Jun 18, 2026 | Businesses
Mike, tell us about The Housing Collective. The Housing Collective is an invitation-only referral and networking group for professionals who serve homeowners. Real estate attorneys, real estate agents from any brokerage, mortgage advisors, inspectors, insurance agents, contractors, designers, financial planners — every category is represented by one or more trusted professionals who have been personally vetted. The goal is straightforward: make it easier for great professionals to refer to each other, and for clients to navigate the full ecosystem of homeownership with confidence.
What inspired you to start The Housing Collective? I’ve been in real estate long enough to know that a home sale or purchase is rarely just about the property — it touches almost every part of someone’s financial and personal life. I wanted to build something that made it easier for the right professionals to find each other and serve clients together, rather than everyone working in silos. The idea was simple: bring together the best people in each category, keep the group small and intentional, and let great service do the talking.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in running a business? Reputation compounds. Every interaction — how you handle a difficult negotiation, how quickly you return a call, how honest you are when the news isn’t good — builds or erodes the trust that ultimately defines your business. I’ve learned to treat every client engagement as if my reputation depends on it, because it does.
What do you love most about Marblehead? My favorite thing about Marblehead is something I experience almost every day — whether I’m driving to the office or out for a run. Leaving my neighborhood in Clifton, passing through the Shipyard, down to Front Street, then along Franklin and Elm — it’s like moving through a time warp. The architecture shifts right in front of you, from newer construction to Colonial-era homes that predate the Revolution. Most towns have history. Marblehead lets you move through it.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? My first job out of college was selling and helping people write personal ads for The Boston Phoenix Newspaper. Before Tinder, before Match.com, people paid by the word to find a connection — and I helped them tell their story compellingly enough to get a response. Turns out that’s not so different from what I do now: figuring out what makes something worth choosing and writing copy that makes someone pick up the phone. The full-circle moment? I met my wife on Match.com more than 20 years later — the technology changed, but the idea was exactly the same.
For More Information:
The Housing Collective
Mike Cannuscio, Founder
HousingNetworking.com
Apr 20, 2026 | Businesses, Financial
Tell us about your Savvy Financial Solutions. I’ve been passionate about small business for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs — a third-generation small business owner. I was a retail business owner on Newbury Street at the age of 25. I was a full-charge bookkeeper for the same business at age 21. What always fascinated me wasn’t just the day-to-day operations, but the bigger picture behind the business: the successes, the pain points, and most importantly the numbers that told the real story.
At 42, I decided to formalize what had always been a part of my life and went back to school for a certificate in accounting. I initially thought I would pursue a CPA, but along the way I realized something important — my true passion wasn’t in public accounting. It was, and always has been, in supporting small businesses. That realization is what led me to become a bookkeeper for small business owners. I understand their challenges because I’ve lived them. I know the pride, the pressure, and the hustle that go into keeping a business alive. And I love helping entrepreneurs make sense of their numbers so they can make confident business decisions and grow their businesses with clarity and control.
The services that I offer my clients include: Bookkeeping & Financial Organization, Financial Reporting & Insights, Diagnostic Review & Clean-Up, Accounts Payable & Receivable, Compliance & Administrative Support, Systems Setup & Optimization and Advisory & Support. To learn more about specific services that fall under these categories, please visit my website at Savvyfinancialedge.com
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The best piece of business advice I’ve ever received is to choose work you’re passionate about. If you’re passionate, the effort will feel natural, the challenges will feel worthwhile and your success will just become a byproduct of that commitment. My best advice to small business owners is that monthly financials and staying on top of your numbers will help you run your business and make better decisions. Waiting until the end of the year to compile financials will not help you. (other than to pay your taxes).
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? My favorite spot in Marblehead is the Lighthouse on Marblehead Neck. Overlooking Marblehead Harbor there is a perfect mix of ocean views, passing boats and wide-open sky. It’s my reminder to slow down, gain perspective and stay grounded. It’s ironic that what the lighthouse brings to me – clarity and perspective – is what I strive to bring to my clients. I want them to step back, see the bigger picture and move forward with confidence.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? People are most surprised that I owned a retail store on Newbury Street when I was 25 years old.
For More Information:
Savvy Financial Solutions LLC
Dawn Gilliland, Owner
[email protected]
SavvyFinancialEdge.com
Apr 14, 2026 | Businesses, Jewelry, Shopping
Photo (left to right): Graham Henderson (Sales Lead & Certified Gemologist), Steven Tyler Manchini (Co-owner & Jeweler), Maria Demos (Co-owner & Admin), Ernie Thomas (Co-owner & Jeweler).
Tell us about your business and how you help/serve your clients. Marblehead Custom Jewelry is a small, independent studio specializing in custom-designed pieces, heirloom redesigns, expert repairs, and the informative buying and selling of gold and other precious metals. We work one-on-one with clients to transform their ideas, stories, and sentimental jewelry into pieces they can wear every day, guiding them through materials, design options, and budgets so the final piece feels both deeply personal and beautifully crafted.
What inspired you to start your business? This business grew from a love of both craftsmanship and connection. Over the years, we saw how meaningful jewelry can be when it truly reflects someone’s life, whether that is an engagement ring, a memorial piece, or a family heirloom needing a new chapter. Creating a dedicated space for that kind of thoughtful, collaborative work in Marblehead felt like a natural next step.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in running a business? One of the biggest lessons has been the importance of clear, caring communication. Being transparent about timelines, processes, and what is realistically possible helps build trust and long-term relationships. We have also learned that staying flexible and listening closely to client feedback is essential for sustainable growth while still honoring our values and standards.
What do you love most about Marblehead? Marblehead has a unique mix of history, coastal beauty, and a genuinely supportive small-business community. There is something special about working in a town where people value local, handcrafted work and where neighbors truly want to see each other succeed. While having friends and family support us is one thing, seeing the wider community so invested in our success has been especially meaningful and motivating.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? People are often surprised to learn that everyone at Marblehead Custom Jewelry is a first‑generation jeweler, not part of a long line of jewelers or a legacy family business. Unlike many jewelry shops that are passed down through generations, we each chose this field independently and built our skills, studio, and systems from the ground up. This gives us the freedom to question “the way it’s always been done” and to approach design, customer service, and problem‑solving with a fresh, open mindset.
For More Information:
Marblehead Custom Jewelry
Steven Manchini – Co-Owner & Jeweler
66 Washington Street, Marblehead
MarbleheadCustomJewelry.com
Apr 6, 2026 | Businesses, Health & Wellness
Tell us about your business, why you started it, and how you help your clients. I truly stumbled into this journey. As a lifelong dancer and interior designer, I was always active, but in 2019, at age 55, I had a moment of clarity. I realized I needed to take control of my health and my future so I could stay strong and mobile for myself and my family. With determination as my guide, I began what has now evolved into G’lean, an oasis for women, especially those over 40 and 50, who are serious about reclaiming their health. I strongly believe that every woman over 50 should be doing this work.
What makes G’lean different from any other fitness studio is its supportive, welcoming environment where self-doubt, fear, and self-consciousness fade away. G’lean’s programming is intentionally diverse, meant for women seeking options beyond a single-style gym: strength training, barre, yoga, and Pilates, along with TRX and BOSU workouts. I offer small-group classes capped at eight people, providing personalized attention and a variety of modalities. This allows coaches to modify workouts and reduce the fear of injury, a concern she often hears from women over 40, those rehabbing surgeries, or easing back into regular activity.
G’lean serves as a comprehensive wellness space that combines movement with recovery tools and accountability systems — and a social structure meant to keep members returning. Beyond movement, we focus on total wellness, offering recovery tools such as a far-infrared sauna that includes red light therapy. The studio also uses SHAPESCALE, a scanning system that provides a three-dimensional image of the body along with detailed composition measurements that can be compared over time.
Most importantly, we help women shift their mindset: no one can prioritize your health for you. It must become your priority. And often, the people who will be most grateful for that decision are the ones who love you most.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Be authentic. Be the best. I love what I do because it is more than a business; it is fulfilling work that truly impacts lives.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? The walking trails! It’s peaceful, grounding, and a reminder of how important it is to keep moving and take time for yourself, something I encourage all of my clients to do.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Before starting G’lean, I enjoyed a 14+ year career as a flight attendant, as well as working in internal training and management for American Airlines. That experience taught me so much about people, service, and adaptability, all of which I bring into my business today.
For More Information:
G’Lean Well Being
Cathy Crist – Founder, Owner, Instructor
[email protected]
gleanwb.com
Feb 9, 2026 | Businesses, Health & Wellness
Tell us about your Nurture Massage & Wellness, why you started it and how you help your clients. Nurture Massage & Wellness is a company focused on delivering evidence- based, quality bodywork through listening, focus, and empathy. It started back in 2014, originally with a focus on expecting and new moms, and families. We prioritize accessibility, achieved through flexibility such as allowing babies to accompany mom to receive her selfcare. We want to utilize every moment our client has with us, from using quality products to continuing education, so we want to maximize the therapeutic value of our sessions. As the years go on, people seek us out for pain relief, sports maintenance, as well as relaxation. Our newest and exciting modality is lymphatic drainage.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The best piece of business advice I have ever received would be to “keep plugging away” and to remember that things take time to happen, so be patient. And pivot when necessary.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? There’s so many incredible spots in Marblehead to visit. Being on South Street, I am close to so many shops and restaurants. It’s fantastic. I like to be healthy, so my new go-to spot is Hooked Nutrition. They have amazing, protein-packed smoothies — I recommend the strawberry-banana flavor.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? People see me as an easy-going, laid-back type, but I’m actually quite tenacious.
For More Information:
Nurture Massage & Wellness
Becky Brandt LMT, Owner
[email protected], 781-913-2191
Nurturemassageandwellness.com
Feb 4, 2026 | Businesses, Pet
Tell us about Tranquil Transitions, why you started it and how you help your clients. Saying good-bye to our four legged loved ones is truly the hardest part of sharing our lives with them. I founded Tranquil Transitions to offer in-home pet euthanasia, aiming to make this experience as comfortable as possible for pets and their owners. The creation of Tranquil Transitions came about after a very personal experience with our first dog, and the love of our life, Brickely. Over the years I have helped many pets pass both in the clinic setting and in their homes. While I have always known the profound importance of a calm transition I didn’t realize the enormity of the experience until we were faced with the decision for Brickley.
By the time we had reached the end, Brickley was quite painful, anxious, and had mobility issues. When we finally made the decision we were fortunate that my colleague was able to come to our house. The process of getting him into the car and to a place that caused him stress would have been an emotional and physical challenge. In addition, the sense of grief we felt following his passing was staggering, and being in our own environment, with our kids nearby, was a huge comfort. After this experience, a good friend called me asking for assistance with their dog, however, due to license restrictions, I wasn’t able to help. I realized that I wanted to be able to support my friends and our community through this difficult time. Months later, Tranquil Transitions was born.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Do what you love, do it passionately, and happiness and success will follow.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? It is tough to pick just one, but I think I would choose Crocker Park, as we spend so many hours there looking out over the harbor while our kids play behind us. It’s a place that reminds me how fortunate we are to live in a town that has such natural beauty, a love for the ocean and a sense of community and celebration.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? When I lived in California I used to avoid the cold at all costs and complained about it endlessly. Now I’m obsessed with jumping into the ocean every week for a cold dip. The colder the better.
For More Information:
Tranquil Transitions
Lindsey Rynk, Veterinarian/Owner
[email protected], (978) 219-7089
Tranquil-Transitions.net
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