Scarso, a CEO who knows what it means to start over, leads Avanza in helping clients rebuild, grow, and find a true partner along the way.
WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Never give up and never say you can’t do something before even trying. If you don’t try, you definitely won’t get it done. Stay persistent and set goals that are realistic and achievable.
FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF SELF-CARE OR WELLNESS?
My wife and I play pickleball together twice a week, often with friends. It’s a great way for us to spend time together outside of work and just enjoy something fun.
WHO IS YOUR TOP FITNESS ICON?
Sylvester Stallone. The guy looks amazing for his age and really stands out more than anyone else
Nicole Perricho Senior Injector,
Lombardi Plastic Surgery Center lombardiplasticsurgery.com
Reflecting on her career, Nicole Perricho wouldn’t have it any other way. As a senior injector at Lombardi Plastic Surgery Center in Eatontown, Perricho brings joy to her patients’ lives by meeting their aesthetic needs with a personal touch. The New Jersey native is not, after all, merely a trained nurse injector with a toolkit; she is a compassionate professional who listens to her patients, helps them achieve their goals, and boosts their confidence and spirit.
“I’ve always had a desire to help people,” Perricho said. “And I always loved plastic surgery. Even when I was a kid, I would look at actors and map out what they needed done. So aesthetics has always been on my mind.”
Perricho especially values the helping aspect of her role. “I want my clients to walk away with confidence,” she said. “I want them to feel that no matter what they’re going through, they can take on whatever they need to.”
WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Move quietly. You don’t need all of the ra-ra-ra. You don’t need to tell people what you’re doing. You don’t need to look for that extra attention. When you’re good at what you do, people will see you for that.
FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF SELF-CARE OR WELLNESS?
It wouldn’t be one thing; it’s when I’m hitting all the things I’m supposed to be doing and enjoying a good stride with it. Skincare, working out, eating right, doing great at work there’s no better feeling than when you’re doing all of those things.
WHO IS YOUR TOP FITNESS ICON?
The Lip Bunny from Massachusetts. She’s also an injector.