We’ve highlighted responses from some of the brightest and most talented artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in the community below.

Tish Ruff-Shareef

My hero is my late husband, Elijah B. Shareef, Sr. He taught me what true partnership looks like. Elijah had a way of loving me out loud, making sure I never questioned my worth. Read more>>

Sahel Mirfakhraei

I know it may sound like a very traditional answer, but my parents are truly my biggest heroes. As a child who experienced immigration hand-in-hand with my family, I witnessed their strength at every stage of our journey, from Iran to Finland and later from Finland to the United States. Read more>>

Jaimie Brick

My mom is my hero—without question. She’s my compass in life, and people often tell me I’m just like her. I take that as the greatest compliment I could ever receive. She taught me to be independent, bold, ambitious, and to stand up for myself. Those lessons became the foundation of who I am and gave me the courage to build my own business. Read more>>

Risa Hoag

I have spent more than 30 years carefully cultivating my company’s reputation. I believe integrity is probably the most important asset that any company has. The number one most important source of business for any company is word-of-mouth referrals and those valuable referrals are supported by the reputation of the company and the person at the helm. Read more>>