Today we’d like to introduce you to Lingiere Diaz
Hi Lingiere, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Lingiere Diaz, 29, Dominican native from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but, raised in Hackensack, New Jersey. I was raised by my mother and grew up with my older brother. At 3 months, my mom and my family decided to move to Alaska for our residency and moved to New Jersey when I was 4 or 5 years old. As a child, I wasn’t the average little girl. I was always “one of the guys”. I was into sports and into doing anything that involved my hands. In high school I played basketball, softball and occasionally got on the football field with the guys after school. I graduated Hackensack High School in 2013 and shipped off to the United States Army July of that year to embark on my 7.5 year military journey where I’d be throwing grenades at 18 years old. During this time I left Jersey and went to Army Basic Training on Fort Jackson Military Base in Columbia, SC for the next 2 months. I then went on to Fort Lee, Virginia to complete an additional 10 weeks of military occupational training.
Later I’d be serving my first military contract on Fort Carson Army base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After 7.5 years in the military I was medically retired in 2020 with multiple awards, decorations, promotions and recognition for my service. Not to mention the life long family I made during that time. During my service, I served as a Petroleum Supply Specialist and weapons technician. I also served a deployment overseas and traveled all over Eastern Europe such as France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, Malta, Czech Republic just to name a few while serving 3 years in Germany. Life of a ROCKSTAR!
When I returned stateside I’m staying with a friend till I get back on my feet. I was able to secure a job and moved into my first apartment here in Jacksonville, FL where I currently reside. One year into my new job, in 2023 I decided to quit my job and go to school for my long lost love…Barbering.
The military is a lifestyle. Going into the military at a young age, the uniform consumes you and being out of it made it very difficult to navigate who I am again. However, once I began to get a clear and consice understanding of who I am and what I want to do, I chose cutting hair to be the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road was anything but smooth. Being in the military life is stressful. To cope with the stresses of my life I depended heavily on alcohol and abused prescription drugs, I also went through a divorce in my process where I had to represent myself because I could not afford a lawyer or attorney, I was hospitalized twice due to my drug and alcohol abuse which essentially deemed me unfit to continue serving in the military. am a veteran looking for work and living on unemployment. Unfortunately, due to lack of resources, money and jobs not amounting to the cost of living, I had to make a decision to leave Colorado. While waiting for jobs to contact me an opportunity presented itself where I accepted a government contracting job in Bagram, Afghanistan working a 1 year US Airforce contract. I was unable to use military orders to terminate my lease due to my non-military status at the time and I had to abandon my apartment and ALL of my things. My friend at the time and myself drove 36hrs with only a fraction of my things to Jacksonville, FL before I left. I am also finishing my AA in Criminal Justice during this time which I completed in 2021.
At the time, the military and government work being the only and longest position I’ve ever held, it was all I knew. Upon retiring from the military, I continued my career within the government and worked multiple government contractual positions across the branches of the military. When I arrived to Afghanistan, one year turned into 6 months due to the troop withdrawal politically agreed upon and was later laid off and expeditiously fleeing the country and the Taliban. Here I am again seeing myself in a similar position as when I initially retired, I was on the hunt once again only living off the little bit of money I accrued and I was offered another military contractual position as a Supply Technician for the US Navy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Artistry Innovations LLC?
I am a professional licensed barber/independant contractor in the state of FL; specializing in fades and line work out of BuddyKutz Barbershop off of Atlantic Blvd and San Pablo, close proximity of the beach where our mission is to provide barbering services to our clients in a professional family oriented environment. I’ve also enrolled in an online business academic program with Florida International University to further enhance my overall performance and catapult me into mine and my family’s future.
I rent a booth at BuddyKutz Barbershop and independently operate under Artistry Innovations LLC. Some of the services I provide include, line-ups, mustache/beard grooming and shaping, Kids, junior and adult haircuts, specials, after hour accommodation, hair and beard treatments designs and more!
What sets me apart from others are my technical skills such as haircutting, styling, shaving and other grooming services. I can work with all hair types, textures and styles to meet the needs of my client. I have a creative eye and am able to suggest and execute new and trendy styles for my clients. I also provide recommendations based on my expertise and client’s preferences. I have excellent customer service; I am friendly, approachable and attentive to my client’s needs. Building strong relationships with clients is most important. I have effective communication skills which results in thorough understanding of the client’s needs and delivering exceptional results. I listen carefully to my client’s requests. I pay close attention to detail to ensure precise and polished haircuts or shaves. this also helps me extend to cleanliness and hygiene in the shop. I am a professional. I am punctual, well-groomed, and maintain a clean and organized work space and respect client confidentiality. Finally, I am always looking to improve my my skills and stay updated on the latest trends and techniques in the industry. I pride myself in continuing education and training to help myself stay competitive and offer the best services to my clients.
Brand wise, I am most proud of the quality due to its consistency, high quality services and customers can be proud to associate themselves with the brand. Innovations, pushing the boundaries in the industry that make customers proud to associate with the services being provided to them. The social responsibility by prioritizing sustainability and ethical business practices which attract clients who are proud to support the brand that aligns with their values. Designs and aesthetics, and customer service.
Customers can expect high quality of services with personalized attention and a comfortable atmosphere when they think of the shop and the care taken in delivering top-notch haircuts and grooming services. BuddyKutz Barbershop is also involved with the community in which we participate in sponsoring events, supporting charities and participating in local initiatives. The goal is to always convey a sense of professionalism, expertise, and client focus.
Appointment availability, services, reviews and pricing can be accessed when booking your net appointment on book.thecut.co/RezorFadez or download theCut app to schedule.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that I am stronger than I give myself credit for. Its hard to say I only learned ONE lesson when I learned several throughout my journey. I learned that I am stronger and more resilient than I thought. It helped me develop coping mechanisms and the ability to bounce back from difficult situations. I’ve learned the art of perspective which helped me prioritize what truly matters in life which made me more grateful for the things we often take for granted. I’ve learned to face challenges forcing me to think creatively and find solutions to problems I never encountered otherwise. I’ve learned lessons on empathy and how going through tough times can make us more compassionate and empathetic towards others who are facing similar challenges. Its helped me deepen my understanding of human struggles and connect me with other people on a deeper level. Personal growth and self discovery pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me uncover inner strengths and qualities I never knew I had. I’ve learned to appreciate the good times more which helped me savor moments of joy and happiness, knowing that they are not guaranteed and that they often follow periods of struggle. Overcoming adversity has helped me cultivate a resilient mindset that helps me face future challenges with more confidence and determination which built inner straight that sustains me in difficult times. I’ve learned the lesson of adaptability as well. Being adaptable and flexible in the face of change showed me that I have the capacity to adjust my plans and expectations when circumstances shift unexpectedly. I have gained strength in my faith and hopes by learning that even in the darkest moments, there is a light. Finally, I have fostered a sense of gratitude for all the lessons I have learned, the growth experienced, and the support received during tough times. It has reminded me to be thankful for the resilience and strength I discovered within myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rezor.fadez
- Other: https://book.thecut.co/RezorFadez
