Discover Haiti’s Entrepreneurs & Businesses:
Marie Valerie Placide: Owner of BOHIOMANIA
Marie Valerie Placide was born and raised in Petion-Ville, Haiti. Over the years, her career has taken many paths—from an Intellectual Property Secretary at Cabinet Salès to the Director of Developing Projects at U.S. NGO Haiti Projects, Inc. to Director of the Cooperative d’Artisanat des Femmes de Fonds-des-Blancs.
During her four years with Cooperative d’Arisanat des Femmes de Fonds-des-Blancs in Fonds-des-Blancs, Haiti, Placide worked with more than 80 women. Under the supervision of the U.S. team, her main duties varied from daily operations to staff management to marketing. Because of her passion for the project, she assumed leadership in all aspects of her role and formed sustainable business relationships with the Haitian artisanal industry.
Currently based in New York, Marie Valerie is a survivor of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake. After moving to the United States with her son, she started making jewelry in a bid to cope with being away from her home and loved one, and struggling to adapt to her new life.
In a clever move, she turned her hobby into a business in 2011. Her critically acclaimed Rockland County, NY-based jewelry company, BOHIOMANIA, takes prides in handcrafting and selling sophisticated pieces to customers online, and at pop-up shops. Her work has been photographed by Harper’s Bazaar’s Andres Palaez. BOHIOMANIA recently launched its African jewelry line as part of the Sirius Africa project. The company also sponsored the inaugural Gala des Femmes en Flammes, honoring 10 outstanding women in Haiti. BOHIOMANIA designed a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece was designed for each honoree.
In addition to BOHIOMANIA, Marie Valerie continues to contribute to various projects, the most important being the implementation of a workshop in Haiti to help Haitian women sustain their own needs and provide for their families.
Order BOHIOMANIA’s beautifully-handcrafted jewelry online at www.bohiomania.com
Like BOHIOMANIA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bohiomaniahaiticom
For business inquiries, please call 845-746-0972 or e-mail: bohiomania@gmail.com
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Discover Haiti’s Entrepreneurs and Businesses, a feature developed by the Embassy of Haiti, introduces readers to the many talents that Haiti offers. The Embassy will regularly highlight Haiti’s entrepreneurs and businesses. Inclusion in this feature does not imply an endorsement of the person, business or service. If you would like to nominate a Haitian entrepreneur for this feature, please submit their name and bio along with your contact information using the comment section of our website feedback form. Thank you for your continued support.