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.

Shaadie Nunnally

All the time. Because I look how I look, black male, dreads, gold teeth, tattoos etc., I get viewed a certain way as soon as I walk in the door of any environment. I either seem too rough or just another “one of them” until they begin to interact with me or see the role I am in within the room. Read more >>>

Stephanie White

One of the most impactful pieces of advice I have ever given a patient centered around the concept of choice and narrative ownership. Read more >>>

Kelyn Luton

Not long ago, a new client reached out for help. The client shares that they often feel overwhelmed by responsibilities and are quick to react in frustration toward loved ones. They describe feeling behind in life, criticizing themselves harshly, and avoiding social connections out of shame. There are a few core principles of treatment that I discussed with the client. 1. Read more >>>

Joseph Vulpis

We’ve had employees since the beginning. Our goal at the National Rescue & Response Institute was to put together an Instructor Cadre that consisted of the best in the US. We accomplished that goal by hiring top tier Instructors in their instructing discipline. This will be our 17th year in business. It’s been quite a challenge, but an amazing ride. Read more >>>

David Penna

Chloe (my wife) & I founded Variable back in 2017, and we started it with one other gentleman by the name of Michael Newsome. Not unlike many people out there, in my previous role, I always felt as if I could contribute more than what was expected of me, and that’s what I always strived to do. Read more >>>

Hal Mooney

Vacations are extremely important. Like, extremely. And while they’re difficult to find time for (time to plan, time to do), we still do our best to do them when we can. We’ve been limited this year because our budget is going 100% towards opening the restaurant, but we can still fit in some camping trips and day trips to the beach. Read more >>>

Jesusa Diaz

We were in the midst of a pandemic here in Chile. A couple of years ago, I had dropped out of college. I was studying animation and felt that the quality of the program in my country did not meet my expectations. Read more >>>

Jeide 8TRACK

I think it was my eighth grade year. I was approached by one of the school’s cheerleaders to tag a word on a piece of paper, in graffiti style. She got word about me from someone else I did something free for, no doubt. I’m not sure if the thought of selling art crossed my mind yet, I was still in the fascination/show-and-prove stage. Read more >>>

Nikki Lee

25 years ago, a new mother hired me to help her with breastfeeding. Her birth had been rough and the baby was in NICU for a few weeks. When they finally got home, her baby would only latch occasionally with a nipple shield. 21 days later, after several consultations, she reached her goal of direct breastfeeding and breastfed that baby for over 2 years. Read more >>>

Rose Morro

.About four years ago I worked remotely with a grad student in Chicago. Against her parent’s wishes Sally* had left her home country to earn a master’s degree in fine arts in the US. She started to paint large canvases of abstract art. She built a community among her friends and teachers. Read more >>>

Cristina Perez

When I think back to my first job in the field, it was at The Good Seed, and honestly, it changed the course of my life. I still remember walking through those doors for the first time nervous, hopeful, and not entirely sure what to expect. Read more >>>

Mary Peck

Our “first job” in skincare didn’t come through the traditional route of recruiters or résumés—it started with a conversation over coffee. We were two friends, busy moms and professionals, comparing notes on our skincare routines (or lack thereof). We realized we were both at that stage where nearly everyone we knew was getting Botox—but it just didn’t feel right for us. Read more >>>

Brandon Saiz

I started out doing a gas line with my dad at a very young age, also helped installing swamp coolers, as young men it was important to have direction, I asked him what I should do and he always said HVAC, fast forward a little bit, I worked for a pretty large company in Rio rancho. Read more >>>

Cherish Clouse

I went to college with no clear direction on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember taking an Introduction to Nutrition class and absolutely falling in love with the science behind food. I continued taking nutrition classes as electives until it was clear nutrition was my career path. Read more >>>

Emilee Craig

In the wedding industry, tradition often shapes expectations—but I believe a wedding should be defined by the couple, not convention. While certain traditions hold sentimental value, the most meaningful celebrations are those that feel deeply personal and true to the people at their center. As an editorial wedding photographer, my approach is rooted in intention and individuality. Read more >>>

Meg Conkling

For me, making clients feel appreciated isn’t just part of my job, it’s the soul of what I do. Working with women who have naturally curly hair, I see every day how personal our connection to our hair really is. Read more >>>

Elias Feghaly

At KULLI Atelier, I love creating meaningful moments with my clients — not just jewelry or perfume, but memories they can relive and share with their friends and family. ✨ Every custom piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, showing exactly what they received. I also offer free cleaning and inspection anytime our doors are open, Tuesday through Saturday, 12–6. Read more >>>

Rick Dahlstrom

I used to work at this awesome barbershop, Craft Barbering Co. in Pembroke MA. I had these two amazing bosses, Jeff and Eric. They really taught me some of the most important and sometimes neglected keys to running a successful barbershop. Read more >>>

Meg Meredith

I can tell you from the heart, working under the owners of this company has been the most rewarding professional experience of my life. They aren’t just “bosses”; they’re true leaders who embody what it means to care for their people, both personally and professionally. Read more >>>

Anne Marie Ring

At Old Glory Bank, our mission is rooted in the U.S. Constitution. We believe in restoring three core values to banking: Privacy, Security, and Liberty. We are a bank “for all of America. For all Americans.” We are committed to refusing cancel-culture and political discrimination. We will not close accounts or punish law-abiding Americans for their beliefs, professions, or lawful expression. Read more >>>

Laurasha Lovett

I believe success is built on life experiences and the willingness to fail forward. Every “no” I’ve heard, every door closed in my face, and every mistake I’ve made have been lessons that pushed me closer to where I am today. Those setbacks didn’t stop me — they refined me. Read more >>>

Sadie Harper

As an entrepreneur, I think it takes a few things to be successful. One is opportunity recognition, meaning the skillful application of intuition + research to know if your idea is a good one. Beyond that, will it connect with clients, and is there enough of a client base who wants it? Without this, businesses fail. Read more >>>