Meet the EBA Board of Directors - Valarie Simmons

Valarie Simmons

Owner & Stylist, Bodacious Hair & Body

1. How long have you served on the EBA Board of Directors? I have served on the board about a year and a half & I have been an active member of the EBA for about 6 years on & off.

2. Why did you join the board? I decided to become part of the board to help revive EBA after the time off from quarantine. Life was crazy for all of us for a bit & EBA was sort of put on the back burner as we all scrambled to recover or reinvent our businesses. Eventhough life is always busy, I decided to carve out a little time for this organization because, as a small business owner, I realize the importance of community support.

3. Why do you think a business owner should join the board? EBA is a completely free organization run by volunteers. If you have a business in Easton, you are already a member! Being on the board is a great opportunity for business owners for a few reasons:

- As a salon owner, it was a priority for me to be sure that my industry could be more involved in Easton events. Restaurant Week is obviously very industry specific, but the Scarecrow Event & Snowman Scavenger Hunt are two examples of events that promote all types of business while including the community in something fun. Being involved in the planning of these events have been a way to create more social media buzz for us & therefore help in growing our clientele.

- Businesses need to help each other through new and uncharted situations now, more than ever. I know I was super grateful for the support of other salon and personal care businesses when all new covid restrictions were put into place. Getting advice and bouncing ideas off one another was beyond helpful & that is what EBA is all about.

- If being on the board is not your thing, even participating as an active member & coming to the monthly mixers is not only fun, but helps to develop a network of local folks that can be helpful in a myriad of ways.

4. What is the thing you like most about being part of Easton’s business community? It's always been a priority of mine to be involved in local community events, and EBA is the perfect way for me to do that. It is definitely my favorite part of EBA (and about Easton, as a city). There is always something going on here, and being able to contribute ideas and work together to make these things happen is awesome. I always say that Bodacious is a concierge service salon, we not only have all the services to make everyone beautiful, but we recommend all the great places to go, what is coming soon, and of course the events & festivals going on.