Entrepreneurs, business owners honoured in Chatham

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

Tattoo artist Larissa Howlett is making her mark.

At age 30, the Brows by Larissa founder recently received the Rising Star Award 2025 at the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce’s 137th annual Business Excellence Awards. The award recognizes young entrepreneurs between the ages of 19 to 40 who have been running their businesses for one to three years.

Located in downtown Chatham, Howlett’s business specializes in cosmetic and medical tattooing. Upon receiving the hardware, a smiling Howlett said her service is more than a beauty treatment.

“It’s so much more than cosmetics,” said Howlett. “It’s about restoring confidence, dignity and helping people find their sense of self.”

Finding her niche wasn’t a straight line. The Chatham native left home to study criminology at the University of Windsor. She completed her degree but then took a job at Sephora, joking that she called her mom to tell her she had scored her “dream job.”

She ended up moving back to Chatham and when out walking, she kept passing by an empty store on Fourth Street. One day she took a leap of faith and signed a lease.

Howlett’s bread and butter was in tattooing eyebrows. But as her business grew, she branched out, tattooing men and women suffering from hair loss, as well as clients with scarring.

Helping people spurred her on.

“That’s when I realized the impact that my work could create and I started to really chase that feeling,” she said. “I felt so good giving people that piece back to themselves that they were missing.”

Ultimately, she stumbled upon her latest niche. At a tattoo conference, Howlett learned out about areola tattooing – the art of creating the natural appearance of a nipple and areola for breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomies.

Howlitt said she was mesmerized and “knew it was the next chapter for me.”

She completed the intensive training in Toronto and is now the first person in Chatham-Kent to offer the service for breast cancer survivors.

“It has been a crazy journey, but I am loving every second of it,” Howlett said, noting she merges her passions of beauty, tattoos and art in Brows by Larissa. “When I discovered cosmetic tattooing, every bell and whistle went off.”

The Rising Star Award was one of 16 handed out at the ceremony at the Capitol Theatre May 15, chosen from 53 nominees.

Other winners include Dr. Angel Biligot of the CO who received the Athena Leadership Award.

Balance Accounting Services received the Business of the Year Award (small); JP Contractors was named Business of the Year (medium); and Business of the Year (large) went to Postma Heating and Cooling.

The Customer First Award (individual) went to Bree Kettle of the Red Barn Brewing Company; with the Customer First Award for Business going to Konstantino Pizza.

Turns & Tales was named Downtown Business of the Year; while the Emerging Leader Award went to Emma Butler of J&E Meats.

Kerry Mall of Maple City Property Rental received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Three Sisters Consulting was named Indigenous Business of the Year; and the Innovation Award went to Handy Bros. Home Comfort.

IntelliSync Solutions claimed the New Business Award. The Diversity Award went to Community Living Chatham-Kent; and Outreach for Hunger was named Non-Profit Business of the Year.

The Visionary Award went to Jodi Maroney of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.