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.
Paul Klokkert
Before starting this business, I spent over a decade working as a school counselor and coach, supporting students who needed someone to believe in them. That experience taught me the importance of trust, responsibility, and showing up for people. These are the same values I bring into every home and business we clean. In 2023, I started Journey Carpet Cleaning part-time. Read more>>
Robert Kosha
My name is Rob Kosha, and I’ve been repairing electronics for over 20 years. I own an electronics repair shop in Troy that I opened two years ago after spending much of my career working for other repair businesses. Over time, I became frustrated with how often customers were overcharged or pressured into unnecessary repairs. Read more>>
Erin Miller
I started out like many people, graduating from college and starting out in the workforce in my first job at a Grand Rapids advertising agency. Through the years and a few job changes, I had a long corporate career working for a multinational company in global marketing and communications. I enjoyed that part of my work life. Read more>>
Lisa Middleton
I first saw Card My Yard during COVID at a drive-by 16th birthday and it just made me smile. I love a good birthday celebration, so I looked into it, but they didn’t service our area. Three years later, I checked again and there still wasn’t a location in Monroe County. That’s when I decided to launch Card My Yard Monroe-MI in July 2023. Read more>>
Destiny Larsen
I’m a self-taught designer. I didn’t go to school for it, but I’ve always paid attention to how spaces feel and how certain rooms just work while others don’t. After leaving the Air Force, I was in that weird in-between season where you’re figuring out who you are without the structure you’ve always had. Design became something I naturally leaned into during that time. Read more>>
Nicole Vanhaaren
I founded VanHaaren Designs in 2011, driven by a desire to build something of my own after discovering that many post-college positions required seven to ten years of experience. Entrepreneurship allowed me to create opportunities rather than wait for them, while also giving me the flexibility to manage my schedule and work on my own terms. Read more>>
Christie King
My career began in corporate marketing and business development, where I learned strategy, structure, and how to manage big, moving projects. It was steady work, but it never quite felt like home. Then layoffs hit, and I was faced with a very real choice; find another safe job or finally follow the creative pull I’d been ignoring. I chose the second. Read more>>
Andrea Davids
I’ve been in the travel industry for four years. I originally started because of my love for Disney—friends were always calling me with questions about Disney and travel in general, and I was known as the “go-to” person for advice. One day, a friend said, “You should really be a travel agent—you’d be amazing at it,” and that truly sparked my interest. Read more>>
Brandon Dykstra
Byron Center has been home my whole life. Married my high school sweetheart and raised four kids here—one son who’s married now, another who runs his own auto detailing business, a daughter off at college, and our youngest still in high school. Residential construction came into the picture through my dad. Read more>>
Carla Strickland
I was always the creative tall girl in my social circles but I never thought about modeling. After being motivated by a friend who was in the industry, I entered in my early twenties without expectations. Staying in it into my late thirties has been less about longevity and more about evolution. Read more>>
Frank & Kati Schoenwitz
We’re owners Frank and Kati Schoenwitz: Baroda locals and Southwest Michigan natives. We wanted to plant deeper roots in our community, offering something positive and little bit of joy in a world that feels kind of hard right now. Read more>>
Volanda Frazier
My name is Volanda Frazier! I was born and raised on Detroit’s eastside, graduating from Grosse Pointe North Highschool. I was the product of a broken home and was born to parents who were unable to care for me, thus resulting in me being adopted. Read more>>
Panthera Edge Natalie Kik-Brown, Ex. Dir.
The story of The Panthera Edge Foundation begins with its founders, Jan Brown and her husband, Alan Priest, both of whom retired after distinguished executive careers. The three of us share an unwavering belief in the power of education for students in the United States and abroad. Read more>>
Nicole Reynolds
I started my doula business, Dawning Lace Doula Services, from the intersection of my work as a social worker and my growing awareness of how deeply advocacy and mental health are overlooked in the birth and postpartum space. Read more>>
Marci Larsen
I didn’t find backcountry camping until my husband and I took our young son to Isle Royale National Park and didn’t hike as far as we’d planned. That unsatisfied yearning for more, coupled with seeing a woman hiking the island alone, planted a seed. I wanted MORE. Later that summer, I took myself to the most remote spot I could find in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Read more>>
Jason Underhill
We launched this team in January of 2020—arguably the most interesting year to start anything. At the time, we were part of another strength team, but our visions were moving in different directions—not out of conflict, just geography and calling. What began with a core group of five athletes quickly grew to nine, and today we are a team of fourteen. Read more>>
Michael Ghareeb
I attended High School in Grand Rapids at Ottawa Hills High School where I participated in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Golf. I then graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Psychology. My career in education began in 1996 when I became an elementary school resource teacher. Read more>>
Gordy Baylis
Back in 2021 I was looking for something new. I was at that age where I wanted more for my myself but more importantly my family. I found Tub Glaze where I immediately connected with the founder and owner. I didn’t know at the time I would own the company in less than 3 years. He was nearing retirement and I found my calling. Read more>>
Alexis & Holly Baldwin
The Gooleyguk Café came about because sisters-in-law Alexis and Holly saw the need for a community-driven gathering space where people can relax and feel at home while enjoying delicious beverages of all kinds. A partnership with The 490 Bakery, an already established beloved local business, made our desires a reality. We collaborate in one space with the bakery to provide a welcoming, quality-driven establishment. Read more>>
Geoff Schalow
I used to be a Sales and Marketing manager for a local franchise. We had a lot of success, and had just broken the sales record for the second year in a row when the executive staff decided to cut our commissions in half. I was looking for another position with a local company. Read more>>
Devin O’Dwyer
I’ve always had a deep love for cars, but it really started to take shape about five years ago when I bought my first secondary vehicle, a 2000 Audi S4 finished in Nogaro Blue. That car became something more than just transportation; it was a creative outlet. I took pride in cleaning it, maintaining it, and obsessing over every detail. Read more>>
Asia K Williams
I grew up on the east side of Detroit, in what many people know as the Red Zone. My environment shaped me early. I was surrounded by disinvestment and resilience at the same time, and I learned young how much space, access, and opportunity can shape a person’s future. Read more>>
Javier Fortoso
My name is Javier Fortoso, and I founded Torti Taco in 2016 with one simple goal: to create a taco shop that was different. one that brought new flavors and a fresh experience to the city. From the beginning, we wanted to stand out. We introduced a salsa bar, something you don’t see often in Southwest Michigan. Read more>>
Aneshia Solomon
My path has been shaped by both curiosity and calling. I’ve always been deeply interested in relationships—how people connect, communicate, and love one another, especially in spaces where silence, shame, or cultural expectations make those conversations harder. Read more>>
Michael Bain
I completed my medical education at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a family medicine residency at McLaren Oakland Hospital. After residency, I was hired by Country Creek Family Physicians with the goal of eventually taking over the practice from its founder, Dr. Joucys, who was nearing retirement and no longer practicing on a full-time basis. Read more>>
Laura Bloom
My story really begins with a deep passion for helping others. Early on, I was drawn to work that allowed me to connect with people on a human level and support them through meaningful change. I’ve always believed that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that people deserve to be met exactly where they are in their journey. Read more>>
Heidi Hendrickson
I grew up on an average size dairy farm in the next town over. I was just 17 years old and the opportunity to rent my farm came up. I jumped in head first and have never looked back since. I would not be able to do it today without the experience of growing up on my dads dairy farm, where he still farms today. Read more>>
Graceann Warn
I have painted since I was a young teenager. I think it was my most natural means of expression. I remember my bedroom growing up was half oil painting studio. I loved the smell, I loved moving paint on canvas. I bought all the “how to paint” books I could find and my parents gave me art supplies every Christmas. Read more>>
Joe Crampton
My background is actually in commercial broadcast production. For years, my job was to make things look perfect—perfect lighting, clean scripts, and polished visuals. Read more>>
Brian Williams
I originally started my career as a DJ while I was in college, trying to figure out my direction in life. During that time, I was exposed to music technology, and once I got a small taste of it, I was completely hooked. What started as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. Read more>>
Kevin Grifhorst
My dad’s family has been involved at camp for many years. Back in 1978, Ken & Joyce Marvel accepted the position of being the camp directors. Joyce was my dad’s cousin. They in turn reached out to my Uncle Jim and Aunt Judy to work at camp during the summer. Read more>>
Amy Gembis
My husband Greg and I were living in Chicago in 2003. We were tossing around some business ideas that we had observed having success in Chicago. We thought about a gourmet popcorn shop as there were quite a few that we had seen nation-wide, but nothing like that existed in Traverse City. Read more>>
Kiki Pape
I never set out to become a children’s book author—but in many ways, I’ve been writing toward The Worry Wags my entire life. As a child, my emotions always felt too big to explain and too complex to name. The phrase I heard most—“It’s okay not to feel okay”—never felt finished to me. I always wondered what came next. Read more>>
Kaitra Wilkins Lynn Sutliff
Bean & Bloom was born from a love of creating spaces that feel welcoming, inspiring, and rooted in community. What started as a simple idea, to offer great coffee in a place where people could slow down and feel at home, quickly grew into something much bigger. From the beginning, the vision was to blend thoughtfully crafted drinks with an atmosphere that encourages connection, creativity, and wellness. Read more>>
Amy Henley
The Babcia’s Corner story began in the late 1920’s with our Babcia, Mary Karbowneczk’s immigration from Poland to the United States. She brought with her many wonderful traditions, including our amazing pierogi recipe. Read more>>
Nevaeha Bledsoe
My journey with Narvae began in a quiet, often overlooked season where I felt completely unrecognizable to myself. After enduring a series of deep personal losses the passing of my grandmother and the sudden instability of career loss I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize the woman staring back. Read more>>
