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.
Jon Friske
Over the next 15 -20 years, we three siblings grew up in and around both family businesses; working, watching, and learning. There were some other pursuits that took us away here and there for periods of time. Heidi worked in other retail establishments, I (Jon) was intent for a time on pursuing a career in exercise science. Rich was probably the most clear about his desire to continue the family business earlier on, although anyone who grows up in a family business will tell you – there’s always that time when you’re convinced you want nothing to do with it for yourself! Read more>>
Hamza Chalhoub
Something Surprising is that hamzas sweet bites started as a simple personal passion. In the beginning I was making desserts late at night after work or in the morning before work and learning step by step. It took long hours and self learning into building the brand. That journey and the decision to follow my passion by going to culinary school. Read more>>
Jasmynn Durr
Her turning point came when happy customers started recommending her to others and sharing her work by word of mouth and social media. Orders increased, and her brand began to grow. I added on cooking classes for children, seasoning and also tutoring the youth and helping children with schoolwork and learning support to make the honor roll! She also gives back to the community with back to school drive and feeding the homeless, Read more>>
Lindsey Ruffer
The backstory: 
Kids, a divorce, starting over, going back to school for masters degree, becoming the modern day brady bunch, and topping it off with adding a horse dog, I started to have the opportunity to connect back with nature. I quickly remembered how much peace it brought me. 
I started reading any book I could, turned our small apartment into a jungle.. Read more>>
John D’Anna
I’ve been interested in building and architecture for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was drawn to how homes were designed and constructed. That early interest turned into a real passion for construction. In school, I focused on mechanical engineering, drafting, and architectural studies, learning how to read and create technical drawings and understand structural systems. Read more>>
Brent Mallek
I bought my first boat in Northern Michigan when I was 14 and have been in love with the waters of this region since then. I spent my summers in Lelanau County and would often take the short ride across the bay to Charlevoix and Petoskey (occasionally in a 16′ Hobie Cat. A journey I’m quite sure my parents would not have blessed!). Read more>>
Milan Arielle
I got to where I am today from a dream and being inspired to make it come true. At the age of 14 I started writing my first script and knew that I wanted to study film and video production in college. In 2011 I graduated with a B,A. Read more>>
Brianna Schneider
I think somewhere down deep I always wanted to be a business owner in my community; I just didn’t know how that would actually play out. After graduating from Michigan State with an Animal Science degree I was realizing I probably didn’t want to push on to veterinary school which had been my goal for many years. Read more>>
Robin Morgan
I live with three Border Collies: Gem, Slip, and Fergus, and have been dedicatedly training and competing with my dogs for over 50 years in Obedience, Agility, and Rally. Gem and Fergus are both certified Service Dogs that I have taught according to the rigorous standard required. Read more>>
Bridgette Mietling
The story of how I became a childbirth educator and lactation counselor is one that has been in the making since my childhood. I grew up with a fear of needles and medical procedures. When I became pregnant in 2009 with my first baby, I knew that I didn’t want a birth experience that involved medications, needles, or any other unnecessary interventions. Read more>>
Karri Jablonski
I started my career in 1997 at Johnson Controls, working on the production line for twelve years. It was hands-on, fast-paced work that taught me discipline, consistency, and how much every single role matters in the bigger picture. After that, I earned my Associate’s degree in Healthcare Business Management from Davenport College. Read more>>
Kevin & Debbra Chapman
Chapman Surfaces is really a story about legacy, craftsmanship, faith, and coming home. Kevin was born in Las Vegas and moved to Michigan during high school to live with his grandparents. After graduating, he joined the United States Air Force at just 18 years old and was stationed in Montana. Read more>>
Eric Cook
Some family owned an unoccupied storefront on W. McNichols (6 Mile) and around 2017 myself and a few others had the idea of developing it into an event venue. Later finding out that most storefronts without adequate parking can’t be zoned as ‘event spaces’, the space quick became branded a community space. Read more>>
LaKeisha Dickerson
I decided to become a Notary Public in September 2020. We were still pretty fresh into the pandemic. I had taken a leave of absence from my property manager position, to home school my 4 children when the world shut down. Needed something to supplement my loss of income. Read more>>
Shawndrica Simmons
I started this business at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, out of both necessity and conviction. During that time, I continuously saw families being referred to facilities that did not meet the standard of care I believed parents and children deserved. The environments felt sterile, impersonal, and lacking the warmth needed to truly cultivate and restore the parent-child relationship. Read more>>
Jessica Persamanos
Growing up I have always had a passion for animals. Animals truly are a blessing to this earth. We as humans are able to adopt these beautiful species, they treat us with unconditional love and kindness. Going through life was never easy for me, starting at a young age I had to learn how to be independent and mature a lot quicker. Read more>>
Anna Morgan
Destination Dances began with a shared love for something timeless. Ethan and I met through a swing dance club in Grand Rapids. What started as a fun social outlet quickly became something more when we realized we both had a deep passion for ballroom dancing, not just the steps, but the elegance, the history, and the emotional connection behind it. Read more>>
Kelly Williams
My journey into the wellness space wasn’t linear -it was personal. I started out as a dancer and for years movement was my identity, my passion, and my outlet. But after a serious knee injury, everything changed. I went from performing at full capacity to being forced to slow down in ways I never had before. Read more>>
Janine VanStee
I spent more than 30 years working in education, starting in special education and eventually moving into administrative roles where I supported teachers, students, and programs across schools. Throughout my career, I was especially drawn to students who didn’t fit neatly into traditional systems. I’ve always been interested in how people learn, think, and navigate the world differently. Read more>>
Umelo Onyejiaka
I grew up Nigerian, and some of my earliest lessons about work, resilience, and creativity came from watching my mother do business. I remember seeing her sell, negotiate, and figure things out with whatever resources were available. That environment teaches you something early. You do not wait for perfect conditions. You learn how to make something out of what you have. Read more>>
Ileana Martinez
Myself and my husband had always been health enthusiast, we loved to spend time with our 2 daughters and enjoying trying new food and recipes. At the same time we were looking for an opportunity to invest and when we saw the opportunity with the existing downtown place in St Joseph Michigan we decided to go for it. Read more>>
JeCorey Hawkins
I started comedy October 26th 2019. I had always thought I was funny but I had thought I was only funny around friends. After my first time on stage I caught the comedy bug and kept growing. I took some time off during Covid until March of 2021. I started going to to open mics again around the state. Read more>>
Brody Turner
I am very grateful that handheld devices were not my main source of entertainment growing up. Apart from watching college basketball and football games, I had the time, boredom, and space to let my imagination take over. I would create and capture stories with my toys, other household items, and my curiosity. Read more>>
McKenzie Lott
The Sweetest Union started in my kitchen during a season of personal change. I’ve always enjoyed baking here and there, but what truly pushed me into it was when I quit drinking. In that transition, I found myself craving sugar and spending more time experimenting in the kitchen to satisfy it. Read more>>
Kyle Beckwith
My first painting experience was in the summer of 2007 after graduation from high-school. I really enjoyed the work and the freedom of working outside. I think that experience made a lasting inpact on me because after that, I worked for years in restaurants and retail stores; but i wasn’t fulfilled from the work. Read more>>
DeQuaintanse Lenox
My journey into event decorating started with a passion for creating beautiful moments for people I love. I’ve always enjoyed bringing ideas to life, whether it was decorating for birthdays, family gatherings, or special celebrations. What began as helping friends and family quickly turned into something much bigger once people started noticing my attention to detail and creativity. Read more>>
Kiarah Fowler
I started my journey in 2019, planning birthday parties and baby showers for friends and family. At the time, I didn’t realize those small celebrations were laying the foundation for something much bigger. I’ve always been a natural helper, the one who organizes, anticipates needs, and makes sure everyone feels taken care of, so stepping into planning felt completely natural. Read more>>
Diane Tracy
Benzie Wellness & Aquatic Center (BWAC) envisions a vibrant, healthy and connected Benzie community where everyone can thrive. BWAC was incorporated as a non-profit in the state of Michigan in 2017. Read more>>
Rachel Block
I began my journey at NOBO in 2022, starting my career in cannabis as a budtender after years of experience in customer service and data analytics. While I had a strong professional foundation, it was a deeply personal experience that ultimately guided me into this industry. In 2017, my mother courageously battled cancer. Read more>>
Manisha Mittal
As a physician training in rheumatology, I had the privilege of collaborating closely with many medical subspecialties. Yet, over time, I became increasingly aware of how fragmented modern medicine can feel. Specialists often focus deeply on managing specific diseases, but too often the person as a whole — their lifestyle, family, stress, nutrition, and emotional well-being — is overlooked. That realization left me uneasy. Read more>>
Cayleb Pletos
I started Taurify after realizing that running ads wasn’t just a skill, it was leverage. In the beginning, I took on whoever I could, overdelivered to prove myself, and focused on getting real results for real businesses. As I gained confidence in my skills, I narrowed in on painting contractors and built a clear positioning around helping them book more estimates consistently. Read more>>
Hanna Schulze
Bob Schulze opened GLOBE Design & Vision alongside his wife Nancy in 2002, after nearly 20 years as an international sales representative for a handful of independent eyewear designers such as Mikli and Bada. Read more>>
Andrea
When the pandemic gave me more free time, I decided to put it to good use by learning a new skill. I picked up crochet, something I had always wanted to try but never had time for before. Using YouTube tutorials and plenty of practice, I slowly built my skills over several months. Read more>>
Marie Eicher
I have always had a desire to work with pets and decided after working for our local hospital and family medical facility for 6 years I was going to be my own boss and created Momma Bear’s Grooming. After a couple of months of Grooming I decided I wanted to add another service so I added the boarding. Read more>>
Tongela Anthony
My journey began during one of the most uncertain times in recent history – the COVID-19 pandemic. While many businesses were shutting their doors, I was finding ways to stay resourceful, offering printing services to those in need, from flyers to labels and everything in between. Read more>>
Muaz Asperger
My story starts in Ethiopia; I was a very quiet and curious kid. At the age of 8, I was adopted into an American family, where my quiet nature continued, largely driven by the fact that I could not speak English. This led me to be reserved and observant. Read more>>
Christiaan Lamprecht
I am a Namibian that came to America for swimming and university! I swam internationally while studying Supply Chain Management. After university I started working in the automotive industry as most people in south east Michigan do in logistics and operations. Read more>>
Nicole Ulrich
I’ve always had a passion for photography. Before Nicole Renee Photography existed, I was constantly photographing my own children…completely in awe of the everyday moments. I officially started my photography business part time in 2012, but the heart behind it began during the hardest moment of my life. In 2011, my son Mason passed away unexpectedly and I found myself completely lost. Read more>>
Luke Whitney
My journey in cannabis started back in 2018 in a 70 sq. ft. bathroom that had 7’ft tall ceilings, 2 small grow tents, and an unrelenting effort to grow the best flower in the state. In 2019 I acquired my first industrial building on a land contract right down the road in the Village of Kalkaska. Read more>>
Alisha Fritz
I’ve always loved working with animals and majored in biology, so I’m not surprised I ended up working with pet behavior professionally. I’ve realized just how fascinating behavior and psychology really are. My husband and I moved to Richmond, Virginia for his career after college. Read more>>
Clark Thomas
I grew up around Kalamazoo. Graduated from Plainwell High School. Graduated from Central Michigan University in 1993 with a Commercial Recreation and Facility Management Degree. Minor in Business Management. Completed my internship with Hilton Hotels at their Innisbrook Hilton Golf Resort in 93. Read more>>
Ryan N. Wilcox
I have been fortunate enough to work for U of M for over 20 years. I was hired back in 2000. My background is in film and video production, and while in undergrad at NCSU, I worked with their long distance learning program. I recorded classes for cable access channels. Read more>>
Amanda Lane
My journey truly began with a lifelong love for books. I started out in the indie publishing world, working closely with authors to bring their visions to life through book cover design. This professional foundation quickly expanded as I realized I could help other entrepreneurs find their visual identity through logos and business card design. Read more>>
Marguerite Wasinski Reed
When I graduated from Oakland University, I worked as a Production Assistant (PA) primarily in the Locations Department for Transformers: The Last Knight. Since then, I’ve worked many different gigs from music videos to live televised events to feature films, each time working my way up in leadership positions. Read more>>
Khalilah- Poet KYM Truth Miles
I’ve been on a stage for as long as I can remember. As a child, performing wasn’t just something I enjoyed — it was survival. While I was enduring trauma privately, the stage became the one place where I felt free. Under the lights, I could step into a different story. I could breathe. I could exist without fear. Read more>>
