When Ahajanay Bolden walked across the stage at the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Conference in San Diego to accept the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, she was still in disbelief. Eleven months earlier, she had taken her first client at Bethel Bliss Health & Wellness, her spa business in Washington and Belhaven.
“I spent a lot of time crying, but thankful crying,” Bolden said. “It helped my imposter syndrome really go away. I realized that I am who I think I am.”
Bolden, a graduate of Beaufort County Community College’s Natural Hair Care program and a client of the college’s Small Business Center, has built her business around helping others restore balance, confidence, and calm. Her company offers facials, massage, head spa treatments, and corrective skincare, emphasizing what she calls whole-person wellness.
“For me, wellness is more than relaxation; it’s about restoring balance,” she said. “You can’t give 100% to anything if you’re operating at 40%. When people feel better, they do better in their families and communities.”
From Chicago to Beaufort County
Her path to entrepreneurship began unexpectedly in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Then living in Chicago and studying communication disorders, Bolden decided she wanted something more hands-on.
“I decided something had to give,” she said. “I started school for esthetics at the Naperville Skin Institute. People told me I gave great facials, but I wanted to do more.”
The same day she graduated, she enrolled at the Soma Institute in downtown Chicago to study massage therapy. “If I give a great facial, how can I get my clients to stay longer? How can I enhance their experience?” she said.
By the time she finished, she had earned dual licensure and graduated as valedictorian. In 2022, Bolden relocated to eastern North Carolina with her children, ready to begin a new chapter.
Discovering Beaufort CCC
Her connection to Beaufort CCC began the following year when she saw the college’s continuing education schedule.
“I got the pamphlet you send out, and I saw the Natural Hair Care program. There was one spot left, and I said, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’m on my way.’”
The instructor asked students to create a two-year business plan. Bolden drafted one for a concept she called Bethel Bliss Health & Wellness but didn’t expect to open it so soon.
Then, in the fall of 2024, she discovered Beaufort CCC’s Small Business Center (SBC).
“When I found out the classes were free, I didn’t believe it,” she said. “I was taking classes every other day, online or in person. I didn’t even have a business yet, but something told me to keep going.”
That persistence paid off. Later that month, a disruption in her work forced her to take a leap of faith. “It didn’t make sense at first,” she said. “But I was ready. I told them, ‘Send me the lease; I’m starting this business.’”
Building Bethel Bliss
Working closely with Small Business Center Director Jack Dugan, Bolden launched Bethel Bliss in November 2024. She quickly found success, winning the SBC’s Seed & Sow Pitch Contest and several other NACCE-sponsored competitions. Her Seed & Sow winnings helped her travel to Costa Rica to earn certification in medical massage, a trip she calls life-changing.
In October, she was named NACCE’s Entrepreneur of the Year, selected from among hundreds of community college entrepreneurs nationwide.
“Ahajanay and all of my clients inspire me every day,” said Dugan. “Entrepreneurial spirit is strong here in eastern North Carolina, and we’re honored to be part of this.”
Bolden said the recognition came as a surprise. “Everyone around me kept saying, ‘You’re going to win,’” she said. “But I still doubted it. When they called my name, I was shocked. To only be 11 months in and win Entrepreneur of the Year; it’s unheard of.”
Creating Opportunities for Others
Now, Bolden is preparing to expand again, adding staff to meet growing demand. “I wear every hat: owner, therapist, marketer,” she said. “You may be Superwoman, but it’s okay to take off the cape and get some help. It’s about creating opportunities for others, not just for myself.”
She also hopes to work with justice-involved individuals to help them find new opportunities through wellness and entrepreneurship.
Faith and Perseverance
Through it all, Bolden credits faith and persistence for her success. “Don’t quit your daydream,” she said. “If it’s on your heart, it’s there for a reason. It doesn’t matter if no one else sees it; you have the power to bring it to life.”
She keeps a small statue in her home with that same phrase. “I’ve had it for four years,” she said. “Now I look at it and realize, this is what happens when you don’t quit your daydream.”