Juliana Hernandez and Juan Gabriel Perez, both immigrants who arrived in the United States from the Dominican Republic and Colombia respectively, have forged successful careers in Massachusetts through dedication and creativity.
Hernandez is the founder of Dez Collective, an event rental company renowned for transforming ordinary spaces into elegant venues. She attributes her passion for event design to her early experiences in the United States, where her mother, Rafaela, turned their basement into a makeshift party space for friends and family. Hernandez expressed her dedication to her craft, saying, “I’m a natural caretaker. I love to be able to make people feel good.”
After relocating at the age of four, Hernandez initially worked as a medical assistant before moving into event planning and design. She aims to empower women through her work, hoping to leave a positive legacy.
Perez’s journey began when he moved to Massachusetts at 19, speaking no English. He secured his first job cleaning at a supermarket the very next day. His career path quickly progressed from dishwashing to pizza-making, with Perez noting, “I came here on a Sunday and Monday at 6:00 AM, I had a job already.”
Over the next ten years, he honed his culinary skills in various pizzerias while working multiple jobs. “I never went to culinary school… I learned everything from experience,” he shared.
Today, Perez serves as the executive chef at Posto in Somerville’s Assembly Square, where he is celebrated for his innovative Neapolitan-style menu. He has earned recognition as one of the best pizza chefs in the world for four consecutive years and embraces creativity in the kitchen. “We do a peach pizza, we do almond pizza, I’m not afraid to put anything on a pizza,” he stated.
Perez encourages others to pursue their dreams, asserting, “If you dream it, you can, you can, you can make it happen.”
