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.
Jenn’s Apartment
Jenn’s Apartment originally formed in 2004 and was active until 2007. In 2014, Roy Kirby brought the band back with Chris Davis on bass and Justin Pine on drums, and that same lineup has been going strong ever since. Read more>>
Aimee Chipman
Bluestocking Bookshop started in September of 2019, just 6 months before the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic. I had worked on events and social media management for another bookstore previously, recognizing that the processes I was learning could be even more efficient, more inclusive, and more driven to getting books in people’s hands. Read more>>
Kayla & Rob Ernsberger
What began as a small operation quickly gained momentum online through our website and marketplaces, growing largely through word of mouth and customer loyalty. People connected with the idea that their wallpaper wasn’t sitting in a warehouse but was being created specifically for them. That personal approach, combined with fast communication and attention to detail, helped us expand rapidly, and today we’ve served more than 75,000 customers across the country in both residential and commercial spaces. Read more>>
Rob Hasting
I have spent more than 25 years in the financial industry, building a career at the intersection of public companies and the global investment community. I am a Partner and co-owner of Schaeffner, Miller, Hasting, Connelly & Co. (SMHC), a firm that organizes meetings, conferences, and investor events connecting stock research teams with institutional portfolio managers, hedge funds, and investors around the world. Read more>>
Courtney Bishop
This introspective, deep soul searching can be quite uncomfortable and was really dark for me to experience – having never traversed something like that before – yet, it was also extremely foundational and healing. I realized injury and adversity are, actually, not a regression, but, rather, incredible educators that are part of your progression to keep learning, honoring & respecting the process, growing & remembering your infinite strength within. Read more>>
Antwuan Hawkins
My journey has been rooted in service, perseverance, and a desire to create opportunities for others. I started my career in law with a focus on helping people who were often overlooked, particularly individuals seeking Social Security Disability benefits. Early on, I saw how complex the system could be and how many deserving people struggled to navigate it alone. Read more>>
Derek Mohr
I graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2011, and spent the following 15 years in various different design roles. Read more>>
Ana Quiroz Vanegas
I’m the founder of Pawsitive Vibes Pet Care, where I provide premium in-home pet care services including drop-in visits, daily walks, and luxury overnight stays. But for me, this business is about so much more than feeding schedules and potty breaks. It’s about trust. It’s about peace of mind. It’s about treating every pet like they’re my own family. Read more>>
Jenna Eby
Blissful Bernedoodles started from a lifelong love of dogs and a belief that they should be raised as part of the family, not just bred and sold. What began as a small passion project grew as more families began looking for well raised Bernedoodles with great temperaments and strong early socialization. Read more>>
Mike Stevens
We opened Oceana Bike and Boat in 2024 because we love cycling and there wasn’t anyone renting out bicycles in the area. Since that time we’ve expanded to bike sales and service. In late 2025 we opened Oceana Soap Company with the passion being quality hand crafted soaps, solid lotions and beard care products made locally using natural ingredients. Read more>>
Christi Dickey
Today my work focuses on helping high-performing professionals move out of survival mode and into intentional leadership. Many of the people I work with are capable, driven, and deeply committed to their work, yet they find themselves exhausted, overlooked, or stuck in patterns of over-responsibility and people-pleasing. Read more>>
Dora Isbell
As I began practicing a modality often misunderstood by a Westernized mindset, I saw firsthand how reflexology could be intense for some while others hardly felt it. My passion for learning led me to study meridians, pressure points, energy, nutrition, crystals, Bach Flower remedies, and the deep connection between spirituality and the body. Read more>>
Scott Millen
By the time my wife Shelly and I started 2 Fish Company in 2011, I had learned a critical lesson: you don’t build anything meaningful alone. We started in our basement with a simple goal — do good work with good people. Shelly, now our Relationship Director, was always intended to be a full partner in the business, because I knew partnership mattered. Read more>>
Michelle Anderson
I am currently a children’s author. What inspired me to write is that I wanted parents to be able to start certain conversations through the use of a book. I also wanted to empower kids and I wanted them to see themselves in the stories the read. Read more>>
Rhonda Callahan
The Torch and Torch 180 My name is Rhonda Callahan and I am a co-founder and executive director for two nonprofit organizations, The Torch and Torch 180. The Torch is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. I, Rhonda Callahan and a team of volunteers, in partnership with Trader Joe’s utilize a catering truck to provide free groceries to people in need. Read more>>
Cierra Mooney
Whew. It’s been a journey. I started my career in Washington, DC after graduating from the University of Michigan–Dearborn with a film degree. Like many creative people, I didn’t start exactly where I thought I would. My first role was as a marketing assistant at a nonprofit. From there, things started to build. Read more>>
Linda Gottwald
if you happen to see our logo of a little brown dog with a red scarf, that is Frannie. She was my inspiration for starting an animal shelter. I first saw her many years ago one rainy gray afternoon when I was volunteering at an animal shelter in Oakland, California. Read more>>
Cameo and Josh Arias
We are originally from Reno, NV. This is where we raised our twin daughters. They both left the area for college so we took that opportunity to sell everything we owned (businesses, and house) to purchase a campground in Northern Michigan. Prior to leaving Reno we had raised our daughters camping every weekend, This is a part of who we are. Read more>>
Amarina Kubiak
MI Wellness Center was born out of a need for personal growth. I didn’t originally set out to build a wellness collective, but sometimes life hands us an opportunity to realign our values. What began as a necessary transition from a simple medical massage practice became a powerful invitation to build something that felt more fulfilling and collaborative. Read more>>
Charis Cooper
I started attending home births after the birth of my first child in 2016. What started out as a dream that I just couldn’t quite shake, turned into my career and I love what I do. Read more>>
Jena Salisbury
My path into clinical nutrition really started with my own health journey. Like many people who end up in functional medicine, I experienced firsthand how frustrating it can be to feel like something in your body isn’t right but not have clear answers. That experience sparked a deep curiosity about how the body actually works and what truly supports healing. Read more>>
Kaylee VanAtta
I first became interested in dog training when my husband and I adopted our first dog Niko, a Pittie/Aussie mix from New Hope Pet Rescue. At the time, a close friend of mine taught the group classes at our local Petsmart. We went through all the classes from beginner to advanced. He was so easy, fun, and eager to learn. Read more>>
Tony Evans
I was a knife enthuisiast and hobby sharpener for many years because I grew up hunting, fishing and as I got older I loved cooking as well. Read more>>
Matt Swab
I grew up in the Lansing area and graduated from Olivet College in 2009. After college, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy where I served our country for 4 years before moving back to Michigan to work as a Police Officer and K9 Handler. Read more>>
Zachery Wood
Officially founded in 1929, Flint Community Players (FCP) is Genesee County’s oldest community theatre. Currently on our 97th season, years of community involvement and support have helped FCP to remain a staple of the arts in Genesee County. We produce 5 – 7 shows per season, including a little bit of everything from musicals, to dramas, to comedies, to family shows, and everything in between Read more>>
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>>
