We love grabbing drinks with our entrepreneur friends because they always have the craziest stories. Sometimes it’s a big, unexpected win. Other times it’s a problem that came out of nowhere and couldn’t possibly have been foreseen. There is so much to learn from these stories and so we asked some of the brightest entrepreneurs and creatives in the community to share some of those stories below.

Valerie Henry

When my husband passed away, I lost my “inner spark” to photograph, he was the one who saw something in my photography and he is the one who pushed me to pursue it.
One month after his passing, I had to go to Rock Springs, WY to bring parts of the Rv we had been traveling in, to the person who was buying it. Rock Springs has a band of wild mustangs and I thought since I was here that I should go see them, which I did. Read more>>

Oren Amir

Nothing prepares you for the moment when your phone rings at 3 AM and it’s a client whose home is literally burning to the ground. As one of the leading home builders in Altadena, we’ve seen our share of challenges, but the Eaton fire that swept through our community last year changed everything about how we view our purpose. Read more>>

Craig Pursley

When I worked for a major newspaper in Southern California (1983-2006), I found we had access to virtually everyone’s address. So I began sending drawings to people I admired and asking them to sign them. Over the years, it evolved from WWII aviators to astronauts to Hollywood celebrities to baseball players to musicians and now to artists I admire. Well over 400 in all going back over 40 years. Many were obtained in person too. Some in the collection range from Chuck Yeager, who was the first to break the sound barrier, Neil Armstrong, Jimmy Stewart, Joe DiMaggio, Etta James, Pulitzer-prize winning author, David McCullough, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Everett Raymond Kinstler who painting portraits of seven US Presidents. Read more>>

Vikter Solis

Let me tell you about the craziest experience I’ve ever had with a client! Normally, when I meet clients, I’ll give them my contact information and tell them if they have questions or think of something later to feel free to get in touch and we can chat about it! Now with this preface, let me set the scene. Read more>>

Josh Abelson

Last July we got a call from a venue scout on a Wednesday asking if we are available in a week for an event. We were unaware of any details or who was calling and reaching out as the contact only had a gmail. Read more>>

Abigail Mellinger

In my experience—especially in a male-dominated industry—I don’t think the focus should always be on forcing inclusivity for the sake of optics, but rather on inspiring the people who are truly motivated. Some of the most talented individuals I’ve worked with (mostly men, to be honest) didn’t have degrees or formal training—they just showed up, took risks, and put in the work. That’s what stands out to me. I’ve definitely faced my own challenges as a woman building a business, but those roadblocks aren’t exclusive to me. You adapt, figure it out, and keep going. For me, success is about being able to adjust and make the most of the tools you’ve got. Read more>>