Genesis Gonzalez, ReNu Wellness Medical Aesthetics
By Dom Provenzano, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Genesis Gonzalez, 29, was born into the beauty industry. Born in the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez’ mother was a model. At a young age, Gonzalez relocated to Hazelton, Pennsylvania, where she entered the pageantry industry and attended school.
Upon graduating from Penn State Hazelton, Gonzelez considered a career in nursing. However, it was aesthetics that caught her attention, which combined the allure of healthcare with the attention to beauty and wellness that resonated with her life experiences.
“I was drawn to aesthetics. It provided the same wound care, the bedside manner, and the rejuvenation I was looking for. Picking up people's confidence was really the impact that I was able to provide.”
Gonzalez was drawn to Staten Island by Dr. Aluko Jervis, a renowned podiatrist and the man she now calls her “beautiful husband.” Following positions at several medical and aesthetician facilities, including BodyBrite USA and Sutton Park Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Gonzalez was restless. She considered taking the ultimate step as a businessperson: joining forces with her husband to open their own business.
“I just wanted a place for myself, where everyone could benefit. I wanted to create a one-stop shop, where we could cover everything from beauty, to surgical, to therapy.”
In 2022, ReNu Wellness Medical Aesthetics, located on Victory Boulevard, was born. The facility boasts a team of more than five health professionals, all offering unique services. The space itself reflects the team’s personality, as guests are welcomed by the glow of a neon sign, an expansive floral wall, and a relaxing lounge.
Gonzalez and her team offer a wide range of services, including hair restoration, Botox cosmetics, laser hair removal and laser treatments, custom lashes, and more. In addition to their aesthetic services, Dr. Jervis provides full podiatry services.
“We know our traditions, but we know also how to adapt and utilize new technologies that can reach more people than ever. We all have different talents and powers, and we know how to help each other out, and that's what we’ve created at ReNu. It's nothing I planned - it's just me giving my all to every moment, and to everyone.
To Gonzalez, passing knowledge down to the next generation is just as important as skincare. Before founding ReNu, Gonzalez worked at Barbizon Modeling and Acting School, as an agent that prepared students on entering college and job interviews. Gonzalez also serves as a mentor for the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) class, which trains high school students on developing their own businesses.
For Gonzalez, working with kids is personal. “I am the stepmother of a severely autistic child. I know what it is to be a caretaker and how much it requires from you. That’s why I am involved – because I can identify when someone needs help. I know what to look for, and I’m here to help.”
Gonzalez is also a member of the South Shore Rotary Club of Staten Island. “I’ve always wanted to find a way where I could help the community, to do the ‘soup kitchen’ thing. I wanted to be involved, but I didn’t know how. Luckily, I found the Rotary – or the Rotary found me.”
Gonzalez also credits the Chamber in her early successes. In April 2023, the Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting of the new space, which gathered small business representatives from across the borough. One of the Chamber’s newest members, ReNu looks forward to taking advantage of the benefits.
“As a consumer, I can look toward the Chamber for places to shop. But as a businessperson, the Chamber offers a safety net. I know I can meet respectable and reputable people. Visibility is credibility. Just being in it is how we are seen by others in the community.”
ReNu, still in its infancy, is very much being embraced by that community. Gonzalez ascribes their successes to her team and the reputation they have already established.
“It’s the welcoming space we created. They come in with skin concerns, and we all start talking. We’re all human, and we listen and open up to one another. We’re not afraid of getting our hands, feet, shoulders, knees, or whatever dirty. Whatever it takes.”
