It all started with a pack of press-on nails. Burlington resident Tori Mitchell began running around Tucker Street offering manicures to her neighbors. This love for painting nails landed Mitchell first job straight in a salon in East Burlington when she was 17 years old. Now Mitchell, 45, serves as the founder and CEO of Nail Fiendz Nail Institute, a nail tech school that provides skills and experiences for local residents.
The build up of her business and the accomplishments behind it will be recognized at the first Black Alamance County Awards on Friday, Feb. 25. Her nomination for Best Black Nail Technician will be featured at an awards ceremony that will showcase Black owned businesses, community organizations, entrepreneurs, individuals and services in Alamance County.
“I was surprised I was nominated,” Mitchell said. “The nominee is for nail tech. I'm an instructor, I'm an educator … Of course, I had to get my nail tech license to become an educator, but I'm an educator.”
The Black Alamance County Awards mission is to celebrate Black owned and operated businesses, serving as a marketing and recognition platform for individuals. The awards give the community a voice in identifying and promoting businesses they most support. The project was also a way to ask the community about Black owned businesses and organizations while identifying those companies with the best brands, customer service and reputations. With this year being the first for the event, plaques will be given to winners in each category and nominees will receive certificates.
According to Dreama Caldwell, one of the event’s organizers, this event has been long awaited, and the night will finally recognize those who need to be recognized in the community. Having the awards ceremony during the month of February is also another way to celebrate Black History month.
“During Black History month people often begin out history with slavery or the trauma of Jim Crow. It is important to celebrate Black Excellence that has always existed in the past, present and future,” Caldwell said. “Oftentimes these achievements and acknowledgements go unnoticed. It inspires future generations to continue to push forward.”
Mitchell said when it comes down to honoring businesses, it’s important to recognize that getting to where she is now wasn’t easy. Her nail technician curriculum, evaluation and building her clientele from the ground up took years, and when she finally opened her doors to Nail Fiendz in February 2020, she was only met with a delay because of the pandemic.
The location of her shop in east Burlington was also a major choice Mitchell had to make for her business. She mainly chose that location so that individuals similar to her with the same dream of being a nail technician could reach their goals.
“I think God chose me for the spot,” Mitchell said. “I wanted to offer something to my community that they wouldn't otherwise get. I have empathy for people that come to me. And for some reason, those are the ones that were just in my way. And I put myself in their shoes. And I try to do all I can for my students.”
Looking forward to the event itself, Mitchell said she hopes that the first Black Alamance County awards will not only recognize her achievements, but also take the time to spread the word on everyone else’s too.
“It gives us a platform to be able to celebrate our accomplishments and our goals and and not only that, for the community to know about,” Mitchell said.