Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Babicka and Priscilla Roman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Jonathan Babicka:
I was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Communications, I moved to Florida where I emerged onto the scene as an energetic salesperson for a Chinese company, RK Beauty, which sold Japanese hair products to professional hair salons. Recognizing that South Florida was at the forefront of creating hair fashion trends, I created my own company, BDF Master Distributors, which sold top brand professional hair products to salons from Orlando to the Florida Keys.
After watching Missy, my then hairstylist girlfriend (now wife), bounce around from salon to salon, we joined forces to cull our industry connections to conceptualize Primp Salon & Hair Extension Boutique, a full-service salon for men and women. Primp opened its doors in May 2009 on Washington Avenue and 15th Street offering the most innovative and revolutionary hair services, products and treatments.
I launched Primp Salon with three events, each in conjunction with a charity: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Project Sunshine. For over four years, Primp partnered with charities for many events especially charity fashion shows. Creating awareness through events and marketing progressively became more of a passion for me, which lead to creating MOMM Organization, which nurtured great causes and charities through events, creative marketing, mixed media, and tools that spoke directly with the youth.
MOMM was awarded “Organization of the Year” by Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida for creating the Make-A-Wish Fashion Show, “Charity FUNKSHION”, during Swimsuit Fashion Week 2011 in Miami Beach, which featured a Make-A-Wish child, whose dreams of being a model came true. MOMM Produced and managed successful charity/fundraising events at upscale hotels and nightclubs in Miami. For two years, MOMM partnered with Shore Club Hotel in South Beach to host a weekly party on Friday nights called On the Radar, and executed one customized charity event per month, including PR and marketing.
I was determined to help charities in the most effective way possible and took what he learned as the President of MOMM Organization to form PhilanTropic Lifestyle. The launch event for PhilanTropic Lifestyle was featured in the Miami Herald’s inaugural Philanthropy edition in November 2013 for the production of the 1st Annual “MEDDY Awards” to benefit Jose’s Hands at the SLS Hotel. I then set out to integrate company brands with nonprofit organizations and raised awareness about worthy causes through its HELPS Program – Honor, Educate, Listen, Produce, Support. PhilanTropic Lifestyle created social media and online marketing campaigns for charities and socially responsible businesses.
As an active philanthropist, I am involved in a variety of incredible charities in South Florida. The Little Lighthouse Foundation has always been one of my favorites. My support has been well rounded through marketing, volunteering, and contributions. I have had a strong relationship with the organization’s founders and board members. Now, as Executive Director of Little Lighthouse Foundation, I have the opportunity to concentrate my life’s work on one foundation, which focusses on the needs of children and their families, issues near and dear to my heart.
Deeply rooted in philanthropy, I have been a member of the Educational Foundation of America’s Adjunct Committee and a member of the Prentice Foundation since the age of 18. I have been a Miami Beach resident for over 17 years. I am very happily married to my wife, Missy Babicka, and a very proud dad to their daughter, Layla, and son, Prentice.
Priscilla Roman:
I am a Miami-born, Cuban-American, first-generation college graduate. As many of my peers can tell you, we walk through this life with the weight of our family’s sacrifices on our backs and we make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. Through a combined effort from my incredible parents, grandparents and great uncle, Monsignor Agustin Roman, I was fortunate enough to receive an excellent education at St. Agatha Catholic School and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, respectively. I then went on to Florida International University where I graduated in 2014 with a degree in Public Relations, the first of my immediate family to do so.
Since then, I’ve applied myself diligently and confidently to every opportunity I’ve had. After working my way up as a call center representative and administrative employee, at the age of twenty-two I became the first Project Coordinator of a family-owned company called GBS International, Inc. which managed customer service for timeshare and vacation membership owners, among other things. I had the chance to travel, work with everyone from Customer Service, to IT, to the owners of large-scale hotels and vacation clubs, as well as learn the value of relationship building and management.
I then went on to work as the Project Manager for a short-lived but very progressive project called Audi at Home. The project was commissioned straight from Audi headquarters in Germany and sought to place luxury Audi vehicles available for rent at luxury condominiums through an app, only they didn’t take into account that of the residents that reside in Miami full-time, many of them already own luxury vehicles. As soon as I was able to bring a new client on board, Germany pulled the plug. I stayed on with the company who hired me for the position for a few more months to help them look for new business in the city but knew it wasn’t the right place for me.
And then, the Little Lighthouse Foundation came my way! Through a very coincidental and perfectly timed string of phone calls, I was connected with Jonathan. After our first conversation, I knew this was where I was meant to be. I couldn’t dream of a better way to put all these skills and passion to use than to be of service to others. Since I began with the Little Lighthouse Foundation two and a half years ago, I have seen blessing after blessing. It truly is a community of kind-hearted, like-minded individuals doing their best to make the lives of those less fortunate just a little bit better. I am grateful each day for the opportunity I was given.
Personally, I enjoy spending time with my incredible family and friends. Doesn’t matter what we’re doing, time spent with them fuels me for all other things in life. I am also blessed to experience this life with my boyfriend, Robert Suarez, who is never in short supply of love and support for anything I set out to accomplish. I am incredibly grateful for the team I was given and credit any and all success I’ve had to them.
I am currently working on becoming a Certified Life Coach and hope to be able to use these skills to help others in a different way, by offering guidance to achieve their goals, as well as apply those skills to my role at LLF. I look forward to all the incredible opportunities and experiences this chapter of my life will have to offer.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Jonathan:
When I was on my own before the Little Lighthouse Foundation with my company, PhilanTropic Lifestyle, I knew I wanted to make more of an impact by being a part of a team. I started interviewing for companies and with individuals whose, work and morals aligned with mine. I went on countless interviews. I was either overqualified or lacked the experience if it wasn’t non-profit related. I did some soul searching and after all of the rejections, I decided to go full steam with my company. Once I put my focus and attention on it, I started making more progress. It was at that time that I got the call to run the Little Lighthouse Foundation. Go figure. 😉
Priscilla:
I look back at my journey so far with endless gratitude that I was never presented with a challenge I wasn’t able to overcome. The biggest challenge I have faced is my desire to make sure my family’s sacrifices did not go to waste. Every test, every class, every semester, no matter what life threw at me I moved forward to the best of my abilities to make sure that I would make my family proud. I still feel this way today and am certain this will always be my biggest motivator.
Please tell us about The Little Lighthouse Foundation – what should we know?
Jonathan:
My amazing wife and I live in Miami Beach with our two beautiful children. I love them so much and I provide them with so many opportunities. All children should be so lucky. As Miami’s Top Volunteer Organization, we are giving kids positive, enriching experiences in a time of need. Our volunteers create meaningful connections with the underserved children that they work with. We are bringing our community together to care for one another as if we are one big family.
Priscilla:
LLF truly specializes in making giving back so simple. Through the LLF app, volunteers can jump on any time and register for a program. Each program is run by an incredible LLF Chapter Leader, a lead volunteer that manages each individual program, so volunteers always have guidance. With this structure, not only are we are able to reach SO many children in South Florida, but we are also able to create unique experiences for both the children and volunteers. The energy is truly contagious. I’ve never seen or felt anything like it.
Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
Jonathan:
One of the interviews I went on was for a company called CI Management. I loved the company because it managed non-profits and even had a foundation of its own. I interviewed with one of the owners, Jason Venger. He didn’t’ hire me because they weren’t looking for anyone, but the seed was planted. One of Jason’s clients was the Little Lighthouse Foundation. Three years later, when they were on the hunt for an Executive Director, he called me and the rest is history. I’ve been running the Little Lighthouse Foundation for the past three years.
Priscilla:
I believe luck and a little bit of magic is what brought me to the Little Lighthouse Foundation. After a few months of not finding any new business in Miami, the company I had been working for finally told me they would be shutting down operations by the end of the week. I now had one week to find a job.
Of course, the first person I asked for help was my Mom, who gave me the contact information for a headhunter she had recently used. I called Miranda Stasulli and scheduled a meeting. After about 30-45 minutes of getting to know each other, she informed me that, unfortunately, she didn’t have anything for me. I left disappointed but happy that I made that connection.
A day later, Miranda calls. Turns out, she was a Chapter Leader for LLF’s Adopt a Meal program. After interviewing a few applicants and not really getting anywhere, Jonathan had called Miranda to see if she knew of anyone that may be a good fit. That Friday, I met with Jonathan and the rest is history!
Contact Info:
- Address: 700 Brickell Avenue
4th Floor
Miami, FL 33131 - Website: www.TheLittleLighthouse.org
- Phone: 7865661219
- Email: info@thelittlelighthouse.org
- Instagram: @LLFoundation
- Facebook: /LLFoundation
- Twitter: @LLFNews
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
