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.
thomas renshaw
After having a tattoo done for my first wife by Red Duggan, I realized I was wearing a suit and tie for no reason. After attending a National Tattoo convention in California with Red and having a tattoo done by Brian Everett I decided I was gonna make a change. Read more>>
Jessica Plaisier
10 years ago we saw a need in our community to host an annual market to feature vendors who sell the most unique antiques, quality handmade, and other specialty goods. We now host 3 events every year. Spring, Fall and Christmas which are all 2 day events so everyone has a chance to shop and support local business. Read more>>
Steven Dearing
I started as a self-taught electric guitarist who received his first guitar for his 16th birthday. I decided I wanted to understand music after playing by ear so I entered music school after studying chemistry for 2 years. Abha started singing with her dad, an Indian harmonium player at an early age and by age 5 was performing at festivals at Hart Plaza Detroit. Read more>>
Brandon / John Thomas / Nummer
We’re Brandon and John, a dynamic duo with a passion for celebration and a knack for creating unforgettable experiences. For the past decade, we’ve been working together as boat detailers, honing our skills in craftsmanship and attention to detail. Our journey took an exciting turn when we decided to transform an old horse trailer into a stunning mobile bar. Read more>>
Kate Nhi Pham
My Story — From Burned Out Pharmacist to Building My Own Empire For over a decade, I worked as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager. It was a respected, stable career — the kind of job people work their whole lives to get. But behind the counter, day after day, I felt burned out, exhausted, and unappreciated. Read more>>
Phil Tanis for the Van Raalte Institute
Founded in 1993, the A. C. Van Raalte Institute (VRI) is an internationally recognized leader in historical research. The VRI research fellows focus on Dutch American history of the 19th-21st centuries; the history of Holland, Michigan, and its subcultures; and the history of Hope College. The VRI is a part of Hope College but is fully endowed for its work. Read more>>
Beth Fairchild
Hi, I’m Beth Fairchild. I’m a Licensed Master’s Clinical Social Worker in private practice with over 25 years of experience helping children, adolescents, and adults navigate life’s challenges. I grew up in St. Joseph, a beautiful small town along Lake Michigan, and always hoped to return after completing my education. Read more>>
Jeff Roessing
After starting and directing an urban farm for 8 years, my wife Melissa and I found a gem of a property outside of South Haven, Michigan. We spent three years renovating and landscaping before opening a wedding venue onsite in 2020. Read more>>
Sam Abdo
Total Security started in my garage with a simple mission: helping people protect themselves and the people they care about. In the beginning, we focused primarily on self-defense and CPL classes, but over time, the business continued to grow through hard work, trust, and word of mouth. As the needs of our clients expanded, so did we. Read more>>
Hanna Scott
I started working for Neverland Entertainment in 2017 fresh out of high school as a princess performer. I had been eyeing the job for years because I have a theatrical, childcare, costuming, & fairytale loving background. I grew to love it so much more than I ever could’ve imagined. I fell in love with people’s reactions to meeting a character. Read more>>
Lauren Masud Visuri
My own personal mental health journey has been a pivotal factor in how I got to where I am. Not only as a professional or business owner, but as a human with deep empathy and compassion for those who continue to struggle. When I was a little girl I was very anxious. I can remember being riddled with fear and dread. Read more>>
Kara Bolden
Dynamic Duo Driving School was built on faith, resilience, and a deep desire to serve my community. Before this, I was already in a career centered around people—working as a flight attendant—but I felt called to do something more hands-on, something that directly impacted lives in my own city. Read more>>
Gina DeGarmo
We are a husband-and-wife team that started this company in our garage while planning our own wedding. We were one of the Covid couples, so we understand just how demanding planning events can be and try to alleviate that stress whenever possible for our clients. Read more>>
Mark Hawkins
I have always had a strong imagination and a love for creating things. When I was younger, that looked like making random things out of sticks, dreaming about being an inventor, and constantly coming up with ideas in my head. As I got older, that creativity grew into a love for art, especially comics, books, and anything visually interesting or immersive. Read more>>
Pat Johns
I was the manager with Another company for a couple years before one of the owners passed and I saw an opportunity–to own my own business. I wanted to do that quickly so as not to lose any of the very loyal customers. Throughout the years we’ve made many changes. We’ve enlarged the store, doubling the space, and we’ve been going strong ever since. Read more>>
Dan DeWard
My wife Andrea and I have been in the wedding industry for over 25 years, working with couples throughout Grand Rapids and West Michigan. We actually started small—I was a DJ, and Andrea focused on floral design for our couples. Read more>>
Saundra McFarland
In June 2022, I was offered the opportunity to take over a salon that was already established. It started as a “maybe”. A what if. A quiet idea that turned into a bold, slightly terrifying, but exciting decision…I bought a tanning salon! . And then came the real work. Read more>>
Jay Congdon
Unreal Fitness started as an idea for a kind of gym I couldn’t find at the time, in 2014. I wanted a gym where someone could train like an athlete, with the most effective methods for strength and hypertrophy, 24 hours a day, for a price most people could afford. Read more>>
Jayden Lipp
I started Oakrise Bookkeeping out of a desire to help small business owners feel more in control of their finances. I’ve always been drawn to numbers and organization, and over time I realized how many business owners feel overwhelmed or unsure when it comes to their books. Read more>>
Katie Grace Hammond
I was fortunate to attend the College for Creative Studies in Detroit where I earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Art with a concentration in Glass in 2009. Coming of age in Detroit in that era was a scrappy kind of DIY fun and mischief. There wasn’t many established dance clubs to hang out in, there were no coffee shops. Read more>>
Trish Currie
My story didn’t start with a business plan, it started in an elevator. It was one of those moments that didn’t seem significant at the time, but it stayed with me. I had just finished a long shift, carrying everything that comes with being a nurse, the responsibility, the emotions, the moments you don’t always have time to process. Read more>>
Dejaa Hartman
My name is Dejaa Hartman, CEO & Founder of One of One Garden. What started as a simple way of pouring love into the women in my life, giving them their flowers while they could still smell them quickly grew into something so much bigger. As time went on, so did the vision, turning my passion into a purpose-driven business. Read more>>
Jade / Logan Jaskolski / Eichelberg
Our story really starts with our friendship! We first met in middle school through a mutual friend and instantly bonded over shared interests, similar senses of humor, and our life experiences. After high school, we both moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where we became roommates and started working in the service industry at various bars and golf courses. Read more>>
Lily Marcom
I’ve always loved to draw and have been interested in all forms of art. I’ve always found it fascinating how your own hands and mind can create something out of nothing. For a long time, I never imagined doing it professionally. Read more>>
AJ Smith
I started the company by channeling my focus on music and kept on that path. I am classically trained in different instruments and like the engineering part of producing the music with live sound reinforcement. It took over 20 years to get where I am today from serving in the US Navy, to mastering martial arts, and living now full time as a DJ/MC. Read more>>
Matthew Beattie
I have been in the building trades for 25 years to some degree. I was constantly chasing independence and stability while trying to support a family and find my identity. I served in the military and deployed to Iraq. I worked as an auto/equipment mechanic and worked in restaurants in about every position there is but always ended up back in the construction scene. Read more>>
Tony Dillof
I am originally from the New York City area. I came to Detroit about 25 years ago. I was hired as a law professor at Wayne State University Law School. For the last 16 years, I’ve been in rock bands that have played in the Detroit music scene. Read more>>
Tom Hite
Hite photo was started in 1924 by my grandfather. We are celebrating 102 years in business this year. My brother Don Hite and I are 3rd generation and are based in West Bloomfield. Don’s daughter Julia is 4th generation and manages our Bloomfield Hills location. Our company picked up and delivered film to over 800 drug stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Read more>>
Charlie True
I started this business first out of need, which then transpired into an idea. My wife and I have always had a mentality to start and operate a business. My wife has been running an online clothing retail business, I operate this trailer rental business and we also just started a Tent rental business called ‘True Tent & Event’. Read more>>
Ivette Gerstenschlager
My name is Ivette Gerstenschlager, and if you had told my 16-year-old self—growing up in East Germany as the Berlin Wall fell—that one day I’d build a life and business in Michigan, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, the world felt small and distant. Travel seemed like a dream meant for other people. But life has a way of surprising you. Read more>>
Kassie Gerred
I have always known that I can make a difference in lives of others. I spent 11 years working with families and was ready to explore other ways I could make a difference in my community. I love bringing joy to others. There is something about coffee that brings people together and I wanted to be apart of that. Read more>>
Karen Kekelik
Karen Kekelik’s journey is rooted in a passion for advocacy, education, and building meaningful community connections. She began her career in law, earning her Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University after completing her undergraduate studies in English at Grand Valley State University. Read more>>
Maryanne Nicholls
I majored in Psychology in University. Then to pay off my loan, went into business management for the next 20 or so years. However, during that time, my husband left me – and that led me to reconnecting to the world of psychotherapy. .The deeper I got into therapy, the more my desire re-awakened to be of serviced. Read more>>
LaJoy Frierson
My journey of photography began as child with just the simple appreciation for photographs, from family photos to fashion magazines! As an adult, mother and wife like most I would enjoyed capturing memories of my kiddos and life moments but just on a very basic level. Read more>>
Ashley Rygalski
I’m a stay-at-home mom first, and that role means everything to me, but there came a moment where I realized I wanted something more for myself, too. I craved a creative outlet and something that would push me outside of my comfort zone and into rooms where I could grow. Read more>>
Patrice Thornton
My daughter and I purchased the Painting with a Twist Downtown Detroit studio in April 2021 and celebrated our grand opening in September 2021. We both enjoy planning events, connecting with people, and being part of our community, so when the opportunity arose to open a paint-and-sip event space in downtown Detroit, we were determined to make it happen. Read more>>
