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.

Maya Green

During law school, I gained experience in criminal law, working on cases ranging from juvenile offenses to traffic violations and even homicides. However, I quickly realized that criminal law was not the path I wanted to pursue. At the same time, I was also working as a guardian ad litem, looking after children in foster care. Through this role, I discovered that I could help the same demographic of underprivileged children in a different way—one that did not necessarily involve being their attorney. Read More>>

Sade Weathers

Well, where do I even start? I was brought in this world by my lovely parents Gwendolyn and Michael Weathers. My parents were my first number one fans that ensured that anything I work hard for is always possible to achieve. Also, being raised in a Christian household faith, obedience and prayer was very high principal in my household and help shape my perspective in life. Unfortunately, although my parents did an amazing job creating a beautiful woman, they’ve sadly both passed but ended up with best seats from heaven to watch me thrive! Read More>>

Jordan Cooper

Since I was about 6 or 7, writing has always been one of the biggest aspects of my life and a means to self expression. When I was younger I attended a church school of which I participated in the kids choir. Doing so, i believe first developed my love for singing which would then encourage me to write songs of my own. From there, my passion for writing would only deepen driving me to expand my interest in hip hop, poetry, short stories, then eventually screen writing. Read More>>

Mia Cook

As I got older, my passion for music became undeniable. My family and friends started calling me a “music jukebox” because I was always singing or rapping different songs throughout the day. Anytime there was a party or gathering, they would put me in charge of the music, knowing I’d set the perfect vibe. They constantly told me I should be a DJ. During the pandemic, I finally decided to give it a shot. A close friend believed in me so much that he bought all the equipment I needed to get started. From there, I dedicated myself to practicing, and in April 2021, I booked my first DJ gig. From that moment on, everything changed. Read More>>

Kenyatta Juniel

I have enjoyed making crafts since I was a child, and I have spent quite a bit of time learning new methods and using them to make gifts and party favors for my family and friends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself with fewer opportunities to craft and wanted a creative outlet to help me cope with the stress and anxiety of everything happening in the world at that time. I thought about how some of my friends and family have mentioned that they struggle with choosing gifts for their loved ones, and I knew that with my love of crafting and gift giving that I could help reduce that struggle. So, in November 2021, I decided to create A Box of Dazzle. Read More>>

Cortland Gillespie

It was during my senior year of college that I rediscovered my passion for video production, uncertain where it would lead. My family’s generous gift of my first DSLR camera was instrumental in this pursuit. I vividly recall the nervousness I felt filming for my first client, whose inquiry I received through LinkedIn. Despite my initial apprehension, I delivered satisfactory work, which resulted in referrals to their network. Years of dedicated service, helping others realize their vision with excellence, have shaped my career and led me to where I am today. Read More>>

Brenda Ski

I continued to work as a designer until our son Travis was born in December of 1991. I left my job I loved to be able to stay home and raise our son. I absolutely loved being able to stay at home with our son, but I missed being able to use my creativity. I eventually was able to find a part time position at a Christmas store in our area that I could work a few hours in the afternoon after my husband got off work designing arrangements and trees. I continued doing this until our daughter Kendra was born in 1993. I again took a hiatus from the floral world to raise my family. Read More>>

Lisa Roberts

I went to Notre Dame undergrad, got my MBA from University of Florida and ended up in Michigan working for Bank of America. Eventually, over time, I worked my plan to open a main street retailer in Tecumseh Michigan in 2011– we then opened on Main Street in Ann Arbor in 2012 and have had stores in Detroit and Saline, Michigan in the meantime! Read More>>

Kristopher Laukus

Kris Laukus formed K&C in 2018 after being disappointed on the quality of work and the customer service provided by other local companies that he both worked for and had experiences with. After 2 decades of experience in landscaping and handyman/construction services it was time to set off on my own and create an honest, hardworking company that can offer the whole “Kit and Caboodle”. Hence the name K&C Landscaping and Handyman Services. Where we can offer anything from landscaping maintenance, land clearing, tree trimming/removal, drywall, insulation, painting, flooring, reconstruction, to project management position.  Read More>>

Dana Forrester

I opened Lucky Monkey Tattoo in 2002 in downtown Ann Arbor. At the time, women in the tattoo industry were a rarity. I was a a triple threat – a woman, a Jew (Jewish culture opposes tattoos), and a non tattooer. One of our biggest competitors threatened to burn down my shop because of those reasons. Fast forward 23 years and I now own (along with my wonderful husband James Trunko) 4 thriving and inclusive tattoo shops including Lucky Monkey Tattoo, Ritual Body Art (also in Ann Arbor – our secret annex shop), Lovely Monkey Tattoo and Piercing (Whitmore Lake) and our newest shop Electric Superstition Tattoo in Brighton, Michigan. Read More>>

Melanie Kennedy

The building had been sitting empty for over a decade and there had been some roof leaks, so there was quite a bit of damage to the original plaster molding, but it could be beautifully restored. Upon realizing what would need to be done in order to make that space usable and bring it up to modern building code, we had to change course a little, so we decided to start our renovations in the lower level space instead. We were able to flip that area in about four months, and then we moved to the main floor and started restoration there. Read More>>

Juliana Meidl

Each year my business continues to grow and I am truly honored to be invited into my client’s homes every day to help them get their homes and lives organized. Many of my clients are so overwhelmed by the clutter in their homes and the stress and anxiety it causes. Having someone come in and objectively get control of the situation can be life changing. Our goal is to help our clients transform their chaotic homes into a haven of serenity. Read More>>

Kirk Maxey

I bought a ranch in Colorado where I could continue the breeding operation, and established a 501(c)3 non-profit named the C.A. Maxey Appaloosa Heritage Foundation (CAMAHF) in his memory. Since my work is in Michigan, I dedicated 12 acres of pasture and 2 barns near my house in Michigan where I could raise and train some of the foals and keep a pregnant brood mare or two. At this time there are 8 horses in Colorado, including all 4 of our active brood mares, and three here in Michigan, including a yearling colt that we think could become our future breeding stallion. Read More>>

Gayelynn McKinney

There are always some obstacles. The internet has really changed the music industry. In someways the internet has made it more difficult to make money in the music business. Even getting work depends on social media presence. Those obstacles can be major if you don’t have help or, the time to manage these issues yourself. Also, due to streaming sites it’s harder to make money off of your recordings. The saying, “It’s not what you know it’s who you know,” is very true in this business. Making the right connections is very important and sometimes that takes money. That brings to mind the other saying which is, “It takes money to make money.” Read More>>

Emily Irwin

I’ve taken a LONG road to get to where I am in my business. As I stated before I originally wanted to be a photojournalist, which was a spark I got from working on my high school yearbook. However I felt defeated as digital photography was becoming more prevalent in the early 2000s so I shifted focus to other forms of art. I was always the photographer of my friend group, but never had the guts to actually start a business. It took me nearly 20 years of trying to find what I wanted to do with the rest of my career life before I finally took the plunge into business. Read More>>

Amanda J. Cain

Over the next five years, I navigated the challenges of becoming a professional photographer. There were moments that left me heartbroken and questioning my potential to succeed in this field. However, I persevered, and in 2017, I received an unexpected job offer from a university I knew little about. Initially, I wondered, “What does a university photographer do?” and questioned my decision to move to Kentucky. Throughout my 15-year career, I had lived in eight states, making this opportunity feel particularly unconventional. Read More>>

Haley Owen

I’ve always wanted to be a model. Not just to be a popular face, but to have a platform and be a role model. My husband is a rapper and his message is the same as mine, together we want to show that you don’t have to go to parties, do drugs and sleep with a bunch of people to be “cool.” Be yourself, the world sucks. Read More>>

Nicole Binder

My first salon home was a very big, well-known salon that offered a ton of mentorship and continued education. I spent the first 9 months or so assisting a mentor and mastering my skills before being on the salon floor full-time myself. One week into being a level one stylist working on the salon floor myself, salons were shut down due to Covid. I was scared, heartbroken, and worried… What was I going to do to support myself? Read More>>

Julie Palmer

For Whisk & Bloom, one of my biggest challenges is scaling efficiently while maintaining the quality and craftsmanship that define my brand. I’m working through decisions like optimizing my product offerings, minimizing waste, and improving my pickup experience—whether that’s refining my roadside stand or rethinking the use of a greenhouse. Investing in the right equipment, like a commercial mixer and a professional bread oven, is also a big focus as I look to increase production without compromising quality. Read More>>

Michelle Bailey

My first day I took the worst photos I’ve ever taken, but I knew I found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I quickly improved, because of my determination to give the shelter animals the best photo possible. After I finished my Master’s, I opened my pet photography business in January 2020 in Washington. Unfortunately, I had to close 3 months later due to Covid. I would stay closed until February 2021, because I had hip and endometriosis surgery. As soon as I reopened my business, I immediately got my first client (four hedgehogs!). However, then my husband was medically discharged from the Army, and we moved back to his home state, Michigan, in November of 2021. I’ve loved watching my business grow the past couple of years and learning what draws in Michiganders as clients. Read More>>

Justin Hurst

I’ve been writing and recording music for more than a decade, existing within multiple small, home-recording projects and starting with Rebel Prom Queen. I picked up a guitar around the age of 16 (and then a keyboard, and a bass, and a drumset) and haven’t looked back since. In college I use to busk for tips quite a lot, but nowadays I’m more focused on production and recording my current projects; the psychedelic rap project The Existential Dread, and my folk project Justin H.K. Read More>>

Jonas Melton

Ever since my first concert, I knew I had a special sort of love for live music, a love that only grew as I got older. The first festival I ever attended totally changed my life and I quickly made EDM one of my main focuses. Although hosting events wasn’t financially a possibility for me at that time, I steadily manifested and visualized a future where I would be capable of doing so. I constantly told friends things like “just watch, one day I will be hosting my own raves” Read More>>

Morgan Sanford

I started taking commissions and selling my art online. It got to a point where I had to make a decision: stick with my desk job or jump into this new world of art full-time. After a lot of consideration, maybe some late-night soul-searching, I quit my job to pursue painting wholeheartedly. I can’t express how liberating it’s been. Plus, the community I’ve built around my art is just incredible. If you’re considering trying something new, I totally encourage you to go for it! You never know where it might lead. Read More>>

Carly Wilhelm

After being rejected from every single art gallery/museum job possible in the city of San Francisco, I started modeling for makeup, fashion and jewelry companies and managed operations at a start-up. My varied week to week schedule left me exhausted and unfulfilled. After a few years I found a creative community to collaborate with and began to curate music shows and pop-up art exhibitions. New York was a similar story. It took a many years to find the right community, encouragement and time, to establish an equilibrium that works. After nearly a decade working corporate jobs, I set out on my own in 2018. I’ve made many wonderful connections with clients, shop and gallery owners and other artists since but pursuing art is never an easy road.  Read More>>

Rylee Clevenger

I loved playing with anyone’s hair who would let me. Countless baby photos of me on my dad shoulders comb in hand. I would braid my grandmas waist length hair as many times as she would let me. I found any chance I could to play with the someone’s hair. As I got older the interest shifted onto coloring and cutting my hair. I was fortunate enough to attend cosmetology school in high school and graduated in 2020. A rocky start none the less. I started at a salon in my hometown. From there I moved to One Eleven Salon in Kerrytown Ann Arbor. Where I’ve been growing my craft ever since. Read More>>

Laura Mehall

I got into real estate originally as a social media manager and did that for about a year. My broker at the time said I should get my licensed they thought Id be great at it and I did! I since then have never looked back. I have loved every moment of my journey even through tough ones. Read More>>

Brandon Croud

Absolutely, I’d be happy to share my journey! For over 20 years, I built a career in the mortgage industry, working my way up to a Vice President-level position. During that time, I pursued my education, earning a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, and even working toward my PhD. I also had the incredible opportunity to teach at the university level for three years, sharing my knowledge and mentoring future professionals. Read More>>

Bryan Gruley

I kept up the journalism thing until the end of 2020, spending my last nine years writing long-form features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, also a blast. By then I’d published four more novels, and now I have a sixth, BITTERFROST, coming in April. BITTERFROST tells the story of Jimmy Baker, a former minor league hockey player who quit the game after nearly killing an opponent in a fight. Thirteen years later, he’s the Zamboni driver in the tiny northern Michigan town of Bitterfrost–and the prime suspect in a brutal double murder. I’m at work on a sequel. Read More>>

Ricky Vang

I started podcasting with a good friend of mine back in 2016. In 2019, I branched off on my own and started Spoiler Force. I started with doing reviews on current anime, movies and comic books. Eventually, I collaborated with other content creators and interviewed them on my show. Through my connections, I was able to interview voice actors as well and grow the podcast to where it is at now. I also lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for a few years and gained an incredible amount of experience with doing press work at conventions, interviewing more actors and creators and working behind the scenes for artists at conventions. Read More>>

Bradley Whalen

My biggest struggle has always been being able to consistently make music. I always have music in the vault ready to go but I’ve never had my own equipment to be able to make music all day. I get studio time from La Luna, consistently recording, mixing, and mastering with Samuel Peters, but that’s still only every so often. I made it my goal for 2025 to have a full home recording studio so I will be able to make music more often in the future. Read More>>

Alexys Skolnik

As a previous art student, I began to pick up painting again. I then started offering live paintings for weddings. After a few live paintings, I started offering watercolor portraits of guests at weddings. That’s when I considered myself a true wedding artist. I now offer bookmarks for seating charts and favors, hand painted unity candles, live paintings of the couples first kiss, guest portraits, venue paintings, bridal bouquet paintings, and bridal makeup. I even offer post wedding paintings. Along with the artistry side of things, I like to paint abstract pieces, create word portraits, and paint pet portraits. Read More>>

Lachan Niedbala

Following in 2022, I produced “Perspectives” Dance Concert which was a concert involving guest performers and a piece I choreographed. This concert is what led to the founding of Movement Reservoir Dance Company in 2022 with its inaugural season concert, “Connected Bodies” in 2023. Movement Reservoir intends to continue providing various concerts that have a lasting impact on audiences. We are thrilled for our 3rd Season “The Relationship to…” This season we have many more opportunities to interact with us including our annual concert! Read More>>

Paul Anderson

Nearly three years later, in June 2023, I joined Southwest Action Group (SWAG) as a community development specialist. My passion for storytelling, societal function, and human connection naturally aligned with the work of fostering meaningful change in communities. Within a year, I stepped into the role of executive director, leading redevelopment projects, securing grants, and working to create spaces where people and neighborhoods can thrive. Read More>>

Charles Vaughn

In my opinion, this type of thinking, can allow physical therapists to confidently evaluate patients that may have multiple complexities, accurately, without having to refer a patient back to their doctor for imaging or performing “cookie cutter” based treatments. My approach is to evaluate, find, or at least get close to finding the cause, treat the cause and then treat the area that has been “stressed” as a result of the cause. I strongly believe that this “outside of the box” mindset can provide our PT professionals even more autonomy within the healthcare system. I feel that this has allowed me to realize and truly understand my value within today’s healthcare landscape. Read More>>