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 Michigan.
Liz Maritz
I started Surfaces because I wanted to create more than just an art supply store and or art studio—I wanted a space where people felt welcome to explore, connect and create without intimidation and have access to high quality art supplies. Read more>>
Dr. Carla Ludwig
Hope for Single Moms was started because of a personal story. One of my daughters became pregnant at the end of her freshman year of college and had her daughter that December. Nine months later, she moved to KY to live with her sister and get a fresh start. Read more>>
Mandee Collins
I started out as an employee back in 2017. In 2020 COVID shut down all the businesses, including Funtastic. Once businesses were able to open back up, the opportunity to buy Funtastic came about and I took advantage of the opportunity. I loved my job before, and missed everyone, and thought it was the perfect chance to reconnect with the community. Read more>>
Becca Beydoun
When I began my nail career nine years ago, I started my apprenticeship with my now business partner, Lauren, under our old boss. We were brand new—learning side by side, figuring things out as we went, and trying to find our place in the industry. Read more>>
Shalonda Scott
I started my business as a side hustle while working in ER as a Registered Nurse. I became interested in the beauty industry and got really excited when I learned that I can combine the both. I started my business in 2018, I first started out doing lash extensions. I then grew to a non-medical spa adding additional services. Read more>>
Mary Hamp
I spent 23 years working for a plumbing wholesale company before being laid off in 2008. It was a devastating time — I had recently gone through a divorce and was just beginning to rebuild my life. I had never attended college, having gone straight into the workforce after high school, so I started exploring new career options. Read more>>
Erica Pietrzyk
I started Pietrzyk Pierogi in 2017 almost by accident — by cooking for the people I love. I was making pierogi for friends, trying to reconnect with my Polish roots, and the response was overwhelming. Read more>>
Sally Van Buren
I was raised in Michigan, but my early career took me all over the world. I worked as a Tour Director for Tauck, leading luxury trips through Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Life on the road was exciting, but eventually, I married a helicopter pilot, settled in Hawaii, and that’s where my daughter, Monica, was born. Read more>>
Anthony Kopp
When I was at Western for undergrad and in chiropractic school I severely injured my back 4 times in 5 years. I was not able to workout, daily tasks became non existent, and I could barely get out of bed. At the time I had access to unlimited chiropractic and physical therapy. I did what they told me and nothing every changed. Read more>>
Diane Welker
As a Nurse Practitioner for Palliative Care at a local hospital. I frequently was faced with assisting patients and families with coordinating discharge options when one’s medical condition was in a new phase of needing end-of-life care.. Staying in an acute care facility was not an option. V
Stephanie Stephan
Growing up, I was always drawn to both science and math. I loved understanding how things work and solving problems but I was equally drawn to visual arts and anything that let me work with my hands. Dentistry ended up being the perfect fit, combining technical precision with creativity and artistry. Read more>>
Lindsey Lieto
The following is from an article I wrote for a local (Spring Lake Stroll) publication: I’m the new owner of Tranzform, Lindsey Lieto. My family and I have lived in, and loved, the community of Spring Lake for the past 10 years. We are a very athletic family – it rules our lives between kids sports and watching the Wolverines! Read more>>
Jeremiah Seegers
My name is Jeremiah Seegers, I’m 18, and I co-run a marketing/content agency with my dad, Matthew Seegers. I didn’t initially plan on doing “marketing.” I started with creative ventures—music, video, and photography for people around me because we all needed content. I seen the opening in the market. There was a need for video, and that was my entry point. Read more>>
Fonda Hollowell
I started The Original House of Dope™️ (OGHOD) in my home workshop right here in Detroit. What began as a personal creative outlet has grown into a brand that stands for authenticity, confidence, and bold self-expression. Every piece is still made by hand in the workshop, designed to let people showcase their individuality and dope energy wherever they are. Read more>>
Sarah Zwalua
I knew when I graduated high school that college wasn’t something I saw myself doing. I’ve always been artistic, had a hard time in school and was passionate about the beauty industry. I knew that I wanted to do go to beauty school. Passionate at a young age cutting my Barbie dolls & American girl dolls hair- I felt it was destiny. Read more>>
Jennifer Fishkind
I actually started Princess Pinky Girl kind of by accident! Back in 2013, I was just a busy working mom looking for an easier way to organize and share fun ideas I found online. Pinterest was still pretty new, and I loved it, so I started saving recipes, crafts, and party ideas that I wanted to try. Read more>>
Jamonte Wilson
Starting on the brink of covid as a Buckhead valet driver for kabob land and red pepper taqueria, and bartender at Hudson grill in Atlanta Georgia, Social distancing restricted guests from sitting at my bar and slowed down the amount of patrons to valet as well. Read more>>
Brittany Adams
HKK is my baby! Going 5 years strong we have made it through some storms. From selling out of our trunk to being invited to pop-up shops to hosting our own fashion shows we can honestly say that we have made some serious changes. HKK stands firmly on quality and we are looking forward to where it will lead us. Read more>>
Peggy Hawley
I attended high school in Chicago and was fortunate to have a great art teacher and a unique high school “art major”. She encouraged me to attend the University of Illinois and study art. Of course, I didn’t listen and went to a small liberal arts college. I ended up majoring in English and teaching high school English for 4 years. Read more>>
Milton Oliver
As a young athlete I grew a passion for the process of physically training the human body to maximize its performance. I started coaching athletes over 20 years ago in northern Michigan, and I got hired for job at a prestigious private social club I have been working in metro Detroit for the last 13 years. Read more>>
Christina Pfeufer
When I was thirteen, my parents opened a flower shop in Manistee, Colonial Flower Shoppe and I just loved flower arranging and learned from an old-school designer. After that flowers were in my blood. I managed flower shops in Lansing, Key West and Chicago still learning the art of floral design all the time. Read more>>
Rachelle Dutton
“So, how did Dutton + Co. Design begin?” Honestly, it started long before I ever realized it. Growing up, I watched my mom — who was a designer for a local furniture store — transform ordinary rooms into beautiful, welcoming spaces that just felt like home. Read more>>
Becky Babcock
Honestly, my journey into photography started pretty simply — with a camera, a curiosity, and a deep love for capturing the in-between moments that make life feel real. I never set out to “become” a photographer; it unfolded naturally. I started by photographing my own family, then friends, and before long, it snowballed into something much bigger. Read more>>
Emma Jo Wassink
I’ve always been drawn to small businesses. I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs, so conversations about building something from scratch were just part of everyday life. When I started my own career, I noticed how many business owners struggled with client gifting. Read more>>
Brittany Mailloux
I grew up in a small town in Ontario as the youngest of three girls. My parents, both self-employed owners of a construction company, instilled in me a strong work ethic, dedication to family, and appreciation for building something from the ground up. Read more>>
Heather TenHarmsel
The Poppy Peach, LLC. was created in 2018 by designer and founder Heather TenHarmsel. Heather has a degree in healthcare and started creating leather earrings when she realized there was a need for lightweight statement pieces for everyday wear. Our earrings are made from only the highest quality materials, such as genuine leather, hardwoods and nickel-free metals. Read more>>
Lia Palomino
It all started back in undergrad when I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I took many classes unsure what I really liked until I took my first health science class. I immediately fell in love with it and found physical therapy as my direction. Read more>>
Volly
I started my love for music at a very young age. Which eventually led to me writing my own songs by 13, and recording my first studio record by 16-17. I had a rough up bringing, grew up in poverty with my father in and out of jail and the streets raising me. Read more>>
Shelby Kibler
My wife Julie and I opened Field & Fire in the Downtown Market when it opened in Fall 2013. We intended to be a wood-fired bakery specializing in crusty European style sourdough breads and croissants. Read more>>
Katie Morgan
There is not anything special to how my story begins. I went to college, got a BA in Kinesiology, then started my first job managing a fitness center located in a senior living community. This is where my story really takes off. I fell completely in love with working in the fitness industry. V
Megan Laser
I have always been called to yoga, even before I ever knew what it was. I would go to a yoga class here and there every couple of years. At some point while living in Chicago, I made a dear friend and together, we would go to a few yoga studios around the city. Read more>>
Yarrow Young
Tootsie Bluffins was created when we began our families and realized we wanted the availability to have a more flexible schedule than a 9-5 would allow with little ones at home. Our grandmother, Harriet Booth, began baking with us from very young ages and we always enjoyed it! Read more>>
Jason Adams
I essentially started out in this industry by having tech repair forced on me. I was the store manager for a cellular carrier that only did sales when I began my employment there. After a few years, the company consolidated their locations and redistributed the service and repair locations. Ultimately ending up converting my store to sales and repair. I was sent to a training class for about 5 days (which was a horrible experience and didn’t learn much). I researched everything and anything I could to have a better understanding of the inner workings of devices, how they were put together, and different aspects of repair. Read more>>
Jose Sanchez
We have the most sustainable camp in San Ignacio Lagoon, and we provide the best accommodations considering the location and remoteness of the area where we are located. All our energy is provided by solar energy, our food is from local sources, our bathrooms run compostable toilets (the waste gets fully composted in one year!), Our staff is only Mexicans and over 80 percent are from the lagoon (very small community, about 400 people ). Read more>>
Patty Gruizinga
Periodically a class of students or a sports team will come to help with a special project, like when we change over to a different season or to move boxes of Christmas merchandise. We are still operating out of the original 10,000 sq. ft location but this year we are going to have a Pop-Up” Christmas store for 3 months. The 3500 sq. ft. store will be located across town and everyone is very excited. Read more>>
Michelle Schneider
My path to where I am today wasn’t a direct path to travel, but a great journey, nonetheless. My 27-year career started exclusively in the finance world working for a large brokerage firm. This was where I became meticulously detailed, honed my follow up skills and demonstrated my work ethic. Read more>>
Bobby Haag
I was introduced to oil painting when I turned 20 years old. I never heard of it. At first I would fill notebooks full of drawings. Those were the first pictures I made independantly and I have a lot of those notebooks from the classic days of drawings and colorings and words. Read more>>
