Michigan’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Kristina Schnepf

Driven by a desire to refine her craft, Kristina sought woodworking classes in the Traverse City area but couldn’t find the intensive, hands-on instruction she craved. Her search, however, introduced her to the world of folk schools—places where people gather to learn traditional skills like basketry, woodworking, and beekeeping in immersive, community-driven environments. Read more>>

Corbin LaParl

It has been the furthest from a smooth road. Starting out struggles were finding clients and having consistent work coming in. Keeping enough work starting out and then continuing to hold that as well as keep up with the rapidly advancing gear and wearing all the hats a business owner has to wear. I was working multiple jobs to continue to chase my passion but then it transitions from a chase to get clients to a chase to keep up with them. Read more>>

Ashley Attisha

When starting my law firm I had plenty of “imposter syndrome” and had to work on gaining my confidence as an attorney again. This was very difficult because I had to trust in my ability to properly advise clients and strategically win cases. I had to believe in myself, my abilities and my work ethic and jumped right into it. I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance and support I’ve received from my law mentors over the years. Their wisdom, integrity, and example have deeply influenced who I am today—not just as an attorney, but as a business owner and a young professional finding my way. I carry their lessons with me every day, and I’m proud to build my career on the foundation they helped me create. Read more>>

Brenda Bennett

This core knowledge of music theory as well as rhythmic theory and choreography helped in my development within various genres – rock, thrash, metal, and now death-doom – bands. I hit the mid-Michigan music scene playing in bands such as VIS, Persecution, Torn Within, LIFTED, Five Hundredth Year, and now Black Cloud. I have had the experience of performing at large festivals such as Rocklahoma in Oklahoma and Chill on the Hill in Michigan as well as being part of a handful of music videos. One cover song I was part of has over five million streams on Spotify. I hope to surpass this with our current lineup in Black Cloud! Read more>>

Vanessa Rice

Massage Therapy was a school change for me. I did a 9-month program. After graduation i started doing Mobile Massage and working a small spa. Eventually I ended up at a massage franchise while still doing mobile massage. It’s been 15 years since i started. Read more>>

Stephen Simmons

We started out as PreachintTees in a time that skull and bones were being sold on everything. I wanted to come out with positive things on shirts. I created a Detroit shield logo that sold like crazy and it shifted our focus in a different direction. Though there was a shift in direction, we made sure to incorporated Mat 5-14 in the design of our shield logo. It is very important to give GOD the glory in everything we do. Read more>>

Marisela Sierra

Definitely not a smooth road—but I think that’s just part of the journey when you’re running a small business, especially one with as much history as ours. There have been plenty of challenges along the way. One of the biggest has been learning how to think like a business owner—strategically, not just day-to-day. I had to get comfortable with managing finances, understanding margins, and making decisions that keep us sustainable in the long run. Read more>>

Riley Bean

I started out producing and performing music with a mix of live and digital instruments in 2012. I go through phases based on the music I’m listening to and also the gear I add to the collection. My first album “Tidal Waves” features sounds from the Ensoniq EPS16+ and a more retro 80’s vibe and layered vocals. In 2021 I started DJing as part of the set and for private events , as a way to have the ability to transition my tracks without pauses and work in other music that inspired me. “Loving Among Us” is the alien synth-house follow, up with sounds from the Korg Prologue. The third album is coming in 2025 and is tailored for the dance floor with more groovy house vibes and Talkbox synth vocals and effects run off the Prologue. Read more>>

Anna Ulmer

We started out having our own individual shops, Anna as Moonlit Moth and Tina as Windswept Farms. A couple of months ago we were presented with the opportunity to rent the space we are in and decided to combine forces and run a shop together! It only made sense, since we are so much alike! We both love plants, have a history with art and design and are passionate about sustainability and handcrafting. Read more>>

Randy Lipman

That shift gave us clarity. Customers would tell us we had ruined kettle corn for them—because once they’d had Mystic Kettle, they couldn’t go back to the generic stuff. We knew our popcorn’s secret ingredient—our gourmet popcorn kernels—deserved their own spotlight. While people love Mystic Kettle, popping popcorn at home is something most shoppers already do. So we branded and packaged our premium kernels in jars, making high-quality home popping accessible to everyone. That became our new focus. Read more>>

Erick Mayorga

No it wasn’t easy to get to where I’m at right now and I wouldn’t say right now is the place I want to be I think I still have a lot to learn and I want to be one of the ost successful event organizers in the country but some of the struggles that I would have too face is all of the permits and licenses you need to be able to organize a concert also the city’s approval and venue requirements and regulations were some key struggles we had to get through also getting in contact with some artist is very difficult trying to find the right people to talk too to make some events happen! Read more>>

Jamie

My journey is rooted in creativity, strategy, and a relentless work ethic. I’m a proud Grand Rapids native and a global marketing strategist, working across multiple sectors where I blend high-level vision with hands-on execution. From managing international campaigns to building brand voice and presence, I’ve learned that success is often about showing up, staying adaptable, and creating real connections. Read more>>

Kelsi Zahl

Aaron continued to build garden spaces featuring beautiful rock walls with agates. Soil & Soul Farm LLC. formed in 2018. From inception, the farm has been women led. Linda would empower her gardeners to think critically, teaching while working, not only the task at hand, but about the microbial balance of the soil and role that each plant plays in the microbiome of the garden. Each year we would finish the season by learning and practicing food preservation. Read more>>

Misty Renee

I’ve always been drawn to beauty and wellness, but it was the Japanese head spa that completely captivated me. The experience felt sacred. Gentle, intentional, and healing in a way that went far beyond the scalp. I knew I wanted to bring that feeling to women here. A place where they could rest their minds, feel held, and reconnect with themselves — not just another salon treatment, but something much more nurturing and transformative. Read more>>

Jessica Baird

My story really began with a love for people and storytelling. I’ve always been fascinated by how words shape perception, how connection can change lives, and how visibility creates power. Early in my career, I worked in spaces where I saw the impact of good communication—and the damage that can happen without it. That’s what drew me to PR: the ability to help people, brands, and movements tell their stories with intention and integrity. Read more>>

Tiara Blassingame

After over 20 years in education and child advocacy, I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring every child has a chance at a bright future. I began as a teacher at Flint Northwestern, where I spent seven years while earning my master’s in Special Education and Educational Leadership. After being told by a principal that “you can’t help them in 9th grade,” I knew the system needed change. That moment fueled my journey to open a school for dropouts in Detroit and later lead an alternative school in Lansing—both proving that with the right support and motivation, every child can succeed. Read more>>

Patreze Brinkley

It hasn’t been an entirely smooth road. After being away from the community for 22 years, I came back and reintroduced my father’s tribute show, which was embraced by the skate community. However, things got complicated when we introduced competition. We’ve never had the opportunity to compete in our style before, and now that Detroit-style roller skating is recognized as a sport, we began hosting competitions. The problem is, as we moved forward with the competitive aspect, we saw our support dwindle with each event. Read more>>

SAMIKA DOUGLAS

Growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, in the 1980s during the height of the crack epidemic, my childhood was far from easy. As the third child of teenage parents battling drug addiction, stability was a rare commodity. Life threw a relentless barrage of lemons – frequent moves to escape the physical abuse my mother endured, the constant shadow of my parents’ struggles, and the sting of being labeled and told I would amount to nothing because of my family’s circumstances. Read more>>

Allison Gustafson McGrane

Applewood originated after finding out our golden retriever, Magnolia, had severe allergies to the candles I was purchasing and burning in our home. After finding this out, I went on a mission to find a pup-safe candle, but just couldn’t trust any of the candles I was finding. I spent months researching ingredients and then finally got to work creating my own candles that I could feel comfortable burning in our home. After coming up with (what I believe to be) the perfect combination of clean, nontoxic materials, I thought that others could also be searching for the same clean, pet-safe candle that I searched for and couldn’t find. And with that, Applewood Candle Co. was born! This was back in 2019, and we happily celebrated our 5 year business anniversary this past November! Read more>>

Kim Dooley

Naturally, there were challenges along the way—learning the ins and outs of managing a small rental business while also navigating the unique demands of the wedding industry. However, I view every obstacle as an opportunity for growth. Each setback provided valuable lessons that allowed me to refine my processes, improve my professionalism, and implement strategies to minimize the likelihood of similar issues arising in future events. Years of hands-on experience and a high volume of successful rentals have enabled me to deliver seamless, high-quality service to clients, ensuring their special day runs smoothly and memorably. Read more>>

Katie Compo

In 2013, I photographed my first wedding for a family friend. I charged almost nothing and was absolutely terrified, but it ended up being an incredible experience. From that day on, I knew wedding photography was what I wanted to do. I love being part of such pure, genuine happiness every weekend — and getting to dance to some dance floor jams is a real bonus! Even though the days can be long and the pressure to capture once-in-a-lifetime moments is high, it’s where I feel the most free and creative. Read more>>

Full Send Ramen

The past two years have been an amazing showing of how wild life can be. It is amazing it has already been that long since we wrote our last piece for Hidden Gems. God has never been more obviously pronounced in our lives in providing and supplying every need. We started doing pop-ups as a pipe dream, were blessed with the opportunity to be the first monthly kitchen takeover when Happy’s left The Little Fleet, and everything got crazy after that. We were crushed all month and God provided us a food trailer to purchase on our shoe string budget that we have parked at The Coin Slot in the heart of downtown Traverse City ever since. Read more>>

Juliana Rabban

But the truth is, creativity has always been a part of who I am. When I was in second grade, I was obsessed with making boondoggle keychains. My dad owned a Save A Lot grocery store at the time, and one day he asked, “Do you want to sell some up front?” I said yes — and to my surprise, people actually bought them. He’d come home with custom order requests from customers, and I ended up making a couple thousand dollars as a little kid. That moment lit something in me. I even made pink cancer ribbon keychains in October and donated the proceeds to local charities. It wasn’t just about the money — it was about making things that meant something. That mindset never left. Read more>>

Nelson Sanders

But all in all I’ve been doing ok. I’ve learned way more on my own in business than I’ve ever learned in school. Not coming from money, or having easy access to capital has somewhat restricted some creative growth. With that being said I will say a bit of procrastination, ignorance has limited me from taking advantage of some grants, and other avenues to obtain capital that are available in the city. I’m also my only employee, with slow growth I’ve realized I need some help to continue to scale the business. Being married with kids, while running a business solo has it’s challenges. Read more>>

Sonic Smut

We decided that even though we really wanted a drummer we would play as a duo until the right one came along. It was literally our first show as a two piece that Dave walked up and said what we already knew, that we would sound better with drums, and also mentioned something that led me [Alice] to ask “what instrument do you play” he replied “drums’, it was so perfectly funny that I already knew without hearing him he had something special. We tried him out and it was instant chemistry, he was it, band complete. Read more>>

Armando Pedroso

Then one day I started my job search again in Chicago and saw a lot of home with for sale signs in their yards. The painting voice in my head said, “you can paint a house it is a square and a triangle, try painting them as a child would, use your sales skills learned at Xerox and go door to door at real estate offices and sell them as closing gifts to the agents. Package them in a frame, create a card and put them in a nice bag for the realtor to sign the card and hand the gift to the client at closing.” So I said ” Ok God if this is you, I need to sell 1 house painting in 7 weeks ( not sure where that number came from, lol ). I sold 7 paintings in the first weeks. Read more>>

Mary Kate Brown

I started baking and decorating cakes in 2010. At the time, it was a fun hobby a friend and I got into. However, as my husband and I started our family, it turned into a supplemental income stream that helped me stay home to raise our children. In 2014 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and was ultimately told I had a non-celiac gluten sensitivity in 2018. At that time, our entire family of 5 gave up gluten entirely and we made the decision to end our home baking side hustle. We dove headfirst into the world of functional medicine and nutrition, and because of that journey, I was able to attain remission from my condition. Read more>>

Alona Reshetniak

But also my hard work and dedication got me where I am at today. To me, beauty is more than appearance — it’s confidence, it’s connection, and it’s care. Being able to help people see that in themselves is a gift I never take for granted. I’m endlessly thankful for where this journey has brought me and excited for everything that lies ahead. Read more>>

Ryan Bergstrom

My career took an exciting turn when I became a Chief Steward on super yachts, even being offered a position on Below Deck. For 5 years, I planned every detail of my guests’ once-in-a-lifetime experience. From planning excursions, to taking the dingy to a remote Mediterranean island shore to gather plants and whatever I could find to make daily centerpieces. After orchestrating events in 15 different countries, I felt the call to return to the beautiful Midwest. Since settling on land in 2022, I have planned over 120 weddings and private events, contributing to his overall tally of more than 250 events worldwide. Read more>>

Austeen Heeney

Teaching yoga quickly became more than a job; it became a calling. I saw how transformative it could be, not just for individuals on the mat, but for the way we relate to ourselves and to life. That passion evolved into creating Austeen’s Online Yoga Academy, a digital sanctuary for the last 8 years where people can access yoga and meditation practices anytime, anywhere. I wanted to make this work accessible, supportive, and real, especially for those who are newer to the practice or have the desire to truly learn the practices. Read more>>

Alexander McGaughey

Professionally, I started my career in logistics as a freight broker and logistics coordinator before moving into the automotive industry. I joined Zeigler BMW as a product specialist, where I developed product knowledge and a passion for helping people find the right vehicle for their needs. I was later promoted to Client Advisor, a role that allows me to build strong client relationships and guide people through one of their most important purchases. Read more>>

Anastasia Abdoo

I ran to him and had him fix the settings and he asked me if I wanted to take a photo of my mom, his wife and him; so I got down on one knee to be level with them and held the camera up and it was a useable photo! He said “your such a natural at this” and that made my confidence and excitement go through the roof! After that moment, I begged my mom to get me a point and shoot camera for christmas and I took photos of everything. By my senior year of high school I was waitressing and used all my money from tips to buy my very first DSLR. Since then I’ve had a camera in my hands and in college I started skipping classes to do newborn sessions and build my portfolio. Read more>>

Kelly Jeska

Wild Heart Yoga was founded and developed by me, Kelly Jeska. The idea came from a time of great change in my life when I was tired of being afraid. Afraid to be myself, afraid to pursue my own dreams, afraid to start something new. I worked for so long to help others achieve what they set out to do (don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot), but my own goals were often set aside and I was placed inside this container where people wanted me to be. I craved freedom. After a lot of hard work and introspection, I decided to set my heart free and start my own business. It came about so naturally that it’s almost like it was waiting for me this whole time. Thus, Wild Heart Yoga was born! Read more>>

Michael Loveland

In 2017 when I was 21, my Dad opened up his own restaurant called 1 Bun Restaurant. I helped him run the day to day and learned a lot during that experience as well. Good and bad. Unfortunately 1 Bun closed by the end of 2018 and I went to work as an Assistant Manager for one of the local Russ’ Restaurants. Again I learned even more during this experience. Once 1 Bun closed I had planned to eventually start my own restaurant and working at Russ’ was just a necessary stepping stone toward that goal. Read more>>

Alexandria Rykse

I love everything bridal, I went to school for photojournalism and fashion merchandising and worked in retail after graduating. I then shifted over to bridal shops and absolutely loved selling wedding dresses. I had the opportunity to transition to fine jewelry and selling engagement rings. I’m currently doing jewelry photography and enjoy that too! Read more>>

Aprill Acuff

I am a model.Its in my DNA,my blood since I was 12 years old.The bug got into me because of my brother.He was an actor and a model.He was also gay something I was unfamiliar with his sexuality because he made everything he did theatrical,it was a fun time.He took me to every audition and little did I know I was auditioning.My claim to fame was at 18 when Eileen Ford scouted me to come to New York for work.My dad totally appealed that.O well! LOL..at 23 my agent gave me a ring and ask me to come and audition for Revlon.I was selected 1 of 3..I signed for $700;000.Yessssss.  Read more>>