LUTZ, Fla. — A new business owner is grateful for a new beginning as her dreams of opening a spa come true.
What You Need To Know
Elizabeth Remis is opening Creations Med Aesthetics and Wellness Spa in Lutz
Remis overcame addiction and served a year in state prison before turning her life around
Only 1.5% of U.S. small business owners have a felony record, according to RAND Corporation
Remis hopes to help others find their best selves through her new business
“It’s very empowering. Like this is really happening for me,” said Elizabeth Remis. “Like, wow.”
The empowered entrepreneur is getting Creations Med Aesthetics and Wellness Spa ready to open at the beginning of the new year.
Remis is focusing on rebirth as she continues a 26-year recovery journey.
“When those steel doors closed in on me in prison, that was like an aha awakening for me that life has to change,” said Remis. “I need to do something different, this is not working out for me.”
Remis was in and out of the Hillsborough County Jail and served a year in state prison on a felony charge.
She says she turned to drugs after the deaths of several relatives and surviving sexual assault.
“(I was) using substances to cope with life and became a very unhealthy individual and did some very unhealthy things,” said Remis.
She got healthy, got clean behind bars and started concentrating on therapy and healing.
“There was a time that I would never anticipate that I would have or own a spa,” said Remis.
This entrepreneur has beat the odds. Just 1.5% of U.S. small business owners have a felony record, that’s according to RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization.
Allie Markham and Abe Brown Ministries serve up to 350 clients coming out of incarceration. Their job placement program InspHire helps employ people with a history of criminal charges.
“Breaking down those barriers is a challenge, trying to get employment, housing, a lot don’t even have credit when they come out, so establishing all of that takes time,” said Markham, who is the program manager.
Time and faith are what Remis has relied on.
She hopes to help others find their best selves, and she’s getting used to being called an entrepreneur.
“I’m just really filled with a lot of gratitude today, you know, because life could have been really different for me,” said Remis.
Grateful for a new beginning in her new spa and safe haven.