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.

M’kiyah Roquemore

I love that i am able to meet new people each and everyday. I love that i’m working somewhere that is a professional setting and it allows me to learn from others. I’m happy i didn’t give up after college because working in the field has taught me a lot about life. It helped me to become confident within myself and not afraid to speak up. My advice to others is If you feel like you want to give up because certain situations are not working out for you. Keep going and do whatever it takes to become a better you. Read More>>

Olga Benoit

Oh, not at all! We encountered numerous challenges along the way, from being turned down by banks and struggling to secure funding, to finding great locations but not the right buildings. We also faced discrimination from some prospective landlords and had to deal with people not believing in us. It was definitely a tough journey, but each obstacle made us more determined. Read More>>

Amanda Landa

I’m a lifestyle photographer specializing in family, capturing authentic moments and genuine connections. My goal is for clients to look back on their photos and feel the emotions of that time. My focus is on storytelling and creating personal, timeless images that are specific to my client. I take the time to understand each family’s unique bond, ensuring passion and purpose in everything I do. Read More>>

Philip Stakich & Natalie Heiter

Looking back at how far we’ve come, we know none of this would’ve happened without our dedicated team. They’re the heart and soul of everything we do. Their hard work, creativity, and passion come through in every smoothie, bowl, and ice pop we make. It’s not just us—Philip, me, and our amazing team are all about bringing good vibes, great flavors, and better-for-you treats to everyone we can. Read More>>

Garrett Moreau

I wanted to make a difference in this industry and become the best agent I could be.Now, eight years later, I’ve had the privilege of helping over 65 families achieve their real estate dreams. I still love what I do every day, and my passion for this career hasn’t wavered.What I’ve learned along the way is that success in real estate requires hard work, determination, and sacrifice. You have to be willing to give up personal time and go the extra mile for your clients. But all of it is worth it when you see the joy on their faces and know you’ve made a positive impact on their lives.Real estate isn’t just a job for me—it’s a calling. And I’m proud to continue serving my clients with the same dedication and care as I did with that very first family. Read More>>

Jessica Malkin

After receiving an MBA, I discovered a passion for business development and management, which allowed me to support local and small businesses to launch and grow. However, I was not respected, nor appreciated in my positions even with tremendous results. During a contract negotiation, I will never forget when one of my bosses told me that I was arrogant and I would never own a business. This lit a fire in my soul because the best way to motivate me is by telling me I can’t do something. Read More>>

Bruce Maki

Moving back to my home state of Michigan was also fortuitous. Michigan is a fantastic state for landscape photographers with its great geographic diversity from the rugged, forested areas of the Upper Peninsula to the over 3000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and 11,000 inland lakes. Throughout the seasons, Michigan has a wealth of stunning outdoor scenery, and I’m lucky to have a private studio (Juniper Hill Garret), where I can edit and print my work. Read More>>

Sandra Beshany

I sell residential real estate and I love love what I do! I got started 13 years ago helping families or individuals find their dream home. I love helping people and being genuine and guiding them to their next adventure. Buying a home is a very personal process and you need to have someone who you trust and has your best interest at heart. For most people it’s the largest asset they own and I take that very seriously. Read More>>

Becky Collins

Cooking vegan meals at home was an exciting challenge to recreate the same meals we’ve always enjoyed. After years of perfecting recipes and techniques, friends and family complimenting the food that “doesn’t even taste vegan”, I quit my job to pursue my dream. To provide delicious, homemade meals without using highly processed ingredients to the vegan crowd near me. And also, to change attitudes and opinions about vegan food. Read More>>

R. Aimee Chipman

No endeavor is ever entirely smooth. The biggest struggle was obviously opening 6 months before the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Our building owner was amazing and our community rallied with us, ordering books online and for delivery. Since then, our struggle has come up against an unfavorable political climate with a Christian nationalist political action committee targeting our store and book banning as a campaign point. Read More>>

Zack Szott

A few months after getting the internship, I took a trip to Los Angeles, California to explore more creative options for myself, and eventually moved out there towards the end of 2016. I did mostly freelance design when I was out there along with street photography on the side. After 6 months of on-and-off freelance work, I came to the conclusion that design work was slowly killing my passion and creativity as an artist so I stopped doing design work and changed my focus to street photography. Read More>>

Sienna Vincent

Every guest in the salon should be treated as unique because no one’s hair is exactly the same! I take a customized approach to the needs of each person, and I feel that this keen attention to detail sets me apart from many stylists who may be more concerned about speed and efficiency than being meticulous and thorough. Read More>>

Sarah Ebaugh

We now have all kinds of community events including Lake Days in the summer, Trunk or Treat for Halloween and our favorite event is our Christmas Tree lighting Celebration, the whole town comes together, to welcome Santa, who arrives in a fire truck, Lighting our newly planted Christmas tree (which was donated by myself and Sandy from our amazing Lake General Store). Santa (my husband and a professional opera singer) leads us in Christmas carols to help bring in the Holiday season. We are so proud of how our little town has grown and how much the community has come together in the last nine years, and we are proud of the part we have played in it  Read More>>

Sage Castleberry

I’m passionate about writing and recording my own original music. It’s what I believe I excel at. My primary songwriting genre is pop or country music. This is what feels most natural to me when crafting a song. One of my greatest achievements is surpassing 450,000 streams on Spotify. I believe my unique writing and production style, which my producer and I work together on, sets me apart in the music industry. It’s a perfect blend of pop and country elements. Read More>>

Jason Koch

When we first set our sights on buying the shop, we had to navigate the complexities of securing funding. Balancing our vision for the business with the financial realities was a stressful process, especially as we considered the investments needed to re-open and ensure we had enough capital for supplies, rent, and payroll. Read More>>

Jocelyn Walker

This journey has definitely been a bumpy one. The biggest struggle I faced was my lack of discipline and self control. Until I grasped the concept of those two major things I would not have been able to accomplish the goals I’ve hit thus far. This is for sure still an uphill battle of mine but I totally understand my assignment now and I won’t be deviating from it any time soon. Read More>>

Kierra Huizar

From switching business types from a DBA, to a LLC partnership, to being the sole owner of K&G Cleaning Services LLC, it has not been easy, but a challenge that has been rewarding. I have learned many new things that aren’t just about cleaning, to help my business grow. Read More>>

Melissa Mcintyre

In 2021, my family and I visited friends in Texas. The friend’s dog, Sophia, had to find a new home, so I knew our house was missing something. We had been home from our latest visit for less than a month when we drove back to Texas to pick her up. We quickly figured out that Sophia had some severe food allergies. After some research and testing, we avoided foods with chicken and gluten. Haylee, the youngest of my family, has celiac disease. I knew how to cook and bake for her. The dog treats in the store were expensive, and I was a single mom. The baking batches of recipes began. Family and friends were our taste testers. The dogs unanimously loved what I was creating. Read More>>

Travis Masa

Tattooing definitely has its ups and downs. My biggest struggles are keeping up with social media and its trends. Being a tattoo artist, is essentially running your own business. This includes booking, marketing, keeping up with finances, and so much more. Social media is one of the biggest marketing tools today, and it is ever changing. Keeping up with what the algorithm wants, what your clients want to see, what you want to put out – it can be difficult to navigate. Read More>>

Selena Aguirre

My business name Tone’s Ties was established in 2018 and was my way of honoring my father who passed away. I believe my story Tone’s Ties by Selena is so much more than bow ties and other men accessories, it’s about finding purpose in the pain. PERSEVERANCE is my story. I believe God blessed me with my thriving business because I never gave up! Not when others questioned my dream, not when I was being tested, and not even when I was tired! My business is my passion, I am so blessed to have clients that trust me with their visions. Read More>>

Moon

It’s been a lot of ups, AND THEN MY CAR GOT STOLEN WITH ALL MY CAMERA GEAR IN IT!!! So I took a brief hiatus, took care of family, move in with the love of my life (insert wedding bells here) and now I’m getting back into the swing of things! Just opened the books back up in October, did a portrait shoot with Deangelus of Art Haus Moor and have a few more things lined up for January, gearing up to go out for the Kresge before the deadline, and I’m just really looking forward to what ‘25 has in store for me Read More>>

Jacob Gonzales Madison Muench

We both have our individual stories in which God allowed us to come together to create a Partnership LLC for Branch to Vine Marketing, also known as B2V Marketing. Our brand was inspired by John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” We felt called to do ministry in the marketing realm together, to influence businesses, nonprofits and ministries for Christ; through providing ethical and effective marketing services with our God-given talents and expertise. Read More>>

Kyle Rhodes

Because when one door closes another one always open. To always “Peep and Know the Game”. And with them couple lesson it leads me to do what I love to do. And that’s to make everyone around me happy and feel loved around me since I know what it means and feels like to come from the bottom the struggles where a lot of people don’t make out. Where it’s easy to be caught up in the street life. Easy to be influenced and stuck in the mind stat of there only two things in life is guarantee and that’s Death or life in jail. And with that it helps me strive to be something better and greater not only for me but for my family, community and culture. Read More>>

Abigail Irvine

While I was passionate about home decorating and real estate, I felt a missing link in my content. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t 100% satisfied. Eventually, I realized I was drawn to creating the kind of content I enjoyed watching: fitness and health. However, my rocky past and lack of family support for my fitness journey held me back. Instead, I stuck to creating content I didn’t truly enjoy. Read More>>

McKenzie Myers

I got to where I am today by dedicating my heart and soul to my business. You get where you want to be by working for it, putting in the time, and never giving up—because nothing comes easy. There were so many moments when I wanted to quit, doubting whether people would be interested in what I had to offer. But I kept pushing forward, trusting in my passion and my ability to grow. Read More>>

Ryan Wilman

so we made an expansion to include craft beer, cider and a few cocktails. this allowed us to stay open late and allow for the community to grow into later hours. that is when we rebranded into “The Owl, Morning til Night”
we wanted to keep our identity as a community minded, so we made sure to slowly introduce our offerings, not to push out our foundational following. and to wrap up quickly, we today still do events, still offer great coffee, still try to create a community space for those who wish a place, and we also have some amazing hand crafted cocktails along with many unique craft beers & ciders Read More>>

Yanitza Valdez

A few years later, I was working in a position that I enjoyed, appreciating the flexibility and pay it provided. Then one day, I received a text from a close friend who shared a job opening at Affinity Mentoring for the Site Coordinator position at Burton Elementary/Middle School. At first, I was hesitant to apply; I was content in my current job and worried that I didn’t qualify or have the experience that Affinity Mentoring was looking for. However, I decided to apply, thinking, “What do I have to lose? If I don’t get the position, I’ll still be okay and can enjoy my schedule.” Read More>>

Safi Silva

Reunna Home LLC offers interior design and home and office organization services. Working with home care is my greatest joy, which is why most of my clients become my friends. During the process of organizing or transforming a space, it’s so rewarding to see how the power of my work can change people’s lives for the better! Read More>>

Sara Alvarez

In the heart of Michigan, where the Great Lakes meet vibrant communities, my journey as an entrepreneur began in the most unexpected way. For nearly a decade, I navigated the winding paths of the small business world, searching for my niche. My experiences ranged from ambitious projects that didn’t quite take off to moments of self-discovery that shaped my vision. Yet, nothing could have prepared me for the turning point that came in June 2024. Read More>>

Shara Jones

After leaving my career as an educator eight years ago, I was looking for animal shelter volunteer opportunities. I came across SASHA Farm, learned about their mission, and decided to start as soon as possible. Since I was a vegetarian the majority of my life, it seemed like the perfect fit. Seems as though I was right. The moment I stepped foot on the property, I knew I wanted to be part of this community and work with animals the rest of my life. Read More>>

Victoria Laessig

I’m not the type of person to start something and never finish! I officially graduated from cosmetology school. I was ready to take the next steps towards my career, I did everything i needed to do to take my boards exam but unfortunately everything got interrupted in 2020. My boards application was lost, i couldn’t take my test, i wasn’t able to work anywhere because salons and businesses were shut down. So what was i suppose to do!? Read More>>

Micheline Batom

My name is Micheline Batom. I’ve had a passion for photography since I was a young girl but it never dawned on me that I could turn it into a career! Although I went to school for maritime studies being an artist has always been my true calling. In my early twenties I set out to become an entrepreneur and I haven’t stopped! I haven’t made it this far without help though. I have an overwhelming support from family and friends and I wouldn’t be here today without them! My biggest inspiration is my daughter Mazie Mae. She gives me the strength to keep going everyday. Read More>>

Megan Weems

No, it has not been a smooth road. Balancing a multifaceted business while working full-time, raising children, managing a household, and caring for farm animals is incredibly challenging. There have been countless all-nighters and weekends spent fulfilling orders, often with my husband and I taking turns napping while the bread cooks just to keep up with demand. I’ve learned that while I might be succeeding in one area of my life, I’m inevitably sacrificing in another, whether that’s family time or self-care. It’s a constant juggling act, but each challenge pushes me to find solutions and grow stronger in my commitment to both my family and my business. Read More>>

Whitney Duhart

That conversation got me thinking, so I started researching the field. I learned that in Michigan, I needed to be licensed to do lashes. I found a school I really liked—Aveda in Royal Oak—and graduated on April 2nd. However, I quickly realized that lash artistry wasn’t my niche. I couldn’t even apply a strip lash to someone else! That’s when I started reflecting on myself and thinking about what I could improve on physically. Read More>>

Taryn Strausser

My journey has been crazy. We decided to open our first food truck six years ago, and from there, we ended up with five food trucks by last summer, 2023. With a growing desire to expand, we decided to sell one of our food trailers and open up a brick-and-mortar shop. Mama’s. eatery! At the shop, we sell ice cream and cookies, along with our delicious deli sandwiches. We make all our own sauces and slice our own meat. One of our standout items is our famous dill pickle french fries—they are amazing! Read More>>

Daniel Doletzky

My family is one of plumbers my grandfather was a plumber and an inspector. Then my father was a plumber for many years before he started K&D Plumbing he opened it in 1995 so we are coming up on our 30th year. I took over complete control last year November and I have been running it since. I have also been working in the company since I was 19 I’m a master plumber which is the top license you can get. Read More>>

Dhiraj Adhikari

Ever since I was young, I’ve been passionate about photography and videography. But before I dive into my story, I must mention my grandmother. She was one of the early Christians in Nepal, and as a result, I was brought up in a strong Christian environment. When I was in eighth grade, my father got a scholarship to attend a seminary school in India, and we all moved with him while he studied there. We lived in family housing within the seminary grounds, which allowed me to spend considerable time with older, well-educated individuals from an early age. It was during this period that I discovered the compelling nature of storytelling through visuals and decided to pursue a career in filmmaking. Read More>>

Rachel Koladis

At the front path there is a totem that my grandfather carved, inside a driftwood railing made from wood washed ashore, the walls and floors are different colors and materials because they used scraps. and building remnants, adding as they could. The furniture and objects inside they found at local farm auctions and rummage sales. The cottage is a living memorial to their handwork, and a celebration of two truly unique individuals that manifested their dreams using their own two hands in a quiet lake town that was their happiest place in the world. Read More>>

Ryan Annese

I started studying marketing and entrepreneurship at central Michigan then covid hit I started doing social media and it blew up from there Read More>>

Alicia Curtis

Hi my name is Alicia Curtis, 28 year old native from the east side of Detroit. I attended central state university where I received my bachelors of science in business administration with a minor in hospitality management. I am currently a newly author on the scene, here to share my story and be a guide for others. Throughout my years growing up in Detroit was a mixture of joy and life. Some of it was challenging just based off things I experienced. I feel as if those who grew up in my cultural faced many adversities, but I knew I wanted to see new things that I didn’t see growing up. Read More>>

Jenn Hanna

When I’d have photos taken of my kids, I would often go above and beyond, creating my own handmade props and full set designs. My kids’ photographer would often encourage me to pursue photography professionally because of my natural eye for creating visually striking setups. But at the time, I didn’t think I could step into it as a career—I was focused on my passion for corporate law, which I had been working hard to build. Read More>>

Tiny Valkyrie

I’m self-taught, reliable, and a quick learner. Four years ago, I didn’t even know what Vtubing was—now, I’ve been nominated for multiple awards and have done several cosplays, including Tifa Lockhart, Jill Valentine, Sailor Pluto, Pokémon Trainers, and Wednesday Addams, among others. I change themes and alerts every month, host monthly events, and have seasonal redeems! I’d love for you to stop by the stream, whether to use a channel point redemption to interact with the avatar, lurk, or simply say hi. You’re always welcome home, just as you are! Read More>>

Dave Suchanek

In high school, I balanced academics and sports (track and cross country) with creativity via music. My best friend Drew and I started playing acoustic guitar and singing at local coffee shops and eventually joined some other friends and formed a rock band. We got super into it, and started geeking out about the gear needed to record and produce music in our basements. Instead of paying a studio to record us, we started acquiring microphones and other gear to get our music out there. It was fun! Read More>>

Ian O’brien

Over time I grew a client base around where I lived and I eventually made the big step to make the business official. I landed on the name Mountain Movers Lawn and Landscape, inspired by Matthew 17:20 in the Bible. From there I have continued to grow the business with the support of amazing clients, great friends, and loving family! And of course my Lord and Savior Jesus! It is because of those who have supported me that have helped me grow the business to where it is today! Read More>>

Leighanne Henderson

Some of the amazing stuff we do here is School lunch program. Every other Friday we do 130 pizzas by 10am and deliver them to 6 different schools. The other Friday we deliver about 65 pizzas to 3 schools, every other Monday we do about 45 to 2 schools and Monday through Friday we send about 25 pizzas to 1 school (this was included in the above numbers). I also organize as many fundraisers as I can for the community at Pizza Hut. We donate pizzas and certificates to organizations for multiple reasons. While Pizza Hut is a corporation I run this restuarant as if it is my own small business. Read More>>

Megan Yankee

I began my professional career in the arts at Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings. I eventually moved to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to work for the Philadelphia Orchestra, which was truly a highlight of my career. I loved working with the amazing artists and living in the city. I returned to Michigan a few years later to raise my family and decided to try my hand at working in other nonprofit industries. I worked for health and human service nonprofits with incredible missions that truly gave me a purpose and I felt I was able to really make a difference in my community. Read More>>

Ava Garland

My senior year of high school I decided to make things official. I started a makeup artistry business and created a brand through social media, and named it FacebyAvaK Makeup Artistry and Services. I started May 6th and had my first client May 7th, followed by the second on May 14th. Since then I have been managing the financing, marketing, and general operations of FacByAvaK. I have done work for proms, senior portraits, business events, personal and professional headshots, fashion shows, and other special events. Read More>>