CCEI’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) program continues our quarterly Alumni Spotlight series with Abel Perez. Abel and his wife, Eva, are the owners and operators of Crooked Soul Tattoo in Plainville, Connecticut. Mehgan Williams, Program Coordinator for our EBV program, spoke with Abel last month and learned more about his passion for his employees, his clients, and his community.
A huge thank you to Abel for taking the time to speak with us for this interview. We look forward to supporting his future community events benefiting Connecticut veterans.
If you have inquiries about our Alumni Spotlight series, please reach out to mehgan.williams@uconn.edu.
Abel served full-time in the Connecticut Army National Guard (AGR) for 17 years, retiring as a Sergeant First Class. His service included two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, where he earned the Bronze Star. He enlisted at 17 while searching for direction and purpose, and he is grateful for the journey that shaped the person and entrepreneur he is today.
Abel learned about UConn’s EBV program through the Hartford Vet Center. As he transitioned back into civilian life, he realized the post-military challenges he faced made a traditional 9-5 job a poor fit. He was certain he wanted to own his own tattoo studio and just needed the steps to move forward. His acceptance into the EBV program came at the perfect time.
“The EBV provided the tools I needed to develop a plan of action for my business. The mentorship, the training, and hearing other people’s stories helped me hit the ground running.”
Crooked Soul Tattoo was founded in 2017 as a single-artist studio. Abel and Eva were able to bootstrap the business, starting in a small storefront that allowed them to reinvest and grow. They intentionally built a welcoming space where they could host art shows, fundraising events, and create a strong sense of community.
Today, Crooked Soul has grown into an award-winning collective of diverse, highly skilled tattoo artists. Abel has stepped away from tattooing to focus on the business side, ensuring every client has an unforgettable experience. Eva continues to lead creatively and support the team’s development.
Their artists dedicate meticulous attention to every project, and the environment Abel and Eva cultivated allows their team to thrive. The military brotherhood culture Abel experienced has shaped the family-style mindset he brings to his studio.
When asked if his military career prepared him for entrepreneurship, Abel does not hesitate. He credits the ability to stay calm in high-pressure situations as the number one skill he carried forward. He recalled a fire in his commercial building: “We had to work closely with the town to move forward, and we were able to reopen before the residents in the apartments above the studio were allowed to return.” The leadership and problem-solving skills he gained while serving are utilized daily as an entrepreneur.
His advice to fellow veteran entrepreneurs is simple: “Keep showing up, even when it gets hard, and always use the resources and community around you.”