There are many reasons to celebrate the extraordinary women of the Farmington Valley but the overwhelming commonality is their ability to build COMMUNITY. We are proud to begin a series of features showcasing some of these women who make our beloved valley a better place.
Jennifer Berry
Owner, SubHERbanLivin
Jennifer Berry is a lifelong Simsbury resident, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for community connection. By day, she serves as managing director for a Fortune 100 health services company. Outside of her corporate career, she is the founder of SubherbanLivin, executive chair for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, and co-founder of Valley EntreprenHERs, a networking organization dedicated to supporting and connecting local women business owners. Berry is passionate about creating opportunities for the people, businesses, and organizations that make the Farmington Valley such a special place to live and work. That passion inspired her to create SubHERbanLivin, built on the belief that local businesses thrive when communities invest in one another.
Today, SubHERbanLivin provides a retail platform for more than 70 local entrepreneurs and artisans while supporting charitable initiatives throughout the region. Through her work in business, community leadership, and philanthropy, Berry is committed to helping the Farmington Valley remain a place where people, businesses, and communities thrive together.
Scarlett Duncan
Owner, Modern Beautique
Scarlett Duncan, APRN, founded Modern Beautique Medical Aesthetics in Simsbury with a simple mission: to help people feel confident in their own skin. With more than 16 years of healthcare experience, she combines advanced aesthetic treatments with personalized care, education, and a commitment to natural-looking results. As a female business owner in the Farmington Valley, Duncan is grateful to serve the community she calls home.
The most rewarding part of her work is helping patients feel refreshed, empowered, and more confident, she says. When people feel their best, Duncan adds, it positively impacts every part of their lives.
Gail Alzmann
Registered Jeweler, Bill Selig Jewelers
With 25 years of dedicated service at Bill Selig Jewelers in Simsbury, Gail Alzmann brings a rare blend of precision, heart, and expertise to every customer. A GIA-certified diamond specialist, her passion for diamonds and other gems perfectly fits with her love of guiding customers through the process of choosing engagement rings and heirlooms, turning major decisions into cherished milestones. Alzmann’s additional passion for research and investigation shines through in her work with the store's estate jewelry collection, as well as her meticulous evaluations of customer pieces.
Alzmann’s profound capacity for care is rooted in her 48-year career as a respiratory therapist, working in conjunction with her career at Bill Selig Jewelers. For nearly five decades, Gail served as a vital lifeline for patients — including two intense years on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now retired from healthcare, she brings that same deep commitment and attentiveness to her jewelry clients.
Asta Plankiene
Co-founder, Doms Coffee, Creamery & Cheese
Asta Plankiene and her family came to the Farmington Valley from Lithuania in 2013 with big dreams and a baby son, Dominykas. They opened Dom’s Coffee in 2015, with the idea of providing delicious coffee and pastries in a setting that would encourage visitors to slow down and enjoy the experience with friends and
family. In 2018, they added Dom’s Cheese, offering stunning made-to-order
charcuterie boards. In 2022, Dom’s Creamery opened and homemade ice cream now also delights visitors.
"Our family thrives when we are surrounded by people we love," Plankiene says. "Opening Dom’s Coffee was the fulfillment of a dream to bring people together, and we have made countless new friends and longtime customers in the process."
But being a part of the Farmington Valley community is something they don’t take for granted. Dom's sponsors many local groups, including the Hometown Foundation, and was a driving force behind the “Slow Down, Avon” campaign. Dom's is now constructing a safe and inclusive play area for kids on its property.
Diana Yeisley
Board of Selectmen, Town of Simsbury
A 25-year resident of Simsbury, Town Selectwoman Diana Yeisley has continuously served the community as a full-time volunteer. Yeisley says she’s driven not only by the love of her town and community, but her own personal passions and life experiences. Having a son with autism shaped her community involvement for people with disabilities, advocating for autism insurance reform and the ABLE Act.
“Addressing the needs of people in our community who have disabilities became such an ingrained part of my life that continues today through EasterSeals and my work on the aging and disability commission,” Yeisley says. “Broadening that to serve the greater community was the next logical step for me and why I enjoy my work as Selectman. Connecting with people in Simsbury, the Farmington Valley and the state to create a shared vision of our wonderful community is both challenging and fulfilling.”
Yeisley’s early education and training was in performing, so a creative itch led her to the Theatre Guild of Simsbury. She has served as its President since 2020.
“Having been a classically trained singer, I found an opportunity to sing, dance and act with an organization that not only performed high-quality productions, but had a wonderful sense of family and giving back to the community as well. I am proud of how the organization has grown and welcomes performers and production team from all over the state and of all ages and backgrounds.”