Portraits of Michigan

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around KC.

Amy Dawson

The greatest joy and passion I derive from my work is making all our guests feel absolutely radiant about their hair design and health. I pride myself on the communication skills that ensure each guest leaves with a design that makes them feel wonderful about themselves, ultimately leaving with a genuine smile. This daily motivation fuels my spirit and makes every day in this beautiful life we live an enchanting adventure. Read more>>

Jacob Prusakiewicz

The most stressful time was in the beginning. Failing over and over again. Finding what works and improving on it. It took awhile to get my feet underneath me. When I started we were just coming out of the Great Financial Crisis. It wasn’t a great time, but grew every year. I took me almost two years to quit my day job and be able to support myself. Even then only because my living expenses were so low. I split a 3 bedroom house in Lansing for $700, using one bedroom as the printing room. I don’t think any of it was really easy, but growth was steady. Read more>>

Ceren Su Sahin

Also, I am the Vice President of the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teachers chapter, where we support piano educators in our community by providing resources, professional development opportunities, and a platform for collaboration. As a chapter, we focus on fostering a vibrant network of piano teachers who share a passion for music education and aim to raise awareness about the importance of piano pedagogy. This role is particularly meaningful to me because it allows me to contribute to the growth of music education, support fellow educators, and enhance the overall quality of piano instruction in our area. Being part of this chapter also enables me to connect with a community that shares my values and commitment to accessible, high-quality music education. Read more>>

Tina Rager

In 2017 I took on my first apprentice—my daughter, Hair By Hailee. That experience unveiled my passion for mentoring emerging stylists and helping them build their own careers. A couple years later, 2019, when my partner moved on, I saw an opportunity to revamp our business model and hopefully step away from behind the chair and run the business side of the salon one day. After years of careful consideration and research on how to expand, in the fall of 2022 I made the decision to purchase my first building and convert it into salon suites for independent beauty professionals. Read more>>

Samantha Otto

As friends dreamed of college, I dreamed of being in nature, growing beautiful things, writing and drawing, and sharing it all with my community. Throughout twists and turns, my adventures and experiences eventually led me to create The Woven Trifecta; a farm-centric ‘trifecta’ business consisting of a certified naturally grown farm, an educational piece offering classes and workshops, and a social piece consisting of a blog and correlating podcast to support the work of the trifecta. Read more>>

Kougaran

We are a 4 piece Rock & Roll rooted band out of the Metro Detroit area of Michigan. We started around 2010 and we’ve been on quite the journey. We’ve played a number of major festivals in Michigan like Arts, Beats & Eats, Lapeer Days, Uncle Sam Jam and more. We’ve stuck to our original sound this whole time while implementing a modern twist. We’re trying to keep rock & roll alive. Read more>>

Blair Stamper

I started my career as a middle school math and science teacher and loved what I did until I didn’t. I had just earned my Master’s in Educational Technology and started searching for anything and everything that I could do with my degree. I accidentally fell into a position in higher education as an instructional designer. I’ve been doing this for ten years now and absolutely love what I do. The downside of this position is not being able to directly work with students and see the impact of my work. Because of this, I continue to teach part-time to be able to help others reach new levels of success. Read more>>

Caleb Storey

So I took the leap and started Apex Perspective. Since then, I’ve mapped entire cities, flown over national parks, worked in controlled airspace, and even documented the aftermath of the LA fires. Every week, I’m in a new city, balancing business and pleasure, sometimes mapping a suburb, sometimes stopping to take in the Grand Canyon on my way to the next job. And every now and then, I have a moment where I stop, look around, and think—My God, this is my job. Read more>>

Casey Storey

Before fully stepping into my career as a designer, I wore a lot of hats. I was once a librarian at the Alanson Area Public Library (I’ll forever have a soft spot for the Dewey Decimal System). I had a short-lived tattoo apprenticeship in Cheboygan—until I realized no one wants a shaky tattoo artist. And I even ran a business where I taught drunk people how to paint (and yes, some of those masterpieces still hang proudly in living rooms). I was freelancing during all of this, slowly building my skills and portfolio behind the scenes. Read more>>

John Tuttle

I was still marketing my services and ended up meeting Jim Rutledge the owner of Decker’s Sports Bar in Midland. Jim asked if I would cover Wednesday night at his bar. It wasn’t long after that Jim put me on more nights during the week. It’s a lot of work and sometimes frustrating nights building a Karaoke following. We had many slow nights where I was certain Jim would cancel the show but he stick it out. I eventually was asked by Jim if I could cover Tuesday Through Saturday? Obviously I said yes. And now I and my team have been with Jim almost 17 years.. Read more>>

Kelly Hume

Hosting shows has certainly presented its challenges. The first show was canceled due to the onset of the COVID-19 shutdown, which led to navigating the new landscape of crafting events. Adhering to all rules and regulations from venue, state, and federal laws became a priority. Securing appropriate insurance proved to be a complex task as well. Initially, I was unaware of the extensive details required to host successful shows. Ensuring that vendors are properly set up for success and striving to provide them with the best experience remains a key focus. Despite some setbacks, I am committed to doing my best at all times. Read more>>

Abbie Cas

Once graduating from Grand Valley State University, I decided to establish my own business while working a full-time job as a Graphic Designer. It worked well for a while, but after having our daughter I knew I wanted to take the leap of faith with my business by going full-time so I could stay home with her. Since then, my business has truly flourished and the support has been incredible. Having the ability to be creative on a daily basis within the walls of our home while raising our daughter – and now newly born son – is a dream come true. Read more>>

Adolat Gobea

Whenever we, my husband Benny and I, would host a dinner or a party at our house, I would always make appetizers and cheese and charcuterie boards for our families to enjoy before the main meal. This is usually the time when everyone catches up with one another and share some of the best stories or childhood memories. One Christmas celebration, I made my usual cheese and charcuterie board, and my brother-in-law asked where I had purchased the board, to which I responded I made it myself. He mentioned that I should start making these for others and really think about turning this into a business. Read more>>

Sophia Papia

Another challenge was learning how to handle all the different aspects of running a business, from marketing to financial management to client relations. There’s a lot to juggle when you’re starting out, and it took some trial and error to find the right processes. Thankfully, my cousin Angelina and I work really well together, so we were able to divide responsibilities and play to each other’s strengths. Read more>>

Deann Jordan

I was born and raised in the City of Detroit. I was raised by my mother Clinnetta Jordan and a village that included my grandmother Paralee Thomas, aunts and uncles. I attended Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Pershing High School. I also attended University of Phoenix where I received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. I obtained a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from Central MI University. Read more>>

Lisa Diggs

Around 2007, Michigan’s economy dropped into being the most sluggish in the country, and certainly the worst it had been in my lifetime. Most of my clients were out of state, so I struggled to find a way to help. After a sabbatical to South Africa, it occurred to me that we could all help, if we just paid better attention to where our dollars were going. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving that year, I launched Buy Michigan Now, a statewide campaign that encourages people to buy more Michigan-made products and to do business with more Michigan-based companies. The movement has been growing ever since. Read more>>

Crystal Williams

I used to model when I was younger and the makeup artist never was able to match my skin. So I learned how to do my own. From there did all the makeup for high school drama company. After high I attend cosmetology school to earn my manicuring license to have income and be able to attend Wayne state to teach. But never stop doing makeup and nails. Now after teaching for over 20 years, I never put down my makeup or nail brushes. To owning a salon for 15 years and doing what I truly love. Which also includes receiving my nail educators license. Now my goal is to combine my love for nails, makeup and teaching, I am in the process of opening a cosmetology school. Read more>>

David Lage

Nevertheless, I continued to work hard and prospered, so much so that I was able to outgrow the owners of the agency and as of 2023 purchased the entire company from both owners. Since then, we have grown and excelled, hiring more employees that are newer to the industry and training the next generation of insurance professionals. We have earned the national title of top 25 agencies for Progressive in 2023 among many other titles and accomplishments. Now we are in our heading into our 3rd hear of ownership and we are continuing to grow, expand and introduce new talent to the industry. Read more>>

Jay Frydenlund

Chirp started in 2015 in Ann Arbor, MI as a group of friends playing music together, looking for a one-syllable animal sound for a name. There have been many lineup changes over the years- I’m the last remaining founding member, but we’ve been touring and releasing music consistently over the last decade. Through the years and member changes, we’ve always brought a mix of originals, covers, and improvisational elements to our live sets, without an intention to stay within any particular genres. Read more>>

Kyra Houston

Initially, I thought notary work would be my primary focus, but it ultimately led me to discover my true passion—helping others. This realization opened the door to additional opportunities, including resume writing, business development, and event coordination. Each of these ventures allows me to support individuals and businesses in meaningful ways, and I continue to build on these experiences as I grow professionally. Read more>>

Aubrey Schupbach

Our greatest struggle that we are now grateful for was the 2020 pandemic. So shortly after opening we were mandated to close for 9+ months total. In this time we built out a video library and streaming platform that we had always dreamed of. We began teaching yoga outdoors in parks as well to get people back together. We kept our community company during all of those shut down periods and in the end we really thrived. We now know that we could make it through anything as a business because of our great community and our strong partnerships. Read more>>

Tanisha Thompson

As a mom of two and an entrepreneur, I know firsthand the challenges of balancing responsibilities while striving for success. I own a women’s clothing boutique while also running programs like Flint Youth Strive and organizing community events such as book bag giveaways and holiday drives. Now, while earning my business degree at the University of Michigan, I’m focused on growing these initiatives, securing funding, and ensuring that youth in Flint have the mentorship and opportunities they deserve. Read more>>

Huda Gilbert

When I was pregnant with my first child, I wanted the perfect newborn photos. However, I knew that newborn photography was much more intricate and specialized than wedding photography, and I couldn’t find a photographer in my area who could capture the type of images I envisioned. That’s when I decided to try it myself. While pregnant, I started collecting props and ideas, and just two days after my daughter was born, I took her first photos. Read more>>

Natalie Wallace

For the next two years, I worked out of my bedroom, and during that time, I gained valuable knowledge, experience, and most importantly, confidence. My client base grew steadily, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support I received along the way. After graduating high school in 2023, I realized that I needed a more professional setting for my growing business. So, I took another leap and signed the lease for my first beauty suite. Read more>>

Lacy Galas

From there I moved on to working in a salon for a while, but ultimately discovered that my passion was freelance makeup and hair styling. I started my first solo business when I was 26 years old. I am very fortunate that it grew in success quickly, however, my high demand for bookings led me to have to turn clients away frequently. While this was an exciting time in my career, it was disappointing to have to turn clients away who wanted to work with me. Read more>>

Ryan Steck

My protagionist is a broke former special forces operator turned cattle rancher in Montana. He’s married with kids, and all Redd wants is to live a quiet, peaceful life. Yet, trouble always seems to find him. Ted’s hero, Lord Alexander Hawke, on the other hand, is a former MI6 agent and the sixth richest man in England. He lives for the action and can’t seem to make peace with settling down. So Redd and Hawke are total opposites in many ways. And while it’s hard at times to go from writing one to the other between books, it’s also a ton of fun! Read more>>

Kunga Nyima Drotos

Now I am driving 150 miles roundtrip to Grand Rapids about twice per month to participate in services and teaching activities. Another challenge has been providing Dharma Talks at the temple. I consider myself an introvert and not a fan of public speaking. Overcoming my nervousness about speaking in public so that I could share my understanding of the Buddha’s teaching has been both challenging and fulfilling. Read more>>

Anthony Wis

There have been many challenges along the way. Covid was a big challenge navigating through everything with lockdowns and such. We opened a brick and mortar store and we decided only after a year to pivot and focus on only doing events. There is not a day where adversity does not come into play but how we have resposnded to it is what keeps us going. Read more>>

Amanda Smith

My mother came from a dirt floor shak in a holler of Western North Carolina, and my father came from a slightly more prominent household on the border of Eastern Tennessee. When I was a child, my mother worked as an RN and my father had a small but steady construction business. We were still poor whites, but he worked for the professionals in town like the lawyers, doctors, and the DA. Read more>>

Chelsea O’Brien

In the first year of operation the CFF team build a small greenhouse, updated the tack room attached to an old horseback to be the Sunflower Market and Welcome Center and planted a small organic fruit tree orchard, purchased a dozen free range chickens and worked with boy scouts to build a small chicken coop. That first year the farm saw 560 students. It was the beginning of something very special and the surrounding communities knew it. Read more>>

Dehvin Banks

What I really had a passion for was solving problems and helping people, so as I got older, I started to come across a dilemma. Do I focus on helping people or stick to becoming a great artist? By this point in my life (around 12- 17 years old), I had been pushed to do volunteer work within the youth development and community development space. I had a great time and met a lot of cool people, but the part that I was drawn to was the tangible impact that I felt I was leaving. I didn’t want to leave all that behind and do work that merely entertained people. So I thought, why not both? Read more>>

Gilles Audrey

To create content that resonates with American women, I’ve had to adapt my approach. I believe we often focus on what sets us apart rather than embracing our shared experiences. I like to remind the women in my circle, “We are here now,” and that’s what matters most. Let’s connect, learn from each other, and uplift one another. One of my biggest challenges has been finding my voice and wondering whether I should tailor my content to African or American women. Over time, I’ve learned to embrace both cultures and blend my approach in a way that resonates with women from all backgrounds. While the list of struggles is long, I choose to focus on my goals and strive to achieve them. Read more>>

Rachel May

I had no idea what went into planning out a kitchen space and how many decisions had to be made early in the process that I wasn’t ready for. Like the exact model of coffee machine we’d have so that electrical could be set up, along with where we wanted it on the counter, to ensure that the plug was in the right spot. Read more>>

Kate Weston

You can show up for 10 minutes in your pajamas and it is still very effective. I think in todays society we get so caught up in what a “workout” is suppose to look like or that it needs to be intense to be effective and that is not the case. For most women we need to focus on low impact movement for our overall health. I am pre/post natal certified as well and I have gone through a c-section and natural birth myself so I have had two very different recoveries. I have a full follow along prenatal program that breaks movement down into all three trimesters and a postpartum program that focuses on slow steady strength that starts with reconnect to your core and pelvic floor. Read more>>

Naz Edwards

One day, a spark went off in my head: why not try to design wallpaper but with live flowers? The idea came from a desire I had to be a textile designer when I was younger. I dove in! I did some research, bought flowers and started photographing my creations. It was challenging, I wasn’t using a computer but rather laid my compositions out in front of me on a flat surface. It took hours to get it all where I wanted it to be, then shooting and finding my lighting balance was tricky and pollen was not my friend. Read more>>

Bruce Horn

What also sets us apart is our energy. You will never see another cover band that sweats, bleeds and breaks more stuff on stage than us. You witness a sincere passion for music when you see JFQ perform. We also have tons of merchandise items, such as T-shirts, hats, custom pants, custom coats and jackets and even our own brand of hot sauce we partnered with in our community. We play every type of event, wedding, party and any other event you can come up with. Read more>>

Kidd Lightning

Throughout the years he’s had a number of lineup changes due to his brash style and the way he was “cut” by life he has only but himself to rely on, no backup plan, no retirement, no regrets. This is the life that has shaped his playing style as a musician from the Motor City. He continues to gain local popularity through local TV news interviews and live TV performances, radio airplay and local shows! He will obtain his dream of the big stage opening for his heros who shaped him at that early age. Read more>>

Cassandra Larimore

For VM Skincare, the journey definitely hasn’t been smooth. One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring that the products meet my high standards while remaining luxurious and effective. I didn’t just want to create another skincare line—I wanted something truly transformative and trustworthy. Finding ingredients that were both non-toxic and potent enough to deliver results took a lot of research and trial and error. Read more>>

Alexxis Hamilton

As a first-generation homeowner and college graduate, my mother encouraged my siblings and me to excel in all areas of life. She believed that by running a business, I could learn about entrepreneurship—something she had always aspired to for herself and her children. Living in poverty motivated her to push us to achieve more and to never stop improving. She often had us studying during summer breaks with workbooks and writing book reports. Read more>>

Emma Shumaker

A few weeks in to my first year, my business and reviews started to trickle through Northern Michigan and Taste of Heaven started to grow! Now, entering our third year of market in both Boyne City and Petoskey, this business has grown so much. We are now consistently receiving orders for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, etc! We have so many wonderful regulars and customers in general. We have actually expanded our offerings because of them and their requests! It’s amazing being able to do what you love and spread a little happiness one dessert at a time! Read more>>

Amanda Rupprecht

In June of 2024 I opened my own practice – The AR Society – Scalp | Hair | Wellness after realizing there was NOTHING like this in the area, and a lack of knowledge and education in the hair world on scalp disease and hair loss. Our hair is often one of the first signs of something going on internally, our health, stress etc. and that’s where I have devoted this chapter of my career. To treat scalp issues and hair loss from a holistic standpoint to find the root cause of what is going on. It fills my cup so much to help people on their hair journey and make them feel good, not only on the inside but the outside too. Read more>>

Tiffany Balk

In 2007, my husband, Steve, and I were driving home from a vacation—though in those days, “vacation” meant accompanying our boys to hockey camp while we explored the surrounding area. This time, we were in Northern Ontario, staying at a cottage on a lake owned by the parents of an NHL player who hosted the camp. They were incredibly gracious, welcoming us, our five-year-old son, who was too young to attend the camp, and our six-month-old puppy. Read more>>

Mike Mentor

I started working in the wind turbine industry fresh out of high school and had the opportunity to travel the country building and maintaining wind turbines, about a year into traveling and working my now late mother began to lose her eyesight. She had an incredibly rare eye disease that restricted the blood vessels behind her retina and it wasn’t long before she became legally blind. Coming from an incredibly small town (graduating class of 16 kids) you were either working on a farm, in a factory or something along those line’s.  Read more>>

Jenna Choronzy

Fast forward several years and I was a stay-at-home mom to two boys. My oldest was going into first grade, my youngest was going to start preschool, and I was faced with what life would look like with two kids in school. I knew I didn’t want to stay home all day by myself so I began to look into other options. I even reached out to a college advisor who had me take a test to see what could be a good fit for me. She said, “I don’t know what career path you should pick, but it should definitely involve helping people.” Read more>>

Kody Roberts

It all started as a dream and a little bit of extra money. I wanted more family time, and I was getting burned out working what seemed like endless 12 hour shifts at my old factory job, so I decided to invest a little bit of extra money into some equipment to get my business going. Read more>>

Dawn Barr

I made many formulations with lots of trial and error until I felt happy with my products. I made products for my family and myself for many years and began to give them away as gifts. People loved them and said I should sell these so I started selling locally to people that heard from others that loved them and today I’m in my second year at Western Market chalet j in downtown Muskegon. My goal is to keep my prices affordable so everyone can enjoy them and continue to formulate natural, clean products the whole family can use. Read more>>

KC Van Fleet

Dr. K.C. Van Fleet’s journey into veterinary medicine began with a deep-rooted love for animals and a fascination with the intricacies of animal health and human connection. As a teenager, K.C. sought out opportunities to shadow veterinarians, gaining firsthand experience in the daily realities of veterinary practice. These early experiences taught him the importance of compassion, clear communication with pet parents, and a deep understanding of both the medical and emotional needs of animals and their owners. Read more>>

Jaxon Romanko

We started a band when we were around 12 years old, and it didn’t end up going anywhere. Around the age of 16, after a couple of years of separation due to some unfortunate events, we got back together and started Sixteen12. Nowadays after about a year and a half of operation, we finally burst onto the local scene! Read more>>

Kayla (Kiior) Smith

I started doing lashes in September of 2024; at first it was an interest of mines I just never found the time. When I went on strike at work I started practicing lash extensions everyday. In September my friends trusted me to do their lashes and from then on out I have been perfecting my craft. Lashes to me is a luxury service; giving you a sense of peace and relaxation. I now do lashes as a sense of meditation it’s not about the money just the gift of making pretty girls even prettier. “No look is complete without Klashes “ Read more>>

Jah Youmans

I am the CEO owner and operator of The Weirdo Collection I ship all orders, make designs, count inventory etc. All myself everything goes through me. I’m definitely looking to hire some people here in the near future as my business grows more and more. I specifically want to hire kids from my hometown to create more jobs for the youth and teach them entrepreneurship and different trades they can do. Read more>>