It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Michigan.
Jane Garrett
I studied graphic design and photography in college and actually stumbled across custom picture framing almost by accident. I answered an ad looking for help at a custom framing shop in Ann Arbor. I actually didn’t realize what custom framing was all about but got a great start at Pictures Plus. Read more>>
LaNeisha Watson
I am a Detroit native, a storyteller, and a mental health advocate. Growing up, my access to art and entertainment came largely through Black sitcoms like The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, Girlfriends, Living Single, Martin, and The Steve Harvey Show. And of course, there was the radio. There was no place like WJLB in the late ’90s and 2000s. Read more>>
Roy Zettlemoyer
Berks County, Pennsylvania is a place where the beauty of rural landscapes meets the warmth of small-town charm. Growing up here, I was surrounded by rolling hills, sprawling farmlands, and a strong sense of community that shaped my childhood and instilled in me a deep appreciation for the simpler things in life. Read more>>
Jasmine Hobson
My journey has really been about finding strength in unexpected places. I went to art school in California where I earned my undergraduate degree in Fashion Marketing and Management. Later I pursued my MBA and a certification in Cybersecurity. I have always loved both the arts and tech, two worlds that seem so different but for me they have always been deeply connected. Read more>>
Dr. Jeree Spicer
I’m Dr. Jeree Spicer, but most people know me as Dr. Ree, the founder of ReeTheCyberBoss®. My brand is all about building digital trust through education, culture, and community. I started ReeTheCyberBoss® to make cybersecurity approachable for everyday people whether that’s parents trying to protect their kids online, professionals navigating digital workplaces, or women looking for a seat at the table in tech. Read more>>
Brandon Morgan
The Crim Fitness Foundation just celebrated its 48th birthday. In 1977, then-Speaker of the Michigan House, Bobby Crim, started the Bobby Crim Road Race in downtown Flint. The 10-mile event was created support Special Olympians and other athletes with physical and cognitive disabilities. The event started modestly with roughly 500 participants but grew a loyal following. Read more>>
Michael Burns
After graduating from high school in 1988, I began working full-time in the electrical trade. I spent my years wiring houses, then moved into commercial and industrial work, and finally became an electrician/maintenance worker in a factory. In those years, I became acutely aware of the need for safety.Read more>>
Lisa Krantz
In 2023 I faced 2 types of cancer, for almost 2 years had 25 chemotherapy sessions a major surgery and launched another business in the medical field to help others facing a similar struggle Read more>>
Eric Carpenter
I started when I was 13 my dad had an office down the rd from a shop that offered 12 volt electronics and auto accessories. I began hanging out there every chance I got, they allowed me to help around the shop for free and started showing me basic electrical installs. Read more>>
Heather Nitzki
Yes, I’d love to! I’ll spare you all the details, but I will say that my life—like many others—has had its fair share of not-so-fun (some might even say traumatic) experiences. Looking back, I can see that those challenges were the most influential part of my journey. Read more>>
Tonya King
I started my business as a means of extra income. At the time I was in grad school and could only work part time. I was working as a part time stylist in a retail store. Meaning I had to get dressed and work with woman daily. Over time, I started to get compliments on my handbags. Read more>>
Sue Palmisano
My husband and I purchased our first vacation home 18 years ago with the idea of creating a place to share with our children. Moving from Grand Rapids, MI, I was drawn to Bellaire for its quieter pace of life. Read more>>
Greg Fernandes
For years I had wanted to start my own business. I was interested in doing something that would keep me in shape, give me a chance to teach and lead others, and be something my family could be involved in as well. In 2015 I opened my first gym and operated that for 8 years with a partner. Read more>>
Roger Willard
My journey with taekwondo began quite unexpectedly when my son, Noah, enrolled in classes at the age of four. Initially, I would drop him off a few times a week while I focused on my own workouts at the local gym. Read more>>
Kelli VanRaalte
My story with my sub fundraising business, Frandale Fundraising, started about seven years ago. I was a single mother of two teenagers. My kids were becoming more self-sufficient. I was looking for a new start, a career. I was hoping to get into my family’s restaurant business but it wasn’t going well. It didn’t feel like a good fit. Read more>>
Kim Easterday
In 2016 we (my daughter and I) took an extended vacation to France. We spent time in Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Champagne, and the South of France. It was in the South of France that we discovered the beauty and mystery of perfume making. One of the activities we had scheduled was perfume making at a renowned perfumery in Grasse. Read more>>
Christopher Van Dusen
While I was in High School, I either wanted to pursue being a doctor or an accountant. I decided to pursue being a doctor, but later changed tracks to become a pharmacist. I became a pharmacy technician while I was pursuing my prerequisites to get into pharmacy school and did well enough to get into Ferris State University the first year I applied. Read more>>
Keila McKenna
I’ve been coaching since 1996, when I first started helping with the youth teams while still in high school. From the very beginning, I loved seeing athletes light up when they achieved something new. Over the years, I’ve coached at every level — from the youngest beginners learning their first forward rolls to college level athletes pushing the boundaries of competitive cheerleading. Read more>>
Tiffany Campbell
I started out by myself in a independent Suit as an esthetician, and one of my girlfriends who is a licensed cosmetologist was going to join me, so we got a bigger location that was plenty big enough for more than the two of us. Read more>>
Author M.D. LaBelle
I was always an avid reader. When I was 12 I won a Young Author Competition and my horror story was traditionally published in an anthology. Over the years I wrote short stories for fun but never published them. 30 years later, I had a vivid dream and wrote it down the next morning. Read more>>
Eva Monhaut-Jenkins
My journey into birth work really stems from a lifelong passion for supporting and empowering others. I’ve always been drawn to helping people navigate important life transitions, and after having my own experiences with birth and parenthood, I realized how transformative support during this time can be—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. Read more>>
Sarah Lange
I was really blown away how well received it was within our community. In April 2021 my husband and I were eating brunch at Red Spire at The Grand Traverse Commons and we noticed there was an available space in The Mercato and thought it would be a great opportunity. By Memorial Weekend I was opening The Refillery TC as a brick & mortar location and I continue to be amazed by the support we receive from locals and visitors alike. After a few years of slowly growing and filling our shop with refillable products as well as plastic alternatives, we were running out of space! I opened a second location in April 2024 in Warehouse MRKT that allows us to order our best-selling bulk products in larger quantities and continue to expand our consciously curated selection of goods. Read more>>
KayLyn Havranek
Ive always wanted to do hair. I started working in a salon when I was 15 as a receptionist. After 4 years working in Ann Arbor, MI during the beginning of my career my husband and I decided to move out west. We lived and worked out west for a long time and decided to move back after having kids. This was during the early days of covid and I was staying at home with the kids. I missed working and taking clients and so I started taking clients out of the house. I soon was outgrowing taking clients out of the house and the dream I once had of starting a salon started to take shape. Read more>>
