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.
Mandy Grimsby
Our first taste of mead was during a 2013 trip to Ireland, where we tried Irish mead in a Medieval castle. Upon returning home, we began seeking out mead and meaderies to continue trying different varieties. We found we gravitated toward still meads featuring bold flavors with a big honey profile, which seemed to be more prevalent in European-style meads. Read more>>
Paul Grosz
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit. I started baking with my mom when I was 6 years old and really enjoyed it. I started helping her cook then too. I enjoyed it and became good at it. When I was 15 years old I lied about my age to get a job washing dishes at a family diner. Read more>>
Hailey Zoccoli
A Garden City, MI native, I’ve always had a passion for teaching and performing. I attended Western Michigan University and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education with a minor in Secondary Education: Mathematics. Read more>>
Jose A. Flores
La Familia Stop ‘n’ Shop opened in 1988 in what is known as the SW Grandville Avenue Corridor, home to the largest Hispanic Community in the West Michigan. The area was significantly blighted, depressed, gang ridden and had few struggling businesses. The location of 1066 Grandville Ave. Read more>>
Nadia Greely
When I was younger, I was obsessed with bugs. I was constantly reading books and watching documentaries about them, trying to soak in as much information I could about these incredible creatures. I volunteered at MSU in their entomology department as a teenager, and I had my first pet tarantula at 14 years old. Read more>>
Brittany Gengle
I started The Collected Toad from a feeling I’ve carried for a long time. Some of my earliest memories are wandering antique stores and spending time at my grandpa’s cottage—catching toads, exploring, and being surrounded by spaces that felt textured, layered, lived-in, and a little bit magical. As an adult, I found myself drawn back to that same feeling. Read more>>
Addison Bellmore
I started my Tax business in fall of 2021. As a mom of 6 I was determined to find a path to wealth where I could control my life and time in order to be dedicated to my children. Every where I went I continued to see messages around taxes. Read more>>
Jessica Dubey
I have worked in the mental health field as a social worker since 2018, beginning my career as a Case Manager at two community mental health agencies. In this role, I supported clients in accessing essential resources such as food assistance, Section 8 housing, and transportation. Through this work, I consistently observed the significant financial challenges many clients faced, often rooted in limited financial literacy. Read more>>
Lauren Harris
I had been receiving acupuncture from Dr. Jean-Marie Cartier, DACM, MATCM, L.Ac., for a number of years for a number of aliments. She helped me get pregnant with my second daughter and put me into labor for both my second and third children! After I lost my long-time federal job thanks to DOGE cuts, I re-evaluated what I wanted in life and a career. Read more>>
Beverly Beal
I started my career with a strong belief in ownership—understanding that protecting what you build is just as important as building it. That mindset led me to intellectual property law, where I help entrepreneurs and brands secure their trademarks, contracts, and long-term business foundations. Over time, I realized my work was bigger than legal services—it was really about helping people create legacy, access, and opportunity. Read more>>
KRISTI POTTS
At the start of 2025, Kristi Potts took a leap of faith. Potts is from Kalamazoo and earned a doctorate from Western Michigan University in 2011. After years away from the classroom, Potts decided she was ready to return. She never finished her latest degree, because while taking culinary classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, something unexpected happened. Her bake-from-home business blew up. Read more>>
Jillian Smith
Back 4 years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Our daughters and my mother also all have digestive issues, along with my husband who has diabetes. He started doing some research on what would be a healthier alternative for us than regular baked goods. He found that sourdough was supposed to be a better option. Read more>>
MerriJo Samayoa
I’m a pyrography artist and I use a wood burning a pen to create unique pieces of wearable art. I started my business Whimsy Brims near the end of 2021. I had been working in management at a local factory for nearly 10 years and decided to take a step back and become a full-time stay-at-home mom. Read more>>
Alexandra & Genevieve Szegi
At Szegi Haus K9, our story started just like so many others—with a big, reactive dog and a family that simply wanted to enjoy life together. We were a mother, father, and daughter trio navigating the same struggles many dog owners face: leash pulling, car reactivity, inconsistent obedience, and the frustration of not being able to confidently bring our dog out in public. Read more>>
Sarah DeJong
Reflecting on where I started takes me all the way back to middle school, when I bought my first pair of clip-in hair extensions. I remember feeling envious of the girls who had long, thick, beautiful hair, and from that moment on, I never wanted to go without extensions. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion. Read more>>
Angelia (Coach Angie) Johnson
I’m Coach Angie, a wellness coach, speaker, author, tech founder, and founder of Team Angie Fitness and the Team Angie Fitness Project nonprofit. My journey into this work began from personal experience. As a young woman, I struggled with body shaming and self-image, and over time I made the decision to stop chasing other people’s standards and instead pursue health, strength, and wholeness for myself. Read more>>
Lexi Fogle
Photography has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, but my journey truly began in 2015 when I started capturing special moments of my son and taking senior photos for friends. What started as something I loved quickly became so much more! Read more>>
Rebecca Molina
I have a strong background in communication, storytelling, and community outreach shaped by an eclectic professional journey. I graduated from the University of Toledo in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts, concentrating in Studio Painting, Art History, and Psychology. Following college, I spent several years working for a small business in my hometown of Monroe, Michigan. Read more>>
Deana Brownlow
I’ve always been disciplined around food, exercise, and taking care of myself, but I didn’t turn that passion into a career until I was 51. Before coaching, I spent years in corporate America working for companies like Ford Motor Company, Chevrolet, EDS, Motorola, and Serono. Read more>>
Rev Charles Preston Smith
I’m a 40+ year west Michigan performer. Various Festivals and Street fairs with my audio/visual production called ‘PotatoeBabies’. A lover of history brought me to shop. meet, and eventually buy Gerry Dodds Record Shop. Started as Cole’s Music in 1929 selling 78’s out of a bin at Harold Cole’s Appliance store, selling to Gerry Dodds in 1950. It was renamed Dodds in 1951. Read more>>
Haley Kiarash
My path into design has always been deeply personal, shaped by my background in history, archaeology, and painting. I’ve always been drawn to the stories objects carry,the way art, architecture, and artifacts reflect culture, time, and human experience. That perspective naturally led me to interior design. Read more>>
Debra Magnuson
United Pets of America started in 1980. My husband and his best friend created the parody and greeting cards. Even though there was interest in the United Pets of America at that time, it fell by the wayside until 2024 when I picked it back up and revived, updated, and added items. Our mission is simple: to bring joy and laughter to pet enthusiasts. Read more>>
Jessica Bielecki
Hello, I’m Jessica Bielecki, the Certified Wedding Planner & Designer behind J.Britt & Company Events and Designs. My journey began 10 years ago with a very clear vision: to create elegant, unforgettable events while ensuring the planning process felt exciting, not overwhelming, and the client gets to be fully present at their event and enjoy of second while we focus on the planning and execution. Read more>>
Lakeshia S Gilbert
From a very young age, I believe my journey toward purpose began, though I may not have fully understood it at the time. Around the age of 14, life began to look different for me as I transitioned from girlhood into young womanhood. Read more>>
Lynette Hartzman
Restoration Warehouse is owned by Joel and Lynette Hartzman, a husband and wife team, to accomplish several goals in one location. The Hartzmans’ vision for Restoration Warehouse is to create a sustainable funding source for Shammah Outreach and Consulting Services which operates to help those in survival mode to thrive. Read more>>
Denise Schutte
Brent and Denise Schutte are farmer’s in rural Au Gres, Michigan. The historic grain elevator built in the early 1900’s was purchased by the Schutte’s family farm in 1975, it was a working grain elevator at the that time, but then the larger grain system was built and the building sat empty until the mid 1990’s when Brent & Denise converted the space and started the Wolverine Hardwood Pellet business, that business was opened for 7 years. Read more>>
Valeriia Wang
Launched in October 2025, Paws & Joy Pet Bakery began with a simple belief: pets are family, and they deserve the same level of care, quality, and celebration as any loved one. Read more>>
