Michigan’s Most Inspiring Stories

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.

Alexandria Rykse

I love everything bridal, I went to school for photojournalism and fashion merchandising and worked in retail after graduating. I then shifted over to bridal shops and absolutely loved selling wedding dresses. I had the opportunity to transition to fine jewelry and selling engagement rings. I’m currently doing jewelry photography and enjoy that too! Read more>>

Aprill Acuff

I am a model.Its in my DNA,my blood since I was 12 years old.The bug got into me because of my brother.He was an actor and a model.He was also gay something I was unfamiliar with his sexuality because he made everything he did theatrical,it was a fun time.He took me to every audition and little did I know I was auditioning.My claim to fame was at 18 when Eileen Ford scouted me to come to New York for work.My dad totally appealed that.O well! LOL..at 23 my agent gave me a ring and ask me to come and audition for Revlon.I was selected 1 of 3..I signed for $700;000.Yessssss.  Read more>>

Samia Savonne

Beyond music, I’ve also built a career in acting. I star in the upcoming film Hold It Now! and play Sasha in the upcoming TV series Vindicated VCU: Detroit. I’ve produced two films so far, and both feature original songs I wrote for the soundtracks. I’m currently pursuing my music degree at the University of Michigan, and I’ve had the chance to perform at venues like the Fox Theater and Little Caesars Arena, as well as learn from icons like Samara Joy in a masterclass at which I was chosen to perform. Read more>>

Breana Baranek

I originally set out to work in healthcare and was in graduate school studying prosthetics when the pandemic hit. Everything moved online, and I felt completely disconnected from the hands-on, human-centered work I had fallen in love with. I was heartbroken. One night, I vented to my husband, and he gently said, “Why don’t you work with me for a little while in video production?” That small invitation opened a brand new door. Read more>>

Justin Sebra

Nope not at all, fighting through COVID-19 and building a reliable community in a rural town has not been easy. With a small rural community we face many challenges getting people to stop into the store, the traffic is seasonal and we struggle with profitability while we try and give our vendors and artisans a venue that is truly beneficial to growing their small business. Maintaining solid vendors and traffic during our off season has definitely been a challenge, we are facing this challenge more and more each day. I hope to remain open however without a helping hand I am afraid of what this year has to come. Read more>>

Kathlyn Chapin

The classroom teacher loved the idea and so each student got to make a soap. They got the choose the color and smell of the soap. We sealed them in plastic, wrapped them in a washcloth with a ribbon and put them into a Christmas tin to take home as a gift. From there I started watching YouTube videos on how to made Cold Process Soap and my business was born. As a child, when my family would go to any kind of event where there was vendors I always ran toward the soap tables. I loved having the nice smelling soaps, and could always get my father to buy me one. Read more>>

Kyle Gierada

Dog and Pony Show Brewing opened in 2021 as the pandemic came to a close. We’re family owned and operated. We opened our doors with the idea of making high quality craft beer/cider and being a community centric location. Oak Park has been wonderful hosts to us in welcoming us and making us feel part of the community. Read more>>

Jenin Yaseen

During the book ban crisis, we saw firsthand how deep homophobia ran—among both white conservatives and members of our own Arab community. Books related to LGBTQ+ identities were targeted for removal from school libraries, and For the Binat was quick to respond. Read more>>

Dawn Smith

I opened my first shop with a partner, Mike Emmett and we opened Depot Town tattoo together. We took on another partner Bill Falsetta, and then the three of us opened Front Street tattoo. Mike Emmett went on to run Front Street tattoo on his own and Bill and I opened Harlequin tattoo together. Later, we parted ways so that I could run Harlequin tattoo on my own. It turns out it’s really difficult to run multiple businesses even with partners. So, I just needed to focus on one thing and Harlequin was my baby. Read more>>

Francie Wesorick

I’m very proud of the curriculum that I’ve developed and the positive reputation of the Farm to School program. I’m proud of the flexibility that I have when teaching. I always need to have a solid plan and a good backup plan but also have the ability to pivot if needed. Children are often unpredictable and that can be challenging but it’s also what I like the most about working with children. They’re very smart and curious and I’m constantly learning new things from them. Read more>>

C’Anna Hanser

Not at all. I was raised in a low-income household, where every dollar went toward keeping the lights on, putting food on the table; mostly unhealthy because it’s what we could afford while staying afloat. Extracurriculars were out of reach, and even when I had the chance to try something, it came with the weight of knowing how much my mom was sacrificing just to get me there. We kept close to our own, often because the world outside felt unsafe or because we were told it was. Read more>>

Jennie Akins

Navigating the ever-changing social and economic landscape has brought its share of challenges. When COVID-19 first hit, I was surprised to see little to no disruption in client bookings, thanks in part to the implementation of studio safety measures like masking and sanitization. However, the real impact came later. About two years after restrictions were lifted, I saw a significant decline in bookings—a trend that affected many luxury service industries, including photography. By 2024, I made the difficult decision to close my dedicated studio space in town. Read more>>

Lauren Froman

My journey began at Grand Valley State University, where I earned my degree in Advertising and Public Relations. That’s where I first started to understand the power of storytelling through social media and community engagement. If I had to pinpoint the true launchpad for my career, it would be interning with ArtPrize during my junior year. That experience completely lit a fire in me. It showed me how powerful events, community-building, and creative expression could be in bringing people together. Whether it’s elevating the stories of people, brands, or entire communities, I realized I didn’t just want to help tell these stories, I wanted to help create the experiences that left a lasting impact. Read more>>

Ashley Lynch

Festoons & Flourishes was founded in 2014 with the intention of producing unconventional one-of-a-kind experiences where innovative and artistic design meets flawless execution. With 15 years formerly in fine dining restaurants and catering prior to planning events, I wanted to put an emphasis on the importance of high-touch hospitality, placing enormous focus on creating not just a beautiful aesthetic but an incredible experience where clients and their guests feel truly cared for every step of the way. Read more>>

Colleen Miller

One of our biggest struggles was being 100% vertically integrated prior to August 2023. Planted Detroit was not only operating a sophisticated, indoor farm but was also stocking grocery store shelves, running logistic routes as well as sourcing ingredients and packing salad units. That model proved costly, unprofitable and not scalable. Read more>>

J Hawkins

We ended up dating and she was added to the band I proposed on the stage to her at Encore 201 during one our shows. In 2022 I decided to go out on my own again and formed a new band we then recorded Up from the Ashes, again with Jabo as our producer. The record has done very well for an independent release nearing 125,000 in sales. We have been truly blessed to have the support of fans and followers, the venues (The Venue Event Center, Kilkenny’s Irish Pub, Union Street Station, Thirsty Fish, etc.) This has allowed me to try and push our band farther and farther south to try and expand our following into new markets. I am extremely grateful for all of the support of everyone and excited for the future, for sure! Read more>>

Tim And Michelle Esper

There were some silver linings though. One was that we were able to spend a lot more time together as a family, and with our daughters being so young, it was truly a blessing. The other blessing in disguise, was that it gave us the free time needed to start planning and truly pursuing our originally goal of opening a fitness and wellness facility together. We began running mock projections for client lists, cost analysis, emailing equipment companies, and looking into potential locations.
Then as things began to open back up again, in October of 2020, we received the keys to our new facility location in Wixom and opened the doors in December. Read more>>

Shannan Myers

I was in a new town, I knew little to no one. how was I going to make this work. I took off so fast. I booked up, i had a wait list. As I came up on my 1 yr open, I had the opportunity to move from Whitehall to Montague (current location). With a little remodeling to the building I opened Water Street Spa Suites and new home for Pretty in Polish. It has been an adventure. I have been able to expand and offer more services. In addition to nail services, we now offer facials, waxing and soon to come tattoos. I am beyond thankful for the support this community has shown me. Read more>>

Brandon Stanton

These pros eventually talked me into fishing a couple of different pro walleye tours which I believe really helped my business. you learn so much from these pros that make you a better angler it was a no brainer to finally go full time As a fishing guide, charter captain. Also fishing the Pro Tours for a few years and picking up corporate sponsorships really got my name out to the public. I have been very fortunate in my career to have such a huge following I don’t have to advertise that much. Of course fishing professionally comes along with some perks such as TV shows and a lot of written articles. I no longer fished the tournament tours anymore but my guide business is very strong. Read more>>

Julie Rabinovitz

Knowing I was moving back to Michigan where I was born, I started thinking about starting a gluten-free bakery. In May of 2009, I got a DBA (doing business as) and started selling gluten-free baked goods at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market. Pretty soon I started getting asked by coffee shops to sell with them. I worked out of a licensed farm kitchen from one of the farmers at the Farmers’ Market for a few years, then in May of 2015 we moved into our current location at 416 West Huron. My husband joined me to run the business 2012 and I couldn’t do it without him. Read more>>

Carol Lee

I have built a reputation for exceeding the needs of my clients and always making their goals the priority of every transaction. By their side every step of the way, I want my clients to know they can completely trust me throughout the entire real estate process. I will meticulously oversee every aspect of our transaction and alert clients to any possible issues. Over the years of my career, every successful deal and happy customer has led to another. I pride myself in always doing the right thing. I believe ethics is paramount. Read more>>

Qiana Rodgers

In 2013, I moved to Atlanta — the second most pivotal chapter of my journey. Atlanta sharpened my skills, both in speed and precision. It was a melting pot of cultures, especially rich with Caribbean influence. The community there was full of hustle, heart, and love, and I learned the true meaning of hard work and versatility behind the chair. Read more>>

Carla Cooke

I am the daughter of the Legendary Sam Cooke. I started in the entertainment business in 2016 when I was asked to be a part of the “Daughters of Legends” featuring myself, Rhonda Ross daughter of Diana Ross and Robyn Charles daughter of Ray Charles. After our tour ended, I decided to go on my own and perform a solo tribute show to my father entitled “The Sam Cooke Experience” where I sing the hit songs of my father‘s timeless recordings. Since then, I’ve been traveling all over the United States and abroad with my concert. I’m blessed to be able to bring the music of my father to so many people around the world who still love him and his music. Read more>>

Kim Brown

He has always been my number one supporter! I was still working in the corporate world so I didn’t pick it up much. Then in 2016 we had our youngest son. That’s what I picked up my camera again always wanting to capture every little moment and detail. The passion for photography really set fire inside and led me to launch my own business in the fall 2017. After five years of balancing the corporate world with my calling, I transitioned to full-time photography in November 2022 to focus wholly on capturing life stories that matter most. And most importantly, this allowed me to be a more present wife and mom. Read more>>

Cindy Eggleton

Eventually, I came to work for a local funder as their Senior Director of Community Impact. While there, I was truly able to exercise my passion for developing others and giving back to communities. I oversaw over $60 million in funding for education initiatives. It was amazing to learn about the work our partners were doing with these funds. My time in that role serves as the foundation for my success leading Brilliant Detroit and Brilliant Cities. I learned that when we work together, with each person or organization contributing their expertise, that we can achieve even greater results. Read more>>

Emma Hosford

While there, I came into contact with healers who I found incredibly inspirational, both as people, but also because of the amazing results they achieved with their patients. In 2022, I moved back to Michigan and started a practice located on a small farm, the property I grew up on. East Asian medical theory always comes back to theories about how nature works. I find being closer to nature to be both beneficial for me, as the practitioner, but also for my patients. Getting away from some of the hustle and bustle of life and coming out to the farm only deepens the relaxation inherent in the treatments. Read more>>

Madrona Rose

After several years of consulting and marketing work across industries, I found myself wanting to reconnect with the space that shaped me from the beginning. That pivot back into food and beverage lined up with a move to Detroit, Michigan—and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Detroit’s food and bev scene is bold, hardworking, and full of heart. Being part of this community reignited everything I love about this work. Read more>>

Mishara Muhammad

The beginning was very smooth due to the fact i began in the Covid era & there was a lot of cash floating around so people had a lot of disposable income. Once 2022 neared i had to learn to market along side the trends of certain seasons and grasp my clients attention & make my brand one you couldn’t help but spend with. I also had to grow as an Individual and put myself in new environments that encouraged growth through networking and funding opportunities. This proved to be a tremendously beneficial strategy and helped me pivot in a new direction in regards to being more than self employed but now a business owner. Read more>>

Jessica Bouvy

My husband always suggested that I open a retail shop since we live in the perfect town for it, but having small kids (and a job where he traveled often) seemed overwhelming until a friend was moving out of a tiny retail space in 2015. The rent was affordable in that little spot and it was worth a shot. I could almost reach across the whole store at once (lol) but it was a space to offer trendy and classic styles at great prices. I was struggled to finding a name until searching “clothing” in a digital Bible and the word adornment popped up. It felt like the perfect fit. Read more>>

Marcelo Barnes

So far it has been good. Some challenges are people are demanding and expect a lot from me even though I am going to school for something unrelated to photography. Read more>>

Michael Hildebrandt

What drives me is the belief that anyone can succeed in fitness, no matter where they’re starting from. Whether it’s a mom of three, a high school athlete, or someone just trying to get healthy again—we meet them where they are. That’s what functional fitness is all about: scaling, adjusting, and supporting everyone’s individual journey. Read more>>

Tineile Heiler

I came to the Detroit area from Jackson to go to Wayne State. All through college I worked at the universities Rec Center and YMCA downtown as a personal trainer. However, when I graduated was enrolled to begin chiropractor school that Fall. During the break between undergrad and graduate school I accepted a personal training job at a gym in Bloomfield. I was there for 7 years before Covid, forgoing a pursuit of chiropractic medicine. 2020’s rollercoaster of “unknown” gave me the motivation to put things in my own hands and start my business. 5 years have flown by and I couldn’t be more grateful for the community that has supported my role in doing what I love. Read more>>

Julio Wagner Tearney

Fast forward to my teenage years, I began exploring film photography with my mother’s Minolta SLR, which eventually led me to join my high school’s advanced photography courses and clubs. Although my passion for photography carried through college and beyond, my real growth came from engaging with the world outside the classroom—capturing moments on my own terms. About a year after graduating in 2021, I decided to step back from photography. The success I was chasing no longer aligned with how the industry seemed to value creative work. Navigating the balance between artistic integrity and client expectations proved challenging—something I’m still learning to reconcile today. Read more>>

Isabel Lopez Slattery

So, I used what I had. As a kid, I captured life with disposable cameras—documenting everything that caught my eye. In college, I relied on equipment from local community media centers to complete my projects. But the real turning point came at 19, when I landed a job as a wedding photographer. That role gave me hands-on experience and taught me what it meant to work with a full professional setup. Read more>>

Ahme Bovee

Originally from Canada, Ahmé opened her first studio, Pilates in Guelph, in 2000. Years later, she made a bold leap – starting over in a new country to launch Pilates in East in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It wasn’t just a new studio. It was proof of her grit, adaptability, and deep belief in the power of movement to change lives. That studio would eventually evolve into Bovée Pilates – a name that reflects the depth, heart, and transformation at the core of her method. Read more>>

Lisa Siesser

I’m a family photographer in Metro Detroit, and I specialize in capturing relationships and authentic moments with beauty and joy for families at every stage of life. From maternity photos and newborn photography to baby milestone sessions, high school senior portraits, and everything in between, I aim to create beautiful, heartfelt images that celebrate connection. Whether it’s just immediate family or three generations—including grandparents—I love documenting the people. Read more>>

Tricia Schlicht

Los Angeles in the ’90s brought its own challenges—the Rodney King riots, the Malibu fires, the devastating Northridge earthquake. I faced fear head-on, navigating these moments while ensuring the well-being of my team. And when life called me back home years later, I answered. After years of separation, I returned for Thanksgiving only to realize my mother’s age and habits were catching up with her. Time was slipping away, and I knew I had to make a choice. My career goals shifted as I moved back to Michigan to be with her in her final chapter. Read more>>

Adam Walsh

In 2022, I launched the “Corky & The Ginge” podcast. It’s my Best Friend and I on the show. At the beginning, we were just having a lot of fun. No real structure or format, just sitting down and hitting record. Now, we’ve grown the show and are more formatted and we concentrate on the things in the Metro Detroit area. We have segments throughout the week like “Local Spotlight” which focuses on local small businesses, non-profit organizations, community enfluences, and more. There’s also “Corky’s Kitchen”, “Corky Collects”, and more. There’s also daily Dad Jokes, Fun Facts, and Mental Floss Moments. Read more>>

Jessica White Rosas

We are a husband & wife team. We met in NYC, Rodrigo learned the culinary experience from the ground up over 15 years in the city and i spent 10 years there building my eco fashion label Jwhite Original. We moved to Northern MI in 2020 during the pandemic to be closer to my family. With our move up here we were uncertain where we were going to lay our roots, we were considering moving back to my home city Detroit or Traverse City. Read more>>