Meet our owners
owner highlights
Meet Katie Nguyen Wells of AR Workshop alexandria!
Leveraging her corporate consulting career, experience running her own event styling business, and love for DIY, Katie brings a great blend of business sense, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit to her role.
When she’s not ‘working’, Katie is always on a ‘treasure hunt for unique home decor and loves scouring flea markets and yard sales seeking inspiration for her next home project. She is often spotted exploring Virginia’s countryside with her husband John and their kids Cole (11) and Lila (9). Family jaunts, prosecco, picnicking at local wineries and breweries, casual entertaining at home, and al-fresco dining in and around Old Town Alexandria are some of Katie’s favorite things.
Meet Joanna Rapuzzi – owner of 2 AR Workshop locations in Westfield, NJ and Port Washington, NY
Joanna is a mom of two young boys and an avid DIY-lover. She had a successful career in corporate America for years. When she was introduced to AR Workshop by her step-mother, she couldn’t get it out of her head and had to explore the concept. Within months of visiting AR Workshop Pineville, she had completely revamped and renovated her spaces in downtown Westfield and Port Washington to shine the AR Workshop vibe. She is thrilled with the response the community has had!
Meet Cristina and Milton McKinnon of AR Workshop Torrance
Cristina McKinnon is a career public servant with 27+ years of service. She is originally from Chicago, Il, and always found great satisfaction in crafting, including cross-stitching, quilting, tole painting, paper and digital scrapbooking. Her career has taken her to San Francisco, Washington DC and finally, Los Angeles. After attending a workshop at AR Workshop Chandler, Cristina knew she found her post-retirement career! She is so excited to bring this wonderful experience to the South Bay area of Los Angeles and enjoys seeing all the friendly faces coming in to make their beautiful and unique creations.
Cristina and her husband believe in giving back to the community with charitable work and volunteerism, and find great enjoyment chauffeuring their 11-year old daughter around their beloved town of Torrance, CA.
Meet Ashley & Matt Bonte, owner of AR Workshop Lexington, SC.
When Ashley and Matt stepped away from the classroom to open their very first AR Workshop, they knew they wanted to stay involved in their community. What better way than to provide a fun, relaxed environment where you get your DIY on with power tools!
Ashley has always been a go-getter, filling her calendar with as much as possible. Matt is the perfect balance as he knows which ideas are worth their time and helps execute them. Being able to work together is their biggest joy, and having their 2 year old at the shop hammering away at the wood is a bonus! Getting to DIY every night may sound like the perfect job, but it’s perfect beyond that for this couple. It’s more about the friendships that they have made along the way, and seeing the direct results of all their hard work.
Meet Jen Amin and Jen Perino – co-owners of 4 AR Workshop locations in Northville, Rochester, Milford and now Ann Arbor, Michigan
Jen (Amin) is a high energy, business minded, boy-mom. When she isn’t bringing her (3) adorable sons to and from sports games and practices or helping her husband at one of their 2 restaurants they own, Jen is focused on running the operations of her workshop locations. With a medical sales background and business degree, as her family grew her needs for flexibility increased. Her entrepreneurial spirit was set on fire.
Owner, Jen (Perino), is a passionate and strategic minded half of this duo. Her kids keep her busy and are often found by her side at the workshop while Jen runs the business. Jen’s occupational therapy career quickly turned a corner when she decided to join Jen Amin in business on this exciting adventure!
Meet Rebecca Nehrbas, owner of AR Workshop Newtown
Rebecca has an Event Marketing background, which spans over 14 years in the promotional industry. Her expertise with experiential marketing, creative design of high profile events and her own personal LOVE of DIY projects makes her an ideal candidate for bringing an AR Workshop to the Philadelphia area! As an added bonus, Rebecca is cousins with Jennifer Perino, one of the owners of our Northville, Rochester & Milford Michigan’s AR Workshops!
Ready to be a part of our family?
