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.

Christen Devani

I’m 17 years old and known as Detroit’s Very Own Award-Winning Ballerina. I started dancing at just two years old, and over time it became more than a hobby, it became my passion and purpose. I’ve trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop, and I attend Cass Technical High School, where I was recently named President of the Dance Workshop. I also train at The Zone Dance Center and earned a scholarship to Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, where I completed the Summer Intensive in Los Angeles. Dance has shaped who I am and continues to push me to grow as both an artist and a leader. Read more>>

Trenton Wisecup

The Robinson family’s motto, “Keep Moving Forward,” and their willingness to celebrate failures as stepping stones mirrored my own story. Like young inventor Lewis, I learned that setbacks are often the greatest teachers, and by embracing them, staying optimistic, and believing in tomorrow, even the toughest moments can explode into greatness. Read more>>

Dr. Carol Van Dyke

We R.U.L.E. initiated their mental health curriculum program at Southfield AT&T high school and has been implementing the curriculum for the last 5 years. A second school has been added in Madison Heights. Dr. Carol stated “the girls revealed what they liked most about the program which is talking about personal issues and being heard” “They also admitted being able to resolve conflicts and having tools to help manage intense emotions” Read more>>

Sabrina Bastien

From a young age, I knew I was meant to become a healer. At just 17, I discovered Chinese medicine—a path that not only transformed my own health but ignited a lifelong calling. Driven by the profound impact it had on my personal wellness, I dedicated myself to mastering this ancient, holistic system of care. Read more>>

Megan McLearon

I can recall telling my mom I wanted to be a therapist when I was 10 or 11 years old. I was always fascinated by people and loved to listen and observe. Read more>>

Micaiah Gray

As a devoted Christian, married at eighteen, I found myself searching for tools to help me heal my past and move forward in my new season of being a young wife and mom. coach struggling in the tension of my faith and my pain. Christian marriage coach with a passion for mental health and trauma healing, coaching tools, as well as faith and family. Read more>>

Amanda Hunt

Our story starts way back when my husband and I worked EMS. He was a paramedic and I was an EMT. While the work was rewarding, and we enjoyed getting to help our community, we knew we needed more out of life than opposite 24hr work shifts. The transition into our ‘more’ actually began with my husband’s business JLH Fence. Read more>>

Liz Stevens

I’m a second-generation children’s summer-camp director. My father started Walden in 1959, and my parents ran camp through 2008. Scott and I came on board in 2006 to help out during the summers. And 20 years later… Read more>>

Kevin Harrington

I was always an artist as a young student. In middle school I started learning about photography including processing and printing photographs (this was back in the film days). In high school I worked on the yearbook to hone my skills while learning everything I could about portrait lighting and posing people. Read more>>

Kenneth King

Hello, I’m Ken King, founder of Lookout Architecture in Traverse City. For the last 20 years I have been solving problems for clients and I feel fortunate to have worked on so many transformative projects over the years. I worked at several firms in Nevada and Michigan where I honed my design and client service skills prior to going into business for myself. Read more>>

Kjersti Vandesande

My journey started when I found yoga in college, like so many others. At the time I was studying Kinesiology and on my way to becoming a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Something clicked, like a light inside my body turned on and I became very aware that everything I was learning about the human body was inside of me. Read more>>

Devan Butler

I’ve always loved flowers—the meaning behind them, the way they mark every celebration and season of life. But my journey into floral design wasn’t a straight line. I started out gardening, simply drawn to the beauty of growing things. Read more>>

Amanda Cummings

I’m a dually licensed Cosmetologist and Esthetician in both Michigan and California. I first opened Greenleaf Waxing Studio in 2012, while living in Los Angeles. The business thrived in L.A for 10 years and I learned a lot during that time. Read more>>

Ali Schrubba

When I was in middle school, my sister had an HP Point and Shoot Digital Camera. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I used to ‘borrow’ it (I took it out of her room) and brought it to school sometimes to capture memories with my friends of what it was like to be a middle schooler in 2009-20011. Read more>>

Shawna Ramthun

Two full time working moms – Shawna Ramthun and Niki Fanjoy – for years we talked about doing something for ourselves, building something, a business, that hopefully one day we could make our full-time careers. We weren’t sure exactly what we wanted to do. Read more>>

Brenda Holtrop

My business partner and I were co-workers at a previous company. We and another friend used to talk about running our own business and what that might be—something creative we said. That came to be in the fall of 2023 when Kristi Handlogten spoke to the previous owner of ClothesLine Consignment in Byron Center. Read more>>

Ketty Zamora

It all started 2018, when my husband started loosing interest in his Landscape Architecture profession at the time. I am a Hospitality professional, and had always thought ‘Transportation’ was the missing piece for our small towns to have a whole Destination Infrastructure. Read more>>

Valerie Meharg

I became interested in birth work through my own experiences with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I had a tough time with my first birth and postpartum period, and we hired a doula to support us with the second. Read more>>

Diane Sonda

We left our previous congregation because the overall leadership of the association of churches that we were a part of, wanted to fire one of our pastors, Emily Swan because she came out as gay. The founding pastor, Ken Wilson, was told that if he didn’t fire her, the parent organization would fire him. Read more>>

Captain Andy

My passion for sailing and a career in it came later than some would expect. Many people are surprised to hear that my first time on a boat in Lake Michigan was at the age of 19 even though I was born and raised in South Haven. Read more>>

Anwar Rayyan

In 2021 i received a health scare, i was told if i kept living my current lifestyle that i will develop type 2 diabetes. Receiving that news at 24 years young, i knew i had to make huge changes in diet and exercise. From that day moving forward, i slowly made changes to improve my health. Read more>>

Sal A

I spent years working in restaurants, learning the craft and building connections with people — coworkers, customers, and friends who appreciated the quality and care I put into everything I did. Even after I moved into the I.T. field, the requests asking me to cook kept coming. And honestly, I missed it too. There’s something special about bringing people together through a good meal. Read more>>

Lisa McDonald

I have always enjoyed tea but it wasn’t a big part of my life growing up. It wasn’t until I was living in Germany, teaching at the university of Tübingen and working as a consultant, that I became more ‘into’ it. Germany is the largest tea purchasing country and there is a tea store in every town. Read more>>

Kelly Young

I began my journey into cannabinoids in 2015 as a hobbyist, selling CBD lotion and sharing it with everyone I encountered. Seeing people experience amazing results was incredibly rewarding—it felt good to help others feel good. In 2017, I left my family grocery store business and began founding my cannabis businesses. Read more>>

Jodi McClain

I started on this journey to wellness when the door opened for me to become a massage therapist in 2002. I have since been on this wellness path seeking and searching for the best wellness care services and products that I could find to bring access to them in the city I lived in, Muskegon, MI. Read more>>

Benjamin Starkey

I was working a regular 9 to 5 and didn’t like how unfulfilled it made me feel. My friend started doing this in South Carolina and offered me a franchise, I jumped at the idea! Read more>>

Natalie Lattimore

I’m a little different than your average florist. My background spans environmental conservation, garden design, farming, and large-scale art production at music festivals and other events. I spent years working on farms, in succulent nurseries, nature centers and with nonprofits producing events—each experience deepening my connection to plants, people, and place. In 2018, I settled down and founded Plant Co. Read more>>

Ken Kamin

I have been an athlete and had a passion for sports from a young age. I played football, basketball, and ran track in high school and received awards, set school records, and gained regional recognition. I was offered a track scholarship when I was a senior, but I did not want to continue in school. Read more>>

Andrea Gilbert-Nostrant

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my skin. Growing up, I struggled with acne — the kind that wasn’t just on your face, but under your confidence. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup, so I couldn’t hide behind foundation or concealer like some of my friends could. Every breakout felt like a spotlight, and it shaped how I saw myself for years. Read more>>

Jalisa Danhof

I’ve always known that camp would be part of my life’s work. I actually decided to become a camp director when I was nine years old, after winning a speech contest that sent me to summer camp for the first time. From that week on, I knew I wanted to create spaces where kids could be themselves, build confidence, and feel part of something bigger. Read more>>

Lindsey Rogowski

Pat and I met in Clare, MI, in 2010. Our parents each owned bars in the area, and we both worked for them. After his shifts, Pat would stop by to see me, and not long after, we started dating. By 2014, we bought our first house together. At the same time, we took over his parents’ bar and started remodeling our house. Read more>>

Laura Armenta

The Armentality brand, rooted in the vision of Laura Armenta, has evolved significantly over the past 25 years, transitioning from Armentality Studio to the vibrant Armentality Movement Arts Center. As a cultural cornerstone in West Michigan, the center embodies a dedication to the performing and healing arts, embracing cultural diversity and fostering connections across generations. Read more>>

Taylor Macias

My journey into real estate didn’t start when I got my license in 2021—it began years earlier in the aisles of Lowe’s. Nearly a decade as a manager taught me more than just how to balance customer satisfaction and schedules; it taught me how to understand people, solve problems, and help someone turn a house into a home. Read more>>

Karissa Pfeffer

After becoming a mom and climbing the corporate ladder, I hit a wall of burnout. I blamed postpartum exhaustion and work stress, but little did I know I was actually in perimenopause. After leaving my corporate career that I thought I would retire from my symptoms weren’t getting better they were actually getting worse. When I learned what was really happening, it changed everything. Read more>>

Katherine Wilbur

My name is Katherine Wilbur, and I am from Rockford, IL. I lived in Illinois for most of my life, and started my professional candy journey when I was 16 and worked at Fannie May, a Midwestern staple of fine chocolates. Read more>>

Brian Farnham

My journey with Riverwalk Theatre started about ten years ago. I had moved to the area in 2012 for work, and hadn’t done theatre in a while. I didn’t know many people in town, and I was looking for a way to find a community. I had no idea taking that risk and auditioning would lead to such an amazing journey! Read more>>

Tiffany Gridiron

I was born the youngest of three in Los Angeles, California. My father was the minister of music at my church and my mother was the church soloist. My memories as a child are of being in church 5 times a week and singing as early as I can remember. Read more>>

Cameron Sarradet

My story has not been linear, or even very concise at all. I haven’t taken a traditional path and don’t have a singular interest which has driven me towards specific goals. What I do have is an insatiable curiosity about how we can live our lives more intentionally and care for ourselves amidst the chaos that can be modern life. Read more>>

Rebekah McGill

My inspiration has always been Northern Michigan—its rolling farmlands, quiet lake shores, and ever-changing skies. Growing up surrounded by the textures and rhythms of this landscape shaped not only who I am, but how I see. When I look at a piece of wood, I don’t just see grain. I see shorelines, waves, clouds. I see stories waiting to be told. Read more>>

Kayla Aguilar

I have really been an entrepreneur since the age of 7, long before I even knew what the word meant. Read more>>

Penney Brinks

Christmas Day, 1962, I opened the ONE gift I truly wanted! A chalkboard! Dad placed it on my bedroom wall, and I was able to ‘teach’ to my stuffed animals. My blueprint was to ‘learn and teach’ and I stinkin love it! It is my purpose and passion! Read more>>

Mitzi Davis

I am a ceramic artist originally from South Carolina. I took my first wheel throwing class as a freshman in college, and I’ve been pursuing clay as an artistic medium ever since. I received my bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, emphasis in Ceramics, from Shorter University, and my master’s degree in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Read more>>

Tiana Haygood

Feed the Need Sensory Zone began in the middle of the pandemic as a small parent support group, a safe space for families like mine to connect, share resources, and navigate the world of sensory needs together. Read more>>

Angel Allwood

My journey with School Time ABA began inside the classroom. As a Behavior Technician working with students on the autism spectrum, I saw how much support was missing during the school day. Many children in need of ABA therapy either didn’t receive it or only had it after school hours when they were already exhausted, leaving their school-day struggles unaddressed. Read more>>

Amy Taylor

I started at Bert’s Bakery Comstock at the age of 15. At 22 the bakery became for sale and my parents helped me to purchase the business as my mom has a craft store and needed a store front. Eventually she added on a larger kitchen for me and she had more room in the front for her gift store. Read more>>

Charlene Parks

My love affair with technology started with a Tandy computer my mother bought me from RadioShack when I was growing up. I’d spend hours coding thousands of lines just to make a colorful ball bounce across the screen. That first introduction sparked something in me – I loved how technology made things easier, and the way it aligned with how my brain works. Read more>>

Victoria Jefferson

I was born and raised on the Westside of Detroit during the 80s and 90s — a time that taught me resilience before I even understood the word. I grew up in a broken home with very limited means. My father couldn’t read until I was a teenager, and my mother, who had minimal education, worked long hours to make ends meet. Read more>>

Chad Frantsen

and how you got started? Absolutely. I grew up in a really structured religious environment, and for a long time, that shaped how I saw the world. But over time, I started questioning, exploring, and realizing there’s a whole lot more mystery and wonder out there. Read more>>

Margeaux Appold

Our journey has always centered around a deep appreciation for history and the art of creating experiences that make people feel something special. When we first walked through the building – it was easy for us to see the possibilities of what it could be. The craftsmanship throughout is fascinating to us. Marble baseboards, hand carved woodwork, terrazzo flooring, intricate plasterwork – we were hooked. Read more>>

Britney Epps

My journey started in technology. I have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in computer science, and I’ve spent years building a career as a software engineer and technical leader. But alongside that structure and logic, I’ve always had a creative side that needed space to explore and express. Fashion found me through curiosity and necessity. Read more>>

Rebekah White

I spent almost twenty years in Human Resources, helping other people find their purpose at work — but somewhere along the way, I lost sight of my own. I was great at building teams, solving problems, and guiding others through change, but I was running on empty myself. Animals have always been my reset button. Read more>>

Hien Lam

I didn’t come from design. I was a hospital administrator with the VA, then a consultant implementing electronic health record systems. Matt — my now business partner — and I met doing that work. On paper, it was stable and respectable. In reality, we were both burned out, staring at our screens wondering, is this it? Read more>>

Ann Gildner

Art was always a part of my daily life. Read more>>

Rachel Semrau

I’ve lived in Southwest Michigan my whole life! During my childhood, I had a variety of animals: dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, skinks, parakeets, hermit crabs, and chickens. I currently have one dog, three cats, and chickens! One of my cats is a special needs rescue from Kzoo Cat Cafe and Rescue, where I volunteer! Read more>>

Rachele Evers

I am not sure which way to go with this question. I can tell you that I started my career thinking I needed to find a good job with a pension and good benefits. I was living my life according to the script I had been given – get married, get a degree, get a good job, white picket fence and all of that jazz. Read more>>

Sara Young

My story is ever evolving. Everything ties into everything else. Because I met one person, I met the next and so on. I started etching glass artware 25 years ago after taking a stained glass weekend class with my Sister-In-Law. I could create the designs and cut the glass like a champ, but I couldn’t solder the pieces together to save my soul. Read more>>

Angie Williams-Chehmani

I started Dr. Angie’s Tutoring & Learning Resources Center as a grassroots mission to support K-12 students in underserved communities in and around Ypsilanti, MI after COVID19. My grand opening was in June 2021 at 317 Ecorse Road, Unit 1, Ypsilanti, MI. I started as a limited liability company offering one-on-one and small group tutoring for an affordable price. Read more>>

Kayla Arjona-Rodriguez

I came from humble beginnings. I grew up living with my grandma in a very small town. We lived in a condemned trailer without running water. This instilled hard work in me at a very young age. I always had this dream of living in an apartment downtown in a city one day. Read more>>

Cassie Ziegler

I went to hair school when I was 19- so about 20 years ago. I always loved doing hair, the idea of matching people with how they feel on the inside to what they see on the outside. I struggled finding a place to work that really fit with who I was and how I wanted to do hair. Read more>>

Valerie Barton

We started Barton Bird Care in 2019. We have several parrots as pets and I was inspired by the work of The Gabriel Foundation in Colorado, which is a non-profit parrot welfare organization. As they offered bird boarding services, this gave me the idea of creating an in-home bird boarding hobby business. Read more>>

Sophia Carlesimo

I’ve always had such a love for fashion and styling, and I wanted to create something that really represented confidence, femininity, and self-expression. Before starting It Girl Energy Boutique, I actually worked in HR. I learned a lot from that experience, but deep down I knew I wanted to do something more creative — something that felt like me. Read more>>

Lisa Segar

I began practicing Yoga in 2015 when a friend encouraged me to take a class. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with life. Actually I was feel a lot overwhelmed with life, and she thought it might be a practice where I could find some peace. I immediately resonated with the physical aspect of the practice. Read more>>

Elisa Thibault

So, the Little Window House actually started as one of those “what if” ideas that just wouldn’t leave us alone. Nicole and I are both nurses by background, she’s also a photographer, and I’ve always loved interior design, styling, and finding creative ways to make spaces feel special. Read more>>

Teresa Gauna

Absolutely! For 12 amazing years, I was a stay-at-home mom to four wonderful children. It was the most rewarding job, but as my kids grew older and more independent, I started thinking about what was next for me something I could truly be passionate about. One day, permanent makeup popped up on my newsfeed, and it immediately caught my attention. Read more>>

Jadschi Coach Ja Green

I think boxing was in me from way back, my father (RIH) was a amateur AAU champion and a professional boxer, but as far as competition for me was March 21st 199, 10 before my 14th birthday. On March 14th 1992 I attended a boxing show where I seen my 2 older brothers box, and I was hooked. Read more>>

Jay Taylor

I moved to Detroit in 2016 with no connections and no industry experience, but set out early with the mindset of a professional athlete, knowing I could learn anything I set my mind to. In the first year, I won ‘Rookie of the Year’ which came as no surprise, but the biggest honor was winning ‘Top Producer’ by my second year. Read more>>

Kenisha Johnson

My name is Kenisha Johnson the owner and founder of Legacy Tax Solutions. Legacy Tax Solutions is a tax preparation and advisory firm. We also do business start up and credit restoration. I started my entrepreneurial journey during my time as a CNA at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Read more>>