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.
Autumn Harris
My journey behind the lens began in 2011 when I photographed my first wedding for a pair of high school sweethearts. That single day sparked a decade-long obsession with the power of a visual narrative. Read more>>
Katharine Witt
I’m a full-time photographer serving beautiful Mackinac Island and historic Saint Ignace, Michigan. My love for Mackinac Island started early—at just six months old, my family brought me here for my very first trip, and I’ve been captivated ever since. As a child, I vacationed on the island every year, always dreaming of one day working here. Read more>>
Michelle Ripley
When I was in my young 30s, I started volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation . After a few years, I realized that there were no events affordable for people my age to give back to the community. I ran an idea for an event past at the time the executive Director of the CF Foundation, Beth Heyboer. . Read more>>
Olga Kovtun
Certainly. My journey into small-business ownership has been both unexpected and profoundly rewarding. If someone had told me in early January that I would begin February 1, 2026 as the owner of a wellness spa, I would not have believed it. Yet on February 1st, I officially became the owner of Salinair Salt Room Spa in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Read more>>
Laceey McClain
March of 2026 I saw an open booth at a local vintage market, and was filled with a spark of inspiration to start something new. I’ve been in love with vintage and antiques since I was little, and spent some time in college studying interior design. Read more>>
Nicole Conyers
My story started 3 and a half years ago when I shifted to being a content creator. My love for style, fashion, creating is what drives me. Read more>>
Rachel Cowan
Our homesteading journey started in the infamous year of 2020. My husband and I had both worked at a school in South Dakota and through several circumstances, we ended up moving our 5 children to the state of Michigan to a small suburban lot where, like many, we started a small container garden and making our own bread. Read more>>
Josh Lueck
Looper Lids was founded in the summer of 2024 by two former golf caddies looking to stay connected to the game while building something of their own between seasons. What started as a custom headwear and apparel company quickly evolved into something more. While designing the ideal caddie hat for the 2026 season, we developed TapCap™. Read more>>
Jazlyn Lindsay
I got my start after working as an intern at WDIV Local 4 News with producers in their special projects unit. After graduating from Wayne State University with my bachelors degree in Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism, I landed my first news job as a Digital Reporter & Digital Content Producer at the CBS affiliate KRCG13 in Jefferson City, Missouri. Read more>>
Nathan Williams
River Town Adventures started as a small kayak and canoe company 13 years ago. We started with eight kayaks and six canoes and just with the dream of changing the perspective that people had on the river here in Lansing, Michigan. The rivers were kind of an ignored part of the city for a long time. Read more>>
Kerby Killingham
I began pursuing the journey of becoming a mental health clinician after being incarcerated and seeing many young men such as myself, incarcerated. And if we had proper counseling or proper male modeling, most of us would not have been incarcerated. Read more>>
Lauren Wu
I’ve been an artist since childhood, drawing on the walls of my parents’ home (oops) to doodling on my high school homework assignments. Apart from self exploration, art camps, and an occasional extracurricular here or there in college, I never went the formal education route or earned a degree for it. Read more>>
Kara Hanes
We’re Kellie Hetler and Kara Hanes, two photographers, two mothers, and the co-founders of Hopelynd, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We each built our own wedding and portrait photography businesses from the ground up, and between us we have over 18 years of experience in this industry. But the chapter of our story that matters most didn’t start with a camera. Read more>>
Toni Green Dobbs
Detroit Player Golf was created from both passion and purpose. The brand was inspired by my late father and one of my close friends who both loved the game of golf and left a lasting impact on my life. Read more>>
Jazlyn Lindsay
I got my start after graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Wayne State University in 2017. Post graduation, I landed my first news job as a Digital Content Producer & Digital Reporter at KRCG 13 in Jefferson City, Missouri. There I learned the craft of digital storytelling and managing social media platforms. Read more>>
Manda ‘Kitty K’ Renee
“My journey really started back in 2010 when I was in entertainment. Being around events, people, and nightlife inspired me creatively and showed me that I wanted to build something of my own. In 2016, I stepped into bartending, but I wanted to bring my own twist to it. I started by creating custom bling cups, which quickly grew into making desserts and specialty treats. Read more>>
Zachary Roys
I’ve been helping people with their phones and tech in the Kalkaska area for about seven years. For a big part of that time, I worked at the local Verizon Authorized Retailer. While I enjoyed the technical side of the work, I grew frustrated with the heavy sales pressure and upselling that often came with it. Read more>>
Jessi Cole Jackson
My process to publication was long and winding! After a decade+ career in professional theatrical costuming, I started writing towards publication back in 2012. Read more>>
Mary Hames
For years, I worked from home while building my businesses, and as a working mother, I constantly struggled to find the right balance between professional space and family life. Read more>>
Brian Knoll
In the early 1990’s my parents had a piece of property that was an old gravel quarry. My dad had always wanted to develope it somehow. Me and him had both started golfing around that same time. I cut down and old field to build a driving range. Read more>>
Elizabeth Smith
My history of becoming a nurse actually began very early in childhood at around age 4 years with my baby dolls and my poor dog being my patients all lined up for their pretend shots, medicine and bandages. Read more>>
Shannon DeYoung
I like to say Cheers & Co. started long before it had a name. I grew up spending summers in Traverse City, with Long Lake days, sunshine, boat rides, and the kind of moments you don’t realize are magic until later. It’s always been a place that brings people together without trying too hard, which looking back is probably where all of this began. Read more>>
Angellic Guyton
As kids, we dream about becoming stars or princesses, and I was no different. I always had a huge love for fashion and creativity. I used to practice my runway walk around the house, use my dolls as pretend models, and participate in youth fashion shows at school. Fashion always felt exciting and expressive to me. Read more>>
Lori Herron
In the heart of a 150-year-old red barn, Social Vines was born from a blend of craftsmanship from my husband, who holds a builders license (amongst other hobbies), passion for wine, thats me, the owner & managing partner, and the resilience shaped by the 2020 pandemic. The barn has always been the centerpiece for developing our boutique vineyard as it stands today. Read more>>
Bre Teamer
My journey has always centered around storytelling, media, and understanding how people connect. I’ve always been drawn to communication, how stories shape perception, influence culture, and create real opportunities. A major turning point for me was when I switched my major to Public Relations and started my media business, Social Lyfe. Read more>>
Carter Hatfield
In 2011 I lost my job and made a decision to jump into something I had always wanted to do but never believed I could and started by CCG business. It started with two small boxes of cards on a shelf, and my (now) wife found it very hard to understand how these cards would be able to support a family. Read more>>
Michael Tews
My story begins last year in 2025, when I discovered astrophotography. I fell in love with space and I wanted to take pictures of the milky way. So I dived in and bought my second dslr ever. A pentax k3. Then I got a pentax k1. Now I absolutely love photography, it means so much to me. Read more>>
Alyssa & Brad Veneklase
We’ve been in real estate for a long time; Brad for almost 30 years, and Alyssa in and out of the industry for the past 20 years. Brad started his own brokerage, Urban Soil Realty, right before we had our daughter, Finnley, in 2013. Working as a husband and wife team in real estate has proven to be a fun venture for us! Read more>>
Jennifer Plumley
What began as a story of loss, faith, healing, and blended family became the foundation of something far greater than a breeding program. At its heart, Northern Heart Standards was never truly about dogs. It was about restoration. In 2017, our family was standing at the intersection of grief and grace. Read more>>
Sarah Kolis
Sewing was my favorite hobby as a little girl! I would take all the kids classes and camps that I could growing up. Then when Joann’s wouldn’t let me sign up for the adult sewing classes because I HAD to be 18, my parents got me a private sewing tutor, Vicki. Read more>>
Valerie Welch
For as long as I can remember, community work has always been a part of my life. As a young girl, I watched my mother, Effie Welch, and Roxie Price work tirelessly through the Action City Block Club to help strengthen our neighborhood and support the people within it. Read more>>
Chrissie M Feike
Before becoming an insurance agency owner, I was working in luxury automotive sales where I thrived on relationships and creating a true “red carpet” experience for clients. I loved learning, serving people, and celebrating milestones with them. Read more>>
Matthew Wansitler
Music has always been a very big part of my life. I remember putting on this huge pair of headphones when I was about 3 years old and listening for hours. Growing up, I was always learning how to play music, whether it would be drumming on my knee with a pencil, or figuring out notes and chords on a piano. Read more>>
Marta Swain
I’ve been inspired and passionate about being part of Nature since early childhood. I was disturbed by the fact that humans were the only species that destroyed what we and all other animals need to survive. Read more>>
connie smock
Over the past 35+ years, I’ve gained extensive experience offering intuitive readings and energy work. Alongside this path, I spent many years in the corporate world, working in management for an insurance company and later co-owning an adjusting company for 13 years. In 2018, I made the decision to fully dedicate myself to my spiritual work and began offering readings full-time. Read more>>
Rebecca Laurie
The Beauty Boost Detroit is a community focused on helping women feel empowered, healthy, and beautiful through wellness, fitness, and meaningful connection. While The Beauty Boost as a whole has been around for over 10 years, starting in Columbus, Ohio and now expanding to more than 34 cities nationwide. I actually didn’t know it existed until last May. Read more>>
Ana Rosczewski
I’ve spent most of my career in marketing and promotional staffing, but outside of work I’ve always been someone who creates with my hands: cooking, baking, building spaces, and finding meaning in small rituals of care. Hedonist Soup Co. began from a philosophy I’ve carried with me since I was young: that pleasure isn’t excess, it’s something necessary and deeply human. Read more>>
Diana Hayes
As a young girl, I would go over my grandma’s home often. Often times she would introduce us to new people that were guest staying at her home. She would help them through homelessness, sickness, and sobriety for some. She would pray, feed, and help them with getting access to resources. She was unknowingly running a shared living home for those needing alternative housing. Read more>>
Patrick Ingram
Photography has been a passion for me since childhood, not driven by a professional goal, but a genuine love for getting things on camera. As I approached the crossroads of choosing a career, I had dreams of the NBA like every child, yet reality steered me elsewhere. During this contemplation, my love for taking pics persisted. Read more>>
Angel Agnew, CPA
In 2020, I was a college student when God led me to start Jesus and Justice Apparel amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest with cases like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and more. Having just lost my job due to the pandemic and CMU moving to virtual classes, I was still determined to do my part in the midst of uncertain times. Read more>>
Brenna West
I am a lifelong Girl Scout, and Girl Scouts is where my leadership journey began. As a Girl Scout, I learned that I had the capacity for leadership and that just because I was a girl, didn’t mean I couldn’t take the lead. My troop was strong from kindergarten all the way through 8th grade. Read more>>
Kim Blair
Professional Bio With over a decade of leadership experience in operations, retail, and business development, I currently serve as the Vice President of Operations and Development at Rebel Nell, a mission-driven organization in Detroit, MI. In this role, I oversee the full spectrum of business development, production, logistics, and inventory systems—ensuring seamless functionality across departments while driving strategic growth. Read more>>
Brooklyn Anderson
My mom started my business when I was just 5 months old in 2019. She said my personality at such a young age was very advanced. We started off doing hair bows and later went into clothing and purses. Read more>>
Yely Romero
Starting [Acceso VIP Media & Promotions has been a journey built on passion, relationships, and a deep love for my community. We are a proud Hispanic family-owned business based in Grand Rapids, and what began in 2014 as a local radio show eventually grew into a full bilingual marketing and promotions company serving businesses across West Michigan. Read more>>
Katelyn Coffey
I’ve worked in the publishing industry since college as a USA Today Bestselling author, starting in 2018, though I had been in school to become a lawyer. My dad and mom—who currently run Expresso Books & Beans—were a real estate agent and a teacher, respectively. In the year 2024, we started discussing opening up a business together. Read more>>
Lilianna-Angel Reyes
I transitioned at 17 years old. During a time when there were not many local BIPOC trans people in careers. After college, I took a job at Planned Parenthood doing education and advocacy outreach. Navigating work in any sector as a Brown trans woman was very difficult. I was often the only person of my identity in many workspaces. Read more>>
Anne Nickert
Growing up in southwest Detroit had many advantages. Awareness, diversity, struggles and rewards. I am the oldest of a large family, we didn’t always have what we wanted but we always had what we needed with loads of love to go around. Our dinner table was large and held family, friends and neighbors for much more than food. Read more>>
Terry Nehm
Started as a used item seller in a flea Market and slowly moved in the direction of a gift shop. Started the flea market in september of 2025 and build that up to where I am today brick and morter store and still doing the Flea maket. Read more>>
Reverend Faith Fowler
I have been a pastor in Detroit for 40 years, the last 32 of them at Cass Community United Methodist Church. The Cass congregation has spearheaded social ministries since the Great Depression when it started a soup kitchen that has served meals every day since. Cass established a separate nonprofit in 2002. Read more>>
Megan Gardner
My journey in early childhood education began fifteen years ago with a simple passion for caring for and teaching children. What started as a role as an Assistant Teacher grew into something much deeper as I discovered not only my love for education, but also my desire to help children know they are loved, valued, and created with purpose. Read more>>
David Richter
After graduating high school, I stayed close to home and attended community college for a few years. During that time, my interest in the culinary arts really began to grow. I had always enjoyed exploring my way around a kitchen, and as my curiosity grew, I began collecting cookbooks and grew my interest in imported and craft beers which eventually grew to wine. Read more>>
Katie Baxter
I am a Licensed Master of Social Work and have served the Flint community in direct service or administrative roles for over 25 years. I have worked for a variety of private and public agencies that provide behavioral health care. I came to Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties (CCSGC) in October of 2022 as CEO. Read more>>
Emily Panco
Angels of Action was founded in 2011 by three local moms who all saw a major need that their community was facing: hungry children. Joni, Stephanie, and Julie were noticing that there was a huge amount of food insecurity in Mecosta county. They put their heads together and came up with the idea for a non-profit that would help combat this ever growing issue. Read more>>
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>>
