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.

Katie Valtchev

That’s not to say that it’s been easy. Freelancing is a mirror that will show you your greatest strengths and deepest flaws. It continually pushes you to grow, and the learnings I’ve had along the way make me appreciate this experience so much more. I feel more ownership, pride, and gratitude for my work today. Read More>>

Heather Hall

I learned at a young age that we can’t always control what happens in our life, but we can choose how we react and respond. But I didn’t truly embrace this power of choice until I was on the cusp of adulthood. I was diagnosed at 21 with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Treatment included 13 months of aggressive chemotherapy (all in-patient hospital) and a surgery to replace my lower femur/upper tibia with titanium). I was bald for 15 months, on crutches for seven months and learned to walk again. Maybe it was the gift of youth, but I knew deep in my soul that I loved living and helping people so I promised myself that I would embrace every day and create a life focused on helping others. Read More>>

Eisha Branner

This led to the opening of the Women in Business Working Center—a vibrant hub designed specifically for women to thrive. Our center offers a range of services, from coworking spaces to mentorship programs, all aimed at fostering innovation and success among women entrepreneurs. Seeing the positive impact of this space on so many incredible women’s lives has been immensely rewarding and reaffirms my commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs every day. Read More>>

Mike Blumenthal

I began in SaaS 8 years ago when the CEO I worked for threw me in the deep end, asking me to build a sales-led growth system for his SaaS from scratch. I used my time to cold call, cold email, experiment with different strategies. This is when I caught my entrepreneurship bug. I became obsessed with testing growth marketing techniques in that role by utilizing digital marketing channels, and learning how to build a tool that has recurring revenue use cases. Read More>>

Venetia Lyons

I began to spend not only morning, but I created a blog called Strength for the Journey and posted daily, words of encouragement for myself and others. I received such possible responses and followers that I decided I would begin to write my book. I used other writing groups’ information to help me along the way, on how to self-publish and i began. I not only wrote my first book but also founded ” Strength For The Journey Publishing Company and released my first book ” No More Crumbs” a fictional character but faith-based book about emotional healing. Read More>>

Brandy “lade Breez” Elam

I’m an Entertainer. I curate events, host, motivate, and create positive vibes for amazing evenings.. with life coaching I set a person’s negative aspect on a positive path. And recently I released my music project on all streaming platforms called, Spoken Seasons by Lade Breez Read More>>

Tommy Cook

It’s never been easy, but with the support of my family, friends, and mentors, I’ve accomplished so much. Some struggles along the way include not being cast in the role I was auditioning for or learning complex songs that seem to come so naturally to other musicians. The biggest obstacle has to be grief; after losing my father when I was 17, there was a brief moment when I questioned why I was here. What is worth living for? I recall the best way to harness that extended period of depression was playing bass in a new project and auditioning for another show. Channeling my efforts to something greater helped me find comfort in the sorrow and allowed me to be noticed by other artists for my resilience. Read More>>

One Single Rose

I still cringe when I think back on the punishment my mom passed down after she read the letter, but from that letter mom knew that I was a budding writer who’d take mess from no one. Fast forward many decades…here you’ll find One Single Rose®, author of three self-published poetry collections a singer/songwriter and playwright who performs wherever her words are welcomed. The word has taken and is taking me on amazing performance journeys worldwide as One Single Rose® (the nice poet), Pearl (the naughty poet) and Queen Rose (the house music poet). Read More>>

Deborah Crowley

I was born and raised in New Jersey, where my journey truly began. From a young age, I was drawn to the fashion industry, starting my modeling career at the age of 12. Over the next two decades, I graced the runways of numerous designers and was featured in various magazines and in Teen Magazine. This experience not only honed my skills in the fashion world but also instilled in me a deep understanding of professionalism and the importance of presentation. Read More>>

James “Chapo” Thompson

It’s never a smooth road. Anyone who agrees to this answer was spoonfed and enabled success, and even then comes with their own hardships and trials. There will always be constant roadblocks and stoppages that you cannot control, but what you can control is yourself. Your attitude and outlook is everything and that is what differentiates people from being able to meet new people or be stuck in their own self. I had to figure that myself to be able to grow and experience change. Read More>>

Tara Jueckstock

My mom gifted me my first digital camera (Canon Powershot A430) for Christmas in 2007 and that’s when I started experimenting more. Again, my focus was mostly self-portraiture and occasionally friends who were willing to model for me, but I didnt actively start pursuing photography until around 2016. Prior to then, it was just something I dabbled in occasionally. 2016, I was able to photograph more models, and started trying out other subject matter. By then, I was working with a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ200. It wasnt a mirrorless or a DSLR, but it shot in RAW format, so I held onto that camera with a vice grip for a few years before finally upgrading. Read More>>

Danielle Brown

What I learned is entrepreneurship is full of unaccountable moments. You don’t take into consideration how much of your time is consumed so unfortunately I’ve experienced some long term relationships ending due to unavailability etc. More recently I experienced an “unaccountable” situation where I became pregnant and around my 4th month my father passed, around month 5 my water broke and I ended up spending the following 2 months in the hospital before an emergency surgery to deliver my baby who was only 7 months. As a result I spent the next 2 months in the NICU supporting my baby until she was able to come home. Read More>>

Alan Lindbloom

The closest thing he had to a role model was his uncle Peter Tocco Jr., an up-and-coming young street hustler only 12 years his senior. By age 14, Gunner, was expelled indefinitely from school, never to return. The streets became his life for the next 16 years. Wanting to be accepted by the bad men around him, he did anything they asked, including violence. An FBI agent would later describe him as “a violent enforcer for the Detroit Mafia.” Read More>>

Richard Parrott Iv

To get ready I thought it would be a great idea to start coaching basketball since I had some previous experience and got in at City Middle/ High as the head basketball coach. I instantly fell in love with the kids I got to coach and just the game of basketball. After the boys season ended I decided to coach the girls team as well. Read More>>

Kristine Willson

When I first picked up a camera, I had no idea what I was doing—I was completely new to it. But I was motivated, and that drive pushed me to learn everything I could. I spent countless hours researching, listening to photography podcasts whenever I had a spare moment, and seeking out mentorships. Along the way, I was fortunate to have amazing friends and family who supported me and helped me get the practice I needed. Read More>>

Calvin Mann

I saw early that something had to be done and when I couldn’t do it on my own, it was my godfather Mr Jim Currie Senior who gave me a whistle and that moment change my life forever. In 2010 while working at the juvenile, I recognize that in the juvenile were picking up the kids on Ritz to fill up the beds and so I got with a friend we grabbed 350 boys to protect them from being arrested and incarcerated today today that Mentoring program is now 12 years in and since 2007 we’ve impacted over 23,000 Youth with a surprisingly small budget. That’s the part. We gotta figure out we competition with other major organizations, but we have a real sweet space in our work. We have a 98% parental involvement we help the mothers we help the fathers for more importantly we help young man ages 8 to 24. Read More>>

Kayla Post

For photography it’s been a constant uphill climb in learning, and I love it. I started in the woods, and now I’m working with models, and paying clientele. My goal for 2025 is to have a full makeup kit so I can offer makeup and photography to clients: I still go on walks with my camera, sometimes through back alleys, junk yards, and always the woods. Read More>>

Amanda Griffin-Snyder

After we brought in a certified clinical herbalist with decades of plant medicine knowledge to help us perfect our products, we spent about 3 years working on our formulas together. As friends and family tried the products and shared them, demand grew, and we decided to offer them to the public. Our ideas and formulations are driven by our personal needs but are also now driven by the needs of our customers too! Throughout our development, we’ve maintained strict standards for quality and sustainability, ensuring that every ingredient and packaging choice aligns with our values of minimizing harm to the Earth and people. Read More>>

Audra Adu

Born in Detroit, MI, I spent the early years of my life in Tennessee before relocating back to Detroit. I experienced a lot of trauma at a very young age. I guess that’s why I really didn’t like talking or expressing myself as a child. I was incredibly shy; the thought of speaking to strangers or unfamiliar faces would often bring me to tears. Though I was quiet, I was always watching and observing the world around me. As I matured, I became more comfortable expressing my thoughts, but still had tremendous anxiety around public speaking. Interestingly, while I wasn’t very vocal, people found it easy to confide in me, sharing their deepest secrets. It wasn’t until college that I realized this was not a common experience for everyone. Read More>>

Kevandre “Dre” Thompson

As a professional speaker with extensive experience in talent acquisition (recruitment) , DEI Initiatives (diversity), and strategic workforce retention, I am equipped with the knowledge to connect individuals with employers for life changing opprotunities . In June of this year, I joined the National Speakers Association of Michigan as the Director of Virtual Programming. Organizations looking to utilize my services can visit my website at www.drethompson.com , or email me at talent@tsnhub.com Read More>>

Jessica Walker-rios

My adventure began when I was just a little girl. My family had a serious case of wanderlust, and one unforgettable summer, we took an RV out west and teamed up with paleontologists to dig up real dinosaur bones! Imagine my surprise when I discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth—the very first one ever found in that locale. That find was such a big deal that I ended up being interviewed and featured in their magazine. Not too shabby for a kid, right? Read More>>

Shawn Cox

The covid pandemic was definitely a struggle. But finding new talented DJs to grow the buisness has also been challenging. I’ve also found it hard to deligate the aspects of my business to others yet. I still wear slot of the hats. I’m currently trying to develop and implement processes and standard operating procedures SOPs. But it has been very hard to navigate that. I’m enjoying it though and growing through it all. Read More>>

Kimara Verret

When I relocated from Miami to Detroit. This presented several challenges. For example, making the decision to leave the barbershop environment to transition into my own space. This required me to start over and rebuild clientele in a new city. After all, I had only maintained my newest clients for 1 year and a half. I had no idea that my fairly new clientele would follow me. At the time, it just felt right. I had to trust myself and take a leap of faith. Read More>>

Pedro Rodriguez

I started music when I was about 4 years old with the piano and then from there went to singing and dancing. When I was about 14 I got very interested in music engineering. Started building my studio and practicing until I got enough money saved up to attend online schooling. I now have 5 certifications. Read More>>

Dan Kieri

I got started by randomly falling into an acting class. It turned out to be very challenging so I just kept going and then before I knew it I was pretty deeply involved. So I started writing and producing my own films as well as auditioning and acting for other projects. Then I got into editing. And then I ended up with a camera and some lighting equipment too. Now I have insight and some experience in almost everything that is involved in the industry. Read More>>

Bob Waun

DIRT is a practice. We wanted to build a company that spoke to the nature of real estate, that could be flexible and operate in all asset classes. If location, location, location are the 3 most important things about real estate, then this really means it’s the DIRT. We seek to add value, create win-wins, and realize the intrinsic value in any investment. Read More>>

Maryann Joseph

At just 14 years old, I embarked on my professional journey by starting work at a law firm, an early introduction to the complexities of the legal world that shaped my ambitions. As I grew older, life took on new dimensions with marriage and the joy of raising a family. Balancing these responsibilities has been both fulfilling and challenging. Driven by a desire to ensure a bright future for my children, I decided to supplement our household income by launching my own business. This entrepreneurial venture is not just about financial stability, but about providing the best possible education for my kids, specifically enrolling them in a Catholic school where they can receive a values-based education that aligns with our family’s beliefs. Read More>>

Lynn Baird

I am a hairstylist and wellness consultant. I believe in consistency, honesty, integrity, and treating everyone with respect. I am proud of being a good listener. You learn the most when you listen. What sets me apart is that I truly love myself, hopefully not in a selfish way, I believe we are all unique and made in God’s image. Accepting who you are and not comparing or trying to be anyone else is truly liberating. Read More>>

Janay Stevens

I started small, organizing local meetups and sharing motivational content online. Over time, I realized the impact of providing safe spaces for open discussion and personal development, especially for women navigating difficult life circumstances. This inspired me to expand P.U.S.H. into a larger initiative, including mentorship programs, podcasts, and a social networking platform for women called P.U.S.H. Sistas. Read More>>

Kimberly Marks-ball

During that time, we had one more baby boy, Rowan, and I started my cake side hustle. I cannot tell how many cake fails I had! When the kids were all old enough to be in school and we had stability for our littlest to go to daycare, I went back to my roots and started working in elections for local city government. I loved working elections so much and felt reignited, but I burned out by 2016. Going back to school for culinary was scary and hard as I was significantly older than most of the other students. I often felt out of place and had my share of kitchen debacles, but I found my place. Read More>>

Livvy Hollis

The experience I had with In the Shadow of the Lark gave me a huge boost in confidence and truly ignited my passion for publishing books. I started saving up money in 2021 after I released my first book and have since been able to invest in my writing craft and skill set. I’ve used these ever-growing skills to write my newest novel, Grasping for Starlight. I have also been able to hire a professional developmental editor, book coach, illustrator, and more for this project, meaning I was able to produce a higher quality novel this time around. Read More>>

Kate Vernier

I never expected content creation to be so time-consuming. There’s so much work involved — shooting content, editing, writing posts (and full-length articles if you’re a blogger), managing social media accounts, engaging with other creators, and much more. It can be exhausting, and I only do this part-time! I’ve had to learn how to manage my time to avoid burnout and, most importantly, to make sure I’m still having fun and enjoying the process. That’s the reason I started Explore With Kate in the first place. Read More>>

Jadyn Petty

Although these are long hard months Ive learned so much and I apply these things daily and will continue to apply them through out the rest of my career. Balancing the learning, assisting, my clients and a second job and everything that goes on behind the scenes or in my personal life can be exhausting but I’m extremely grateful to get to learn from talented stylist directly and know that this will all be worth it in the end. Read More>>

Kinde Crouse

In August of 2022 I wanted to advance my career in Property Management and started working for Main Street Renewal as a Leasing Specialist. While on my journey there I assisted applicants with leasing homes in major cities in the U.S such as Atlanta, Nashville, and Tampa. I also worked closely with Section 8 applicants and my enjoyment for helping people find their temporary home blossomed. The love I have for this industry is what really motivated me to pursue Real Estate. Read More>>

Kristi Kandel

Kristi Kandel’s journey is one of resourcefulness, resilience, and impact. Growing up in a small farming town in Ohio with limited financial resources, she developed an entrepreneurial spirit early on, finding creative ways to make money as a child. After college, Kristi began her career in the sign industry in Florida, where she was introduced to the world of commercial real estate. During this time, she launched her first company, providing code check analysis for clients in the sign industry—a venture that was successful enough to fund her first overseas trip. Read More>>