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.
Shari Mocheit
Within the last few years I have branched out into what’s known in the cruise industry as “Guest Entertainer” or “Headliner” work, which means I get to perform my own shows, and my latest project has me over the moon excited! I have produced, directed, and choreographed two brand new shows that I am so proud to introduce to the world! Read more>>
Brad Tate
I studied at Cincinnati Christian University where I earned my bachelor degree in Biblical Studies. From there I served 4 years in southern Indiana at a local church. In 2006, I started a 16 year tenure at a fast growing multisite church in southeast Michigan. I was on staff & in executive leadership as we grew from 600 people in a middle school cafeteria to a congregation of 10,000 spread out over 7 campuses. Read more>>
Jourdan Pauley
Based in Otisville, Michigan, Jourdan is a proud mother of four, and family life is at the heart of everything she does. Whether traveling together, enjoying bonfires on their property, or cherishing the small everyday moments, her family inspires the warmth and authenticity seen in her work. Her youngest child, who has special needs and is nonverbal, has taught her to embrace life one day at a time—a perspective that informs her approach to photography. Read more>>
Matt Baum
Once I had gear, and people knew I was interested in movie-making my phone started ringing. I eventually landed a job in Traverse City, Michigan where I boom-operated for a mixer named Nick Heppding out of New York. The project was The Wretched, a horror film which actually landed #1 at the box office during COVID due to it’s success at drive-ins when nobody could go into theaters. On that film, I shadowed and learned a ton from Nick, who has since had me boom operate for him on a feature in New York as well. Read more>>
Litta Monea
Building Note to Self hasn’t been easy. One of the biggest challenges has been growing a mental wellness brand while healing in real time myself — learning how to show up as both the founder and a human being. I’ve faced financial pressure, burnout, self-doubt, and the challenge of being taken seriously in a world that often underestimates young Black women in business and mental health spaces. I’ve also had to navigate building community without overextending myself emotionally. But every obstacle sharpened my discipline, clarified my purpose, and taught me how to lead with boundaries, vision, and integrity. Read more>>
Keonna Rutley
It hasn’t been a smooth ride but I have learned a lot about the candle industry and myself. I had to learn and adapt to the waves of candle sales. Fall and winter are the busiest seasons so I had to learn how to gain and retain customers during the slower seasons. With that I also had to find my target audience. Read more>>
Tatanasia Hightower
My paternal grandparents loved smooth Jazz and soulful Blues. My maternal grandmother loved gospel and Snoop Dogg; both would get played at the same blaring volume level. My mother (a 70s baby) loved all music and danced all the time; in fact, she and my godmother would go out dancing as often as possible. My godmother was known for her heavy hitting Jit skills. My sister is an amazing dancer. My aunts and uncles were very much into base, old school HipHop, and R &B; their car/truck speaker would rattle my little body in their back seats. Read more>>
Ray’Chelle Norfolk
To legally offer lash extensions, I needed to be licensed, so I put myself through Esthetician School and earned my license in 2021. Since then, I’ve been committed to growing and expanding my business. Today, Bombchelle Lashes offers not only lash services, but also brows, body waxing, and more. My journey has been driven by passion, determination, and a genuine love for helping people feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>
Megan Scott
In downtown Chicago, you can’t throw a stick without hitting another attorney (and promptly being sued for assault and battery). I am sure that most professions experience this, to some extent, but practicing in such an isolated environment presents specific challenges to productivity, collaboration, innovation, and temperment… which I battle every day. Read more>>
david wood
The Perfect Pairing: The Story of David Wood & Lori JustGoodChefs is the culmination of two lifetimes spent in pursuit of the extraordinary. More than just a catering service, it is the living expression of Lori and David Wood’s shared passion for world-class dining and heartfelt hospitality. Read more>>
Brandi James
When I was very young, maybe around the age of 4, I always had small parts in church plays. Whenever I went to church with my grandmother, I was always entered into some sort of theatre or speaking activity. At 8 years old I wanted to be on a show called “Double Dare”, but I knew my parents wouldn’t take me to California. Read more>>
Michelle Brow
My story in financial planning was shaped in 2008, during the financial crisis. At the time, I was a Vice President at a large national bank. Every day, our branch lobby was filled with scared, emotional clients who had just watched the market drop more than 50%. Read more>>
Laura McCaffery
I am an image maker and storyteller. I graduated with honors from Madonna University and was a member of Psi Chi. As a graduation gift, my Father took me to Europe, and I fell in love with taking photos. I applied to the College for Creative Studies with my European tourist photographs. I got in! Read more>>
Emily Hollon
I discovered Pilates in my late 20s at a studio about 30 minutes outside of Ann Arbor – and fell in love. When I tried to find a Pilates home closer to this city, however, I came up short. Many studios felt intimidating, overly exclusive or expensive – and none felt like they were designed for someone like me. Read more>>
Brent Wall
The T. Wall Foundation was founded more than 30 years ago by my father with a clear mission: to bring people together to support youth and families in our community. From its earliest days, the Foundation has focused on creating access, opportunity, and meaningful experiences for those who need it most. Read more>>
Justin Schultz
My journey into web design and entrepreneurship began unexpectedly in the early 2000s while I was serving as a youth pastor in ministry. Read more>>
D’Paris Alward
Exit Strategies began while I was still working full time for Source One Construction, where I spent eight years gaining experience across residential, commercial, and government projects. During the first year of Exit Strategies, I was building the company part time. Read more>>
Nikk May
I was fortunate enough to have been born into a family full of singers and musicians. Needless to say, I always saw music as an inevitable part of my future. My dad was a drummer and started working with my older brother and I when we were about age 4 and 6. Read more>>
Jordan Currie
When I think of how I started, I always have to go back to being a child. From the time I was four I can remember always loving movies. Some of my earliest memories are watching the movies my parents owned on VHS or on DVD. Like The Temptations, Rush Hour, Rocky, Star Wars, etc. Read more>>
Ashley Sheri
Ever since I could remember, I’ve always had a love for the entertainment industry. I love music, dancing, and especially acting. Movies and tv were an escape for me because I was a very shy and quiet child who got picked on in school sometimes. Read more>>
Jennifer Evans
My path here has been anything but linear, and I’m grateful for every step of it. I began my career in veterinary medicine and animal welfare, where I gained deep experience in nonprofit work, community-based care, and advocacy. That foundation eventually led me into the corporate world, where I served in a couple of roles one being the lead for a global colleague resource group. Read more>>
Brandon LaFontaine
I fell into SEO and PPC marketing through an unlikely path. I was let go from my role as a Family Pastor after I applied for a Senior Pastor position at a different church. Once the administration found out I had applied elsewhere, they decided to let me go. Fortunately, I landed at a marketing agency that trained me in the key principles of SEO. Read more>>
Allie Brawley
My yoga journey began in 1999, when my mom suggested I try a class to slow down from a fast-paced New York City lifestyle. What started as a complement to fitness quickly became a grounding practice that carried me through career changes, moves, and life’s inevitable transitions—teaching me resilience, presence, and peace amidst uncertainty. Read more>>
DJ Cent
This led me to become a resident DJ for the show in 09 from 3 am – 4 am was my time slot the show air every Sunday from 3 am – 5 am (holidays 2 am – 5 am) hosted by Kim James with Reggie Harrell & (added later) DaNeil Mitchell (R.I.P)! Playing the Club Insomnia show being live on air every weekend allowed me so many new opportunites as well as meeting some amazing people/DJ’s, being on such a huge platform with little restrictions on me, I learned so much more from the business aspect & truly being able to feel free on the decks, sadly due to Covid late 19 our show got cancelled! Read more>>
Caitlin Bailey
I’ve wanted to be in the wedding world for as long as I can remember, truly, since I was about 13. Something about that iconic JLo wedding planner energy just stuck with me. In high school, I started working at a florist, and that’s where my passion really took off. Read more>>
