“My greatest honor however has been the opportunity to raise my three children and have the love and support of my husband Angelo. They are my driving force.”
– Maria DeNicola
Maria DeNicola
Owner
* Graduate, Arizona State School of Electrology
* Graduate, Rocky Mountain Laser School
* Certificate of Achievement Altus Medical
* Certificate of Achievement Candela
* Certificate of Achievement LightSheer
* Certificate of Achievement ESC Medical Systems
* Member of Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists
* Member of International Guild of Professional Electrologists
* Former President, Arizona Association of Electrologists
I was born in February 1965 in Hollywood, Florida and moved to Arizona in my mid teens with my parents and sister. The Valley has been home ever since.
I am Italian and when I was 12 years old I started receiving electrolysis for my own unwanted dark hair. I can still remember laying on my technician’s table – just in awe of the work that she was doing for me – and I knew even then that this was what I wanted to do for others (it was love at first sight, you could say).
Just a couple years later I started going to school to become an electrologist. I enrolled at the Arizona State School of Electrolysis which was owned and operated by Betty Williams where I learned more than I can tell you about hair, about removing hair, and about working with people. On August 9, 1982, I graduated and received my degree as a Certified Electrologist. I set about doing all of the things it took to open my own practice.
I have been doing electrolysis for more than 35 years. Over that time I have been honored to receive the Golden Probe Award, presented to recognize exemplary service and leadership within the electrolysis community. I have helped to enrich the lives of hundreds of patient’s by removing unwanted or embarrassing body hair. I have made countless life-long friends, and I can truly say that I really do love the work that I do. I have been blessed in so many ways.
I have been working in the Transgender community for almost as long as I have been doing electrolysis. It is a community that is near and dear to my heart. At one point I was the President of the local transgender support group, A Rose, for several years. I still speak with some of the ladies I have been privileged to know going back 27 years. In 2003, Donna Rose mentioned me in her book ‘Wrapped in Blue’, and that really helped to show me how important my job has been for so many people.
Stephanie Shields
Office Manager
Stephanie Shields is not only an electrologist and laser hair removal specialist but is the Office Manager of Senza Pelo. Growing up Italian meant hair for everyone and electrolysis; she started her love of hair removal at the young age of 12 when she had her own unwanted growth taken care of. While growing up in the offices of Senza Pelo Med Spa Stephanie learned early on to be a professional yet caring technician (which is exactly what our clients want and need). She continually seeks out continuing education to bring her clients the most from their experience in hair removal. Stephanie has diligently worked to be one of the best electrologists in the field of Electrology. She is the recipient of the prestigious 2014 Ballet Gold Probe Award that is awarded to only one electrologist each year in their first ten years of practice. Stephanie has received two “AEA President’s Award” for her service to the non-profit. In this time she has served as the AEA Delegate-at-Large representing the 29 states that do not have a representative in the industry. In October 2016 Stephanie was sworn in as the 3rd Vice President of the American Electrology Association, the largest international association of its kind, at the AEA annual convention in Providence, RI, where she served for two years in convention education. leaving only to spend quality time with family.
She was taught by her mother how to do electrolysis but even before becoming a technician she was speaking on behalf of the office since the 11th grade later becoming a full-time electrologist in 2004. To boot she is a 3rd generation electrologist following her Great Aunt Jay Iadicicco, and her mother, Maria DeNicola. The work Stephanie does is in addition to the public speaking she does on behalf of the industry and clients around the country.
Stephanie is a very compassionate person and strives for excellence in all she does. Those fortunate to have Stephanie as their technician find out how dedicated she is to her profession.
Venessa Aragon
Venessa was born in Tucson, Arizona and moved to Phoenix in 1998 when she was 15. She attended and graduated from Artistic Beauty College in 2002 and is licensed in the state of Arizona as an Aesthetician. Since 2002, she has completed many post graduate courses in her field, from product knowledge to advance techniques of skin care. Venessa has had the privilege to work with and represent some of the top names in the skin and make up industry, including Physicians Choice of Arizona, Glytone, Clayton Shagal, and Avene.
Joining our team in 2005, Venessa took skin care to the next level and trained to become an electrologist. She now works along side our staff of skilled professionals in aiding the battle against unwanted hair. Venessa has a deep passion for the care, protection, and beauty of each patient’s skin. Her aspiration is to keep up with the most current standards of the Skin Care Industry. Her latest accomplishment was attending NALA where she obtained her laser certification for hair removal and skin rejuvenation.
April Schell
RN, BSN
Aesthetics & wellness are her passion. She began her career in the spa industry in 1998 in California where she quickly fell in love with skin care and aesthetics. She moved to Arizona in 2004 where she continued her work in the industry and pursued an advanced degree in the field of nursing. The perfect combo was combining her love for beauty and wellness obtaining her ADN degree in 2012 through Banner Boswell Hospital. Subsequently achieving her injectable and laser certifications in 2013. Her drive for continued education is never ending; in 2015 she pursued her BSN from Grand Canyon University as well as finished her electrology training. She strives to use her education & artistic eye to give the clients of Senza Pelo the best in beauty and health possible.
Melanie Harney
LE, CLT, CCE, CME
Melanie was born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She sought her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, spending 14 years teaching in a high school English as a Second Language program.
In 2016, Melanie began her journey of becoming a professional in the skin care and hair removal industry. She studied in a rigorous 990 hour program to complete the requirements for her license in Aesthetics, Laser and Electrolysis in Homestead, Florida before returning home to be with her family in Arizona.
She describes becoming a member of Senza Pelo’s talented team as her ultimate dream job and she is excited to help clients realize their goals. Melanie is always striving to increase her knowledge of aesthetics as well as the world around her to help make meaningful connections with those she treats while providing exceptional results. Her motivation is fueled by the desire to help all individuals look and feel their very best.
Melinda Baehr
FNP
Melinda Baehr is a Nurse Practitioner Specialist and has a long background as an aesthetic’s nurse here with Senza Pelo prior to becoming a nurse practitioner. Melinda originally started with Senza Pelo in 2007 while here she continued on in an advanced degree. After she graduated with honors in 2013 she began her path to family practice, internal medicine, geriatrics & medical aesthetics.
Having more than 6 years of diverse experiences has brought her back to Senza Pelo where her new role here is medical director. When she is not taking fantastic care of her patients, Melinda is incredibly active in her family life and enjoys traveling with them.