Carson City entrepreneur finds work/life balance owning her own salon
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Sat, 03/11/2023 - 11:15am
Judy Mosqueda became an entrepreneur on March 2, 2021, and as she celebrates her second full year as a business owner, she says she hasn’t looked back once preferring to look to the future as she grows her beauty business while keeping her family in the forefront.
Naming her full-service salon after herself, Mosqueda reminisces as to what led her to take the leap of faith in herself as all business owners must, “As I started my family, I knew I wanted to have the time to be an integral part of my children’s everyday life, so I decided to open my own business to give me more flexibility.”
She also uses her parents as role models since they were able to assimilate into a new country because they believed in themselves.
After graduating from Pioneer High School in 2005, she married her high school sweetheart, Francisco, a 2003 graduate of Carson High School who enlisted in the Marines for four years and today is a drafting supervisor for Knowles Precision Devices in Minden.
After graduation, Mosqueda took classes to become a medical technician working in the laboratory at Carson Valley Medical Center for 10 years while maintaining a schedule to be able to be an engaged mother of three children ages 16, 13, and 7.
Although she enjoyed her medical career, it was time for a change. She always had a passion for the beauty business and enrolled in a Reno beauty school in 2013 to become a licensed nail technician working for other salons before opening her own. This past December, she graduated from Carson’s local beauty school to become a licensed hair stylist to add to her accomplishments.
Keeping her children in school and engaged is her top priority. She comes from a Hispanic blended family of 8 and is proud all but one broke the cycle of not graduating from high school and going on to advance their education. Her parents chose to relocate from California to Carson City in 1992 to provide a better life for their family. “A high school diploma is important and I am proud I broke the cycle, and I want my kids to be successful and advance even further.”
Many independent salons are owned by women like Mosqueda who find they are better able to juggle their busy careers to suit the needs of their family. As she states, “I have always loved the beauty business and enjoy making stressed out women feel less stressed and more beautiful by the end of their appointment.”
Although it can be stressful at times juggling it all, she states, I like being independent and never feel I am working in the traditional sense because I love what I do.” She has found her work/life balance while still enjoying being a wife and mother. She makes her own schedule.
Providing good customer service is her mantra and the independent contractors who work with her are all of the same mind. Currently, the salon features three nail techs, two hairstylists, a barber, and a certified Advanced Esthetician offering body sculpting, lashes, skincare, waxing, and more.
Tucked in behind Cal Ranch at 213 Sage Street, Judy’s Salon occupies the entire small building with room to grow as customers find this niche. Open daily except Sunday. Appointment encouraged. The phone number is 775-492-9191.
— Writer Ronni Hannaman is the Executive Director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.
