Woman-Owned Business Profile: Alchemists Beauty

Sami Jensen • March 29, 2019

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on the female entrepreneurs who have come through (or are currently participating in) reSET’s Impact Accelerator program. High school chemistry teachers Áine Kapell and Ann Guerrera founded Alchemists Beauty as a way to use their scientific knowledge to create plant-based tonics that restore beauty from the inside out.

 

Meet Áine Kapell and Ann Guerrera of Alchemists Beauty

As women become more aware of the toxins in their beauty products, they’re looking for cleaner alternatives. But what about beautifying from the inside out, rather than the outside in? The answer is S T R U C T U R E, a tonic created by high school science teachers Áine Kapell and Ann Guerrera. It’s formulated with a diverse selection of plant based essential nutrients the body needs to renew, protect & repair our skin. S T R U C T U R E is approaching beautiful skin with a new philosophy; from the inside out.

 

reSET: You’re just getting started with this year’s Impact Accelerator program. How has it helped you so far, and what are you looking to get out of the program?
Áine & Ann: Although we have the scientific knowledge to create our tonic, we have little to no experience in starting a business from the ground up, so we are extremely grateful to have been accepted into reSET’s Impact Accelerator program. Within just the first couple of months we have learn so much from not only our knowledgeable instructors, but also our fellow cohort members who are at different places in their business endeavors.

 

reSET: What are some challenges you’ve faced and overcome as female business owners?
Áine & Ann: Working full time as high school chemistry teachers, having a family and starting a new business has been very challenging but also extremely exciting and enjoyable too.


reSET: Who are your female role models?

Áine: Michelle Obama.
Ann: Madame Curie.

 

reSET: What’s one piece of advice you have for fellow female entrepreneurs?
Áine & Ann: Never give up, and believe in yourself and your abilities. There are always going to be obstacles and failures, it how you choose to handle and deal with those unexpected matters that will determine your success in the end.

 

reSET: Anything else we should know?
Áine & Ann: We love science, we love living healthy lifestyles, and hope that we can share that with others through using our beauty tonic.

By awalsh February 13, 2026
Dear reSET Community, The Board of Directors today announces the departure of Sarah Bodley as Executive Director of reSET in a planned transition later this year. The Board has immense gratitude for Sarah and all her contributions over the years. Over the last seven years, Sarah has built an amazing foundation for the organization and she leaves reSET in a strong position for continued growth and service. Sarah joined reSET in 2018 and over the past seven years has solidified and expanded reSET’s mission of supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs throughout Connecticut. Here are a few key highlights from Sarah’s time here: Facilitated the acquisition of Collab New Haven, expanding reSET’s footprint to a statewide geography and further enhancing our mission Developed and implemented new core programs including the award-winning Food Incubator, as well as the Food Accelerator, Retail Incubator, Measure What Matters, and Digital Marketing Mastermind Established reSET as a founding partner of the Hartford Culinary Collaborative, enabling greater connectivity and cooperation among food-centric support organizations in our region Doubled the organization’s budget to over 1 Million Dollars, securing multi-year State government grants Won the prestigious Neighborhood Builders Award from Bank of America, and the Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris Community Award in 2022 Established an endowment fund thanks to support from the Zachs Family Foundation to support the long term sustainability of reSET’s mission Over the coming months, we will be continuing our search to find reSET's next Executive Director. Sarah will stay onboard through June to ensure a smooth handoff to our next leader, and will be available as a resource throughout 2026. It is the Board of Directors’ priority, along with Sarah's, to make this transition as smooth as possible to continue the great work Sarah has helped us do over her tenure. The Executive Director’s Job Posting can be found at this link, and we invite you to keep in mind any potential candidates in your community or network that you think might be a great fit. The Board of Directors wishes Sarah the best of luck in her future endeavors. We are appreciative of the dedication and enthusiasm she has given to reSET over the last seven years, particularly navigating our organization seamlessly during the historic times of the pandemic, changes in administration, and an ever-evolving landscape of opportunity for entrepreneurs. We are confident that with Sarah’s support, this transition will be a smooth one for our Connecticut entrepreneurs, partners, and generous supporters. We look forward to continuing our growth and to serving our mission of supporting the social enterprise sector. If you have any questions or concerns during this transition, please don’t hesitate to reach out via contacting admin@resetco.org to get in touch with the board. Sincerely, Ali Lazowski + Dave Menard, co-chairs, reSET Board of Directors
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