46 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • DECEMBER 16, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Astoria jeweler featured on Netfl ix co-founder’s podcast
BY KAYLA WONG
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Seville Michelle, an Astoria jeweler,
recently joined Netfl ix co-founder Marc
Randolph on his podcast, “Th at Will
Never Work.”
Born and raised in Astoria, Michelle is a
self-taught jewelry designer whose designs
have been worn by many major celebrities.
Michelle travels between her place in West
Hollywood and her apartment in Queens,
and hand-makes everything herself.
On his podcast, the veteran Silicon
Valley entrepreneur and adviser works
directly with other entrepreneurs who
have been told “that will never work,” helping
Screenshot via YouTube/Marc Randolph
Astoria-based jeweler Seville Michelle was featured on Netfl ix co-founder Marc Randolph’s podcast, “That Will Never Work.”
James O’Neal of Harlem appointed as AARP New York state president
BY QNS STAFF
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
AARP New York has appointed aging
expert and dedicated community health
care advocate James C. O’Neal as its next
state president. In this position, O’Neal
will chair the AARP New York Executive
Council, a select leadership group of
AARP New York members with an outstanding
record of service and a commitment
to the goals of the Association. As
State President, O’Neal will help shape
AARP New York’s strategic priorities,
build community partnerships with key
decision makers and serve as volunteer
spokesperson for the organization.
“We’re excited to welcome James and
his wealth of expertise to AARP’s fi ght
for New Yorkers 50-plus,” said AARP
New York State Director Beth Finkel.
“James brings a comprehensive knowledge
of aging and health care that will
make AARP New York even stronger as
we navigate the ongoing pandemic and
into the future.”
O’Neal, an independent consultant on
older adult issues, has spent over a decade
in the community health care industry,
fi rst with Oxford Health Plans, followed
by the Visiting Nurse Service of New
York and Beth Abraham’s CenterLight
Health Care, where he held the position
of Director of Community Outreach until
his retirement in January 2015.
“AARP’s incredible strength comes
from its members and volunteers, and
I’m so proud to help lead this dedicated
group,” O’Neal said. “I look forward to
continuing the important work of making
New York State a healthier, more livable
and more aff ordable place to live and age.”
O’Neal currently serves as a Board
Member of the State Society on Aging of
New York, Neighborhood SHOPP (senior
centers and services) and the Washington
Heights/Inwood Interagency Council on
Aging, and is President of the Bronx
Interagency Council on Aging (BRICA).
His past appointments include advisory
and leadership roles with the
Adult Immunization Coalition of the
Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
of New York City and the U.S. Department
of Housing and Development-sponsored
“Healthy Homes, Healthy Seniors”
Community Study. In 2016, O’Neal
was appointed a Member of the governor’s
Advisory Committee for the
Aging, and since 2018, he has served as
a United Nations Representative for the
International Federation on Ageing.
O’Neal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Franklin & Marshall College and a
Master of Arts from New York University.
He resides in Harlem.
O’Neal succeeds Leo Asen, who will
complete his maximum term of six years
as AARP State President at the conclusion
of 2021.
AARP New York volunteers advocate
on behalf of the 50-plus and are supported
by the Executive Council and AARP staff .
Th ose interested in volunteering may visit
https://www.aarp.org/volunteer/ for more
information.
Follow AARP on Twitter: @AARPNY
and Facebook: AARP New York
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit,
nonpartisan organization dedicated to
empowering people 50 and older to choose
how they live as they age. With a nationwide
presence and nearly 38 million members,
AARP strengthens communities and
advocates for what matters most to families:
health security, fi nancial stability and
personal fulfi llment. AARP also produces
the nation’s largest circulation publications:
AARP Th e Magazine and AARP Bulletin.
To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/nearyou
or follow @AARPNY on social media.
them turn their nascent or struggling
businesses into sustainable companies.
During the 30-minute episode, Michelle
and Randolph discuss how Michelle can
continue to grow and scale her company;
how to maintain an authentic brand; and
the importance of putting your head down
and working hard.
“To even just talk to him is such a big
deal for me because he’s got his stuff
together,” Michelle said. “He’s someone
who is so business-minded and getting his
feedback and being in the same energetic
space was really awesome.”
During their conversation, one piece of
advice that stuck out to Michelle was never
resting in her success.
“It was really valuable to have that kind
of affi rmation. It’s something I’ve always
suspected in my 13 years as a jewelry
designer,” Michelle said. “I really loved
that he was actually listening to me speak
and was quickly able to identify the core
of what I do.”
Michelle started designing aft er coming
out of a really diffi cult time in her life.
“I just started making stuff really in
an eff ort to heal from trauma,” she said.
“It was helpful and as soon as I started
designing, my work reached all these
amazing people I grew up listening to, and
every time that happened, it healed me a
little bit more.”
Her jewelry has reached many famous
celebrities, such as Beyonce, Lizzo, Azealia
Banks, Jennifer Lopez and Alicia Keys, but
taking care of every customer is a big part
of her brand.
“When one order comes in from a customer
and it goes wrong, you have to treat
that one customer like she’s a major celebrity,”
Michelle said. “I always create jewelry
so that the girl who drives the bus can
wear it; the people getting on the bus can
wear it; and the people they listen to in
their headphones can wear it, too.”
Much of Michelle’s brand and designs
draw from her roots, as she grew up wearing
large earrings and chains.
“My designs reimagine the jewelry of my
youth,” she said. “To be where I am now
creatively, to have these girls that are super
famous wear my stuff and know who I am,
is not that far-fetched from the inspiration
I grew up around in Queens.”
Another part of her brand is that earrings
come in all colors, shapes and sizes,
just like people.
“Queens is one of the most culturally
and ethnically diverse places in the
world,” she said. “My classroom growing
up looked like United Colors of Benetton,
and we were all rolling in unison.”
When Michelle spoke with Randolph,
her jewelry was only in 20 stores. Now,
she’s in 90, with multiple showrooms
around the country.
“I think what Randolph does is such
a service to small business owners who
are making their way and trying to fi gure
everything out,” Michelle said. “He off ers
advice that if you listen can be instrumental
in helping you move on and grow your
business.”
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