Over the years as we connected with incredible from folks from almost every imaginable industry we realized that every nook and cranny of our economy is full of small business owners, artists and creatives who live and breathe what they do – and their stories are nothing short of heroic. It’s the immigrant parents who overcame the odds and kept their small business alive for decades allowing their next generation to thrive and the artisans who pour their passion into every piece and refuse to let even the most common items remain mundane that make our communities come alive. The stories below will inspire you and we hope you’ll take the time to read and connect with these incredible folks.

Federica Borlenghi

I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. I moved to New York straight out of high school. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been living in New York for 9 years… a third of my life! I had a very multi-interdisciplinary education: I went to music school from an early age, took acting lessons, attended a high school of visual arts, and pursue an education in the performing arts, where I fell in love with stage directing. Read more>>

Jessica Youngson

I started my love for taking pictures when I was in elementary school. I use to steal my grandmother’s flip phone and take pictures at different angles with it. Once I got into high school, I started taking a photography class and fell even more involve with the art. My grandfather bought me my first DSLR camera with a kit lens (18-55mm) my sophomore year of high school. After that, it became clear to me that I would do photography as a career path. Ever since I graduated high school I have been working on my photography. In 2021, I became an official photography business when we moved to Alabama. Read more>>

Lynette Pettinicchi

As a teenager, I always had dreams of owning something though at the time I wasn’t sure what that would be. One of my favorite subjects in school was science so I attended SUNY Plattsburgh in upstate NY expecting to be a high school biology teacher. Unfortunately, test-taking continued to be a challenge for me, and I ended up changing my major four times (biology education –> nutrition –> music –> PR/advertising). Read more>>

Randall Cole

My name is Randall Cole, I am a visual artist specializing in photography, videography & digital media. I work with a plethora of independent organizations to showcase their brands and I am a part of WQED’s Film Academy (Pittsburgh’s Local PBS station) as a teaching artist. In addition to my creative work, I am also actively involved in music, acting & modeling. Read more>>

Alexis Floyd

I have always loved art and the freedom of expression. Throughout my life, I’ve tried many different methods of creativity and entertainment, but it wasn’t until 2020 that I decided to start pursuing photography professionally. At the time, I had hit what I considered “rock bottom” and had nothing to lose. I ruled that going back to school would be the best route to break into this profession, and I enrolled in a master’s program for photography. It has been an incredible journey so far and I have to give proper credit to those who genuinely encourage and support me. They are the reason I have made it this far. Read more>>

Mike Gray

Hey Good Morning and thanks for taking time to hear a little but of my story. I hope it helps and inspires many others. So I come from a family of intellectuals. My older sister was valedictorian of her high school class and attended ivy league undergrad and law school. My younger sister attended a private college. I however, in the middle of the two, did not like traditional education despite our parents both being very committed educators. I fought about even going to college and almost enlisted in the US Army and what would become the first US Special Forces in 1987. They were heavily recruiting at the time and being strong and fit and a HS athlete, I was a target along with some of my friends. Alas, I gave in and attended a local state college to “try college”. Read more>>

Adam Giriunas of Ace Consulting Digital Marketing

I began my journey into digital marketing at the age of 19, driven by a desire to work remotely while traveling and putting my creativity to use for clients. Ace Consulting Digital Marketing was born with the goal of helping small businesses grow their online presence through custom website creation. A website isn’t just a tool to be found online; it’s an opportunity for businesses to tell their story, engage with customers, and make a lasting impact. By focusing on delivering functional and visually appealing websites, we’ve been able to show tangible business growth, which is incredibly rewarding. Read more>>

Leilany Celeste

My story is a testament about how everything comes in due time: I got into the performing arts at a young age and when I was 14, I booked my first professional lead SAG job. From that project, I received my invitation to join the union at age 15. After lots of deliberating, I decided not to join just yet so that I can continue growing as an artist without the pressures of booking. I went to New York University and graduated in Spring 2023. Now I’m a little over one year out of college and I’ve been blessed to have booked some really amazing projects (SVU, The Equalizer, FBI). It was a lot of waiting and a true test of perseverance, but I’m humbled to have had the journey I’ve had, and I’m excited for what the future has in store. Read more>>

Marta Gwizdala

I am Marta Gwizdala, a landscape-loving 3D artist born in 1996. My journey from Poland to the USA is one of resilience and triumph. My vibrant personality and enchanting artwork hide the challenges I faced in my early years—family struggles, loneliness, and financial hardships. As a young teenager, I took on responsibilities beyond my years. Yet, through these dark moments, my artistic spirit endured. At 10, I won a painting competition, earning a trip to Paris. This award became a defining moment, thanks to the support of my wonderful father, and I began realizing my dreams as an artist. It was difficult to get a passport in those days because it was post-communist Poland. So my dad did everything for me and my sister. Read more>>

Paul Richmond

Forty years ago, I walked into my art teacher Linda Regula’s studio for the first time. That was when I learned that art would be a guiding force in my life. I was only four years old, but from that moment forward, when anyone asked me if I wanted to be an artist when I grew up, I proudly informed them that I already WAS an artist. Read more>>

Keerthikeyan Dakshinamurthy

Of course, starting from the bustling city of Chennai to the vibrant cityscape of New York City, my journey has been nothing short of an exhilarating adventure. I started my career as an engineer and sale executive before discovering my true calling in the field of advertising and creativity, leading me to my current role as a Creative at Manifest Group in NYC. Read more>>

Kelly Hubbell of Sage Haus

Hi, I’m Kelly, a full-time working mom of three, and founder of Sage Haus.

I founded Sage Haus in 2023 and am deeply passionate about helping busy moms (and all parents) set up systems to achieve an equitable division of labor, or in some cases, delegating and outsourcing the mental load. I believe time is valuable, for everyone, and that certain seasons of life require that we break out of the “do it all” & “supermom” mindset and find our village, our support system. Read more>>

Buddha Mei of MEIDULOOK

My story begins with a deep passion for music and art that’s been with me since childhood. I was in the choir in church, enrolled in music and dance classes which then led me to studying Vocal Performance at LaGuardia Performing Arts High School, where I developed a foundation in music, and later explored Film/Media Studies and Psychology at Hunter College. Now I am working towards my certification with the International Sound Therapy Association to receive my certification for Sound Therapy which I will be receiving in March of 2025. My creative path has always been multifaceted—I’ve worked as a model, a makeup artist, and a filmmaker, each role shaping the artist I am today. Read more>>

Jaime Bugbee

My journey has been anything but linear, and it all started with my first major life transition—becoming a mother. After spending 17 years as a dental hygienist, I felt the weight of burnout, especially after experiencing postpartum depression with my first child. I found myself craving more flexibility and the ability to be present with my family. Read more>>

Anne Marie Ceralvo

My first instrument was the violin. It was via these lessons that I was introduced to the concept of “harmony,” and ever since then I’ve been obsessed. Piano lessons lasted briefly, and several years I discovered that singing is fun, especially with other people. My love affair with music has always been on and off since childhood, but once the 2020 pandemic hit, the realm of music made its way back into my life, tenfold. Since 2020, my friends and I have released two LPs, I’ve garnered a handful of clients for session work, collaborated with talented producers and lyricists, and finally dove into the world of DJ_ing, after years of hesitation. I’m happy with where I’m at, and I look forward to creating more music! Read more>>

Marcia Lorente Howell

I’m a modern impressionist, I paint landscapes from my life, oil on canvas. I’m the granddaughter of two women painters, one from Kansas City and one from Vinaros, a little town off the Eastern coast of Spain. I’ve painted my entire life, won some award as a kid back in Spain even. I grew up in Madrid and live between San Francisco, New York City and Europe. I’m obsessed with color and with capturing movement and light. My body of work is my postcard collection of all the places I’ve been lucky enough to have walked my dog Elvis in. I take photos with my phone and then capture the feeling of what I saw. If you look closely Elvis is almost always hiding somewhere in the painting. He’s my muse and my best friend. Read more>>

Sukey Molloy

Regarding the flow of my life, I guess I could be called a late bloomer. My early years were sprinkled with a combination of unusual opportunities and experiences, as well as familial challenges. Put together, these circumstances have given me a wealth of perceptions that offered rich material to work with. Growing up I was surrounded by the performing arts and the great outdoors. To this day my heart still lives in those two places. My mother had a career in music and arts administration, and my father was a decorated naval officer. Growing up we lived near a large farm and my favorite pastime was to feed the cows at the fence and to spend long afternoons alone in the woods by the stream. I never liked school very much even though I was a decent student, and one day I left home, unexpectedly, Read more>>

Taryn Lewis

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved creating. I was that artsy kid you’d catch drawing, painting ceramics, dabbling in photography, and even acting. But creating on social media? That was a whole different story. I actually avoided it until I turned 24 because I knew I’d be addicted to it.

And I am. Here we are, several years and 101,400 followers later, I get paid to create! Read more>>

LISA CRAWFORD of Pink One Productions Inc.

As a child growing up in South Africa I had a passion for movies. We had no television back then, radio and movies at our local hall or theaters was our entertainment. I would dream about one day going to Hollywood and becoming a filmmaker. Fast forward to Canada, when my son was old enough to move out. I decided to pursue my childhood dream. Starting as a background performer. While on set on the James Franco film Kin, I was watching the twin directors direct the actors. I said to myself “I can do that”. Soon after I started taking acting lessons with Niagara Falls based acting coach, Livingstone Beaumont. A month later I landed my first role in a student film, followed by various non-union roles. I earned my first ACTRA credit on Umbrella Academy season one opening scene. Read more>>

Francesca Vuillemin of Francesca Vuillemin

My journey begins in Strasbourg, France at the age of 9 when I overheard my first astrology discussion about Carl G Jung’s application of astrology in his psychotherapeutic approach. The idea that there is a universal language that allows us to connect with others is what nourishes my spirit and fuels me especially during challenging times. My atypical background of being French/ Australian instilled my love of discovering other cultures, belief systems and places which meant that from a young age I saw the world as one big family. Before becoming a full time astrologer 7 years ago, I integrated astrology into my work in luxury sales and branding – even as n international model I would apply this knowledge on set. As I continue to personally evolve, I have the honor of working with outstanding humans by providing them a practical understanding of how to navigate these celestial bodies to live a more connected and meaningful life. Read more>>

Eternity James

I have been an eclectic artist ever since I can remember. At the young age of 4, I pictured myself in movies. I would act out scenes on the floor of my bedroom. I used to pretend to teach a class at an early age. I also remember using the hallway of my childhood home as my runway. I was & still interested in modeling. I have modeled in college fashion shows, posed for some commercial and boudoir photoshoots throughout my career. I received my Bachelor of Science in fashion merchandising. Styling and learning the business side of fashion has always sparked my interest. Read more>>

TWO32

With my father being a rapper in his early adulthood and my mother’s natural love for music I can say that I’ve been around music all my life. I didn’t take my own crack at anything until I was in 4th grade though where I had to write a rap for Thanksgiving. From that point on I’d casually freestyle with cousins from time to time but never took the art form seriously until I was maybe 13 years old. I found myself freestyling on the back of a bus one night with my other band mates and it hit me that I may have a natural talent. That’s when I started spending a lot of my free time writing raps over old school classics in my room until I ultimately decided this is what I want to spend my life doing at 17. Since then I’ve been working towards a life as a full time musician, dedicating much time to improving not only my skills and my overall being. Read more>>

Samantha Wildflowa

I was born into a middle class family in Seattle, Washington. I grew up outside – playing – creating make believe lands in the cul-de-sac. When bored, invited to “go paint”. Middle school and high school were difficult times and I found sanctuary in creating art. Whether that was photoshoots with my sister in the backyard, writing and illustrating short stories, or singing in the church choir. Artistic expression has been my own version of refuge since as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Sophie Jo Ferro

SJ PERCEPTIONS is a New York based creative studio offering bespoke services to brands. Our philosophy is results driven and emphasizes aesthetic, minimalist design. SJ PERCEPTIONS blends strategy and innovation to meet the unique goals of our partners.

Founder and Lead Creative Sophie Jo Ferro started SJ PERCEPTIONS in 2020 to satisfy her inclination towards creativity and entrepreneurial ambition. What began as a hobby has blossomed into a full-service creative enterprise serving companies and individuals from different parts of the world. Sophie’s personal appreciation for the principles of modern minimalism reveals itself in her creative direction for brands like Wellbel and Hello Klean, while her acute understanding of new media audiences shines through in her work for Femme Farmacy and Martinis & Bikinis. Read more>>

Agnieszka Elliott

One of my greatest passions in life is wildlife and nature preservation. I was born in Krakow, Poland, where I worked for my father as a graphic designer. Although I did some sketching, it wasn’t very significant at the time. Later, I moved to the US and spent nearly a decade working as a Marketing Coordinator. During that period, I discovered some enjoyable art classes and learned watercolor painting. This sparked a long journey that has led me to where I am today. I consider myself to be a self-taught wildlife artist. I used YouTube to learn various techniques, immersed myself in art books, attended a few workshops, sought feedback from artists I admired, and learned much through trial and error. Read more>>

Miz Chaos

I’ve always been a creative, curious and nomadic person. Visual art (specifically painting) was something I studied in college many years ago. During most of my twenties I was exploring working in media, outdoor seasonal jobs and in performance art. It was during covid and the first lockdown that I rediscovered my love for painting and creating and wanted to pursue it as my life passion. I painted non stop for several years, until I started exploring other mediums such as video editing, mixed media sculpture, glass mosaics and resin casting. I did two month long art residencies in different states. One was at the Lookout Arts Quarry in Bellingham, WA. The other was at The Fiasco Art Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Both those opportunities gave me the time and space to practice my craft and be around inspirational artists, who helped motivate and guide me. Read more>>

Miley Carterr

I’m in a completely different place than I was when we last spoke, haha! That’s for sure! A few years ago, I was dating this guy… and it was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. I learned so much about myself during that time period. Let’s just say I was a victim of DV and used that to inspire the person I am today. I am more courageous and powerful than ever before. That whole period of my life inspired my new EP that is dropping on June 21, 2024. 4 days before my birthday! It’s called N:OW (the time is now). And that title alone means soooo much to me! The time is now to be free from judgment, free from emotional unintelligent men, free from procrastination, free from self hate, I can go on and on! Read more>>

Bitsy McCann

I started my business almost by accident. Eleven years ago, I thought I was set for the long-term. A financial firm had head hunted me away from my previous job to be in charge of all their design, marketing, and client events. I was making almost double the salary and way better benefits than I’d ever received in my entire career. Within four months of my hiring, they terminated my employment. Read more>>

Brandon Cole

My passion for photography started and grew from an awkward situation I found myself in 18 years ago. In 2005, my daughter Nevaeh Cole, was born and she was so incredibly beautiful. Simultaneously, I joined the US Navy and embarked on my military career. After posting her pictures online, I remember receiving numerous request from companies and modeling agencies, beauty pageants , to feature her in several upcoming events, but they needed new updated images of her. So I went out and grabbed and old Sony A300 and starting shooting my daughter and that’s when I discovered my love for photography. That affliction was immediately discovered by the military as I was called to shoot many military events around the Navy and during extended deployments out to sea. Read more>>

Jemel Frank

I started writing music in 6th grade, inspired by my crush on Vanessa Anne Hudgens and a burning desire to meet her one day. Since then, I have honed my craft, drawing inspiration from a variety of musical influences, including Speaker Knockerz, Biggie, and La Capone. Read more>>

Amy Steinberg

I started my artistic journey inspired by Hawaii’s landscapes and the detailed beauty of flowers. My art is deeply personal, blending natural scenes with the stories of my life. I’ve been painting since 2002, using my canvas to navigate and express my inner world. Each piece is a mix of personal mythologies and real-life inspirations, inviting viewers to connect their own experiences with mine. To learn more about how I translate life into art, check out my story on my website Read more>>

Logan Boyd

The most common question I get is why did I start Richmond Flower Truck?

So I have finally decided to answer…

The honest answer is a little unconventional.

The story of the start of Richmond Flower Truck is a story of life and death.

The birth of my daughter, Grace, sparked my love of flowers. Oddly enough her middle name is Adaliya; and “dahlia” is also a beautiful flower.
Cues first birthday theme: “Born to Bloom” 🌸 Which, of course, sends me on a search for a flower truck in Richmond. Read more>>

Megan Lowe

Dance is in every fiber of my being. I live, breathe, and dream it. It is my past, present, future, and how I express myself in the world. I started taking dance classes, performing, and creating my own dances when I was three years old, and developed a strong passion for movement throughout childhood. It was impossible for me to stand still, and I craved a range of physical activity: like climbing, gymnastics, swimming, basketball, football, track, cross country, and ultimate frisbee. But the expressiveness of dancing, the creativity of choreographing, and the thrill of performing is really where my heart and soul has always been. This led me to major in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies at UC Berkeley, and to pursue a career as a professional dance maker. Read more>>

 Jiao LI

As an immigrant artist, this is my fifth year in New York. During these five years, I have been a resident dance teaching artist in different public schools. What impressed me most was that when I was in the public schools in Brooklyn, most of the students were recent immigrants from China. They could not speak English and had very limited learning resources. Read more>>

Allison Ullo

My journey to founding Leaves of Leisure began with a personal struggle that many can relate to: the overwhelming effects of caffeine. Working multiple jobs and managing a hectic schedule, I relied heavily on coffee to get through the day. However, the jitters, anxiety, and sleepless nights it caused started to take a toll on my well-being. I realized I needed a change and decided to quit caffeine altogether. Read more>>

Lorraine Leckie

“Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.”

I’ve lived a few different lives so far and got started in music while working in the fashion business doing makeup. I used to read my poems at dinners and people told me I should turn those poems into songs. I picked up my first guitar when I was 37, and it went terribly! It’s a tough instrument to learn but I practiced every day for a few hours. Then I acquired a piano and thought “What will I do with this? I don’t even know…” Read more>>

Angel Marie

My creative journey began in 2003 when I was a third grader at William M. Meredith Elementary School, a performing arts school that sparked my love for theater and dance. I continued to explore theater and dance at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies & Production from Temple University. Read more>>

Quentin Townsend Jr

I became a professional photographer after high school but I’ve been practicing the art since the age eleven. My pops and step-mom bought me and my older sister a HP camera for Christmas one year and I was hooked to how the glass in the little camera captured real life in such a unique way that you can feel what’s happening. I started exploring editing programs on free websites like Picnic.com, Myspace & software that I already had on the computer when I was young. Years fly by and my big sister buys me my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel Xs. I loved that camera, I took that beauty to school, track meets, basketball games, and any events that my family, school or pretty much anyone had. Read more>>

Molly Watson Thomas

Like many, I was an incredibly creative child. I’d spend my days finding things around my house to turn into furniture for my dolls or jewelry for myself. I was always looking forward to birthdays and holidays knowing I’d be given new paint sets or bars of air dry clay. As I got older, my friends and I would spend hours giggling together while we wrote stories and made movies full of inside jokes we still employ decades later. We’d go on hikes and I’d fill memory cards with pictures of wildflowers and granite rock formations that I couldn’t wait to get home and edit. In short, my earliest days were full of creative wonder. Read more>>

Victoria Veedell

From a young age, I was always creating—whether molding animals out of clay, drawing imaginary worlds, crocheting hats and scarves for my dolls, or designing my own clothes in high school. My hands needed to be busy, always immersed in some form of creative expression. College marked a turning point where I began to focus more seriously on art, especially painting. My painting professor recognized my dedication, and in my last semester, I served as an unofficial TA to the freshman painters. Despite my passion, the concept of being an artist was still nebulous to me, with no clear path laid out. After graduating with a BFA in painting, I spent a transformative summer in France, including a month at the traditional painting atelier, Ecole Albert Defois, in the Loire Valley. Read more>>

Wayne Flint

Stephen Dorning

I guess I would have to take you back to late High school. I had this English teacher, Mrs. Betty Alexander. She used to assign us creative writing homework. I loved to write, but she would always read my stories out loud in class. It embarrassed me, She tried to encourage me to write more, but I didn’t get the message back then. I became a father in 1991, and most of my time was spent trying to provide for a family. Three more children followed the first, and that left me very little time for writing. Fast forward to 2007 when my good friend Kathryn Lang asked me to Beta read her newest manuscript. I agreed even though it wasn’t my normal genre to read in. Read more>>

Darnell Brown

My path to being a Speed and Performance Coach was initially sparked through curiosity and my passion for problem solving. As an athlete who has participated in sports since a young kid, I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge and found a passion in helping athletes, and weekend warrior alike. As a high school and collegiate athlete, I would find myself helping my teammates through injuries and helping them peak for their championship meet. As I got older, my thirst for knowledge increased, as well as my passion for problem solving and helping people. That set me on the path as a Speed and Performance Coach, where I have the privilege of helping athletes and weekend warrior reach their athletic and fitness goals. Read more>>