Doing things differently often leads to outsized results and so we connected with some of the most inspiring leaders and trailblazers we know and asked them to go into detail about what they do differently relative to others in their industry.

Whitney Brown | Professional Photographer + Studio Owner

I run a photography studio and art gallery – ALL of our work focuses on the physical aspect of portraits through fine art printing. The photography industry has become a shoot and burn, digital representation of what a photograph is truly meant to be – a physical piece of art. While our studio does offer digital copies of every print purchased, because let’s face it – it’s 2022 and we live in a digital world, we focus more on the art of the craft, the legacy of our clients and subjects, and the viewers of those heirloom prints over the next 100 years. A digital image will die on whatever device it’s placed on eventually, while a quality print will last several lifetimes. Read more>>

Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker | Historian and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Professional

We are particularly skilled at communicating comfortably and effectively with people from many walks of life. We are deeply authentic, and dedicated to leveraging difference–ideological, leadership and learning styles, region, race, class, gender, faith, sexual orientation, and national origin–to forge and advance cohesion cultures of belonging and excellence. Unlike the stewards of most justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) firms, I am a professional historian and social scientist. Since history is the foundation of all knowledge, I, as a social historian, am uniquely empowered to help harness information, develop knowledge, assess JEDI in various environs, facilitate masterplanning, and facilitate experiential learning opportunities by providing the necessary context for the challenges we face. Read more>>

Bruce Battoe | Director of Video Marketing Strategy

Most video companies that make business promotional videos and brand message videos focus only on producing videos for their clients, and stop there. What makes Elite Business Films different is that we take a long-term marketing vision approach to make sure we design clients’ videos to work as pieces within a larger marketing machine that is designed to maximize return on investment. Read more>>

Gina Schreck | Founder of The Village Workspace

At The Village Workspace we want to address all the needs of working parents. Whether they are starting a business, running an organization or just need to be among other brilliant people while they work. We address the needs of working parents by having a kids room filled with toys, books, and crafts to occupy the little ones while mom or dad gets some work done. We know what it’s like when schools close due to COVID or weather. We also allow the fur babies in our workspace. We know having dogs at work reduces stress levels and brings people together. Read more>>

Leslie Lehr | Lifestyle Expert and Organizing Specialist

Leslie stands out in the home organization space because she isn’t a store-bought solution provider. She doesn’t want you to sort your life in clear acrylic containers, she wants to help you bring unexpected solutions to ordinary spaces with a touch of flair only she can provide. While most lifestyle experts teach their clients that more is more, Leslie knows the value in living with less. She doesn’t want her clients to over-purchase. Instead, she wants them to learn how to live and entertain with the pieces they have and invest in quality products. Read more>>

Kara Gordon | Interior Designer

Historically, most interior designers are only hired by the wealthy and affluent clientele base since our services are considered a luxury. But, when I began my business, I intentionally decided my business model would be set up in such a way that middle-income families would be able to afford my services. It is a very large target market that has been underserved in the past. My company exists to bridge the gap between the DIY-ers, and the wealthy. I structure my pricing in an a-la-carte fashion, so that anyone can pick and choose which services fit their budget. Read more>>

Brandon & Lindsay Lutz | Wedding Photographers

One thing that sets us apart in our industry is the fact that we are a husband-wife team. We meet with our couples and serve them every step of the way, and there is no doubt of the service you receive from us from the very beginning. In fact, we often find ourselves saying to one another at the end of a big wedding day how thankful we are that we are doing this business together. Without the other person’s balancing skill set we wouldn’t be nearly as great at rolling with the punches! Read more>>

Elena DInaburg | Real Estate Agent & Certified Stager

I provide real estate services, as well as staging. When I list a house, the staging is FREE, I never charge for the furniture or for the design. Other agents, need to hire a staging company, who of course will charge a fee. I am one stop show for real estate listings. Read more>>

Josniel Fiallo | President

Oh yes, definitely. What brings us apart from other fabric stores is that we also offer services for each type of fabric that we sell. We have an in-house atelier where we provide haute couture services or ” servicio de alta costura ” as it is also known in Miami. Our atelier has over 25 years of experience in custom made dresses. We can make any type of dress, from a jumpsuit to a ball gown. Our customers can get ready for their wedding with our unique and custom made Bridal Gowns. as we encourage women not to feel restricted by standard molds and instead allow brides to focus upon and explore what will make them look and feel the best on their wedding day. Read more>>

Bruce Graf | Residential Remodeler

Sometimes it’s necessary to spend more money than planned or charged to do a project at it’s best level. What I mean is, there are times when I actually, knowingly lose money in order to do a better job for a client. Most people would say this is a poor business move and maybe it is. However, I can’t justify doing less of a job, just to make sure I make money or break even. My customers deserve my best work, that’s what they expect, and that’s what they receive. Read more>>

Mary Ann Cohen | Art Dealer

We have a stunning & eclectic collection of the finest contemporary artists working today, located in 3 unique South Florida gallery locations. We have helped countless clients navigate the art collecting world, source amazing artworks and even find new ways to work in their existing works: carefully curating all of it into a refined and satisfying finished interior. Homes and offices today are open, contemporary spaces where what is selected on one wall needs to make sense and “speak” to the rest of the art in the space. In today’s open interiors, selecting works from multiple sources is ok, if you have the experience, confidence and time to orchestrate a full collection, but at MAC Art you are not alone, we are here to help you as little or as much as you need us. We can get you a “few great pieces” or we can do your entire home or homes! You decide as Our help is free, you pay only for the pieces you collect. Read more>>

Elaine & Rodolfo Vanmarcke | Professional Photographers & Documentary Videographers

As photographers, we focus a lot in family and events related to milestone moments of those families. From engaged couples’ photoshoots through the maternity stage, birth, Bar-Bat Mitzvahs, senior photography, nuclear and extended family photoshoots, birthdays and so on. From all the branches of our studio (commercial, fashion, product, food photography, etc.) it is truly fulfilling to watch and document families growing in time. Within this field, we’ve seen how professionals tend to portrait their clients more posed, looking at the camera, smiling, and maybe in a more generic setting. Read more>>

David Marshall | Preservation Architect

Preservation architects, like those at my firm Heritage Architecture & Planning, are a unique breed because we are not trying to design buildings that are new and different or that follow the trends and fashions of today. We are given the responsibility of working on buildings that are sometimes over 100 years old which represent the work of other architects who designed very different eras. Read more>>

James Train | Owner of E-Z Flow Foam Systems Inc.

Our biggest competitor dominates this industry with over 90% of the Foam In Place market. But they are arrogant and difficult to deal with. Amazingly, most of the other people in the Foam In Place industry tried to be like them! We are the first company to emphasize our differences from them, and it has resonated with our customers. Where our big competitor treats their customers like idiots, we treat them as intelligent people who have choices, so we have to take good care of them. And it shows. Read more>>

Mike & Jenn Edwards | Photography and Productions

Experience The Difference with Mike & Jenn. What does that mean? When someone is looking for a photographer or videographer for a wedding, corporate event, marketing content for their business or even family photos, they typically are looking at price. But they don’t know what they should be looking for. They don’t know what is missing until they’ve had it or know it’s possible. That is where we come in. Mike and I work in tandem. Mike is great behind the camera and I am great at details. And boy do details matter!! There is so much that goes into the Mike & Jenn Experience…. Read more>>

Christophe & Heather Willmus | Wedding experts

We are a husband & wife team and we work seamlessly to serve our clients better! First, we offer wedding planning services, where we can find the prefect venue, according to your budget and style. We can then recommend all your major vendors, and of course be there to coordinate your big day! It doesn’t stop here, we offer photography & videography services. Willmus Weddings, it’s almost going with a one-top shop but with the personalized experience! Read more>>

Jared Burgess | Personal Trainer/Fitness Studio Owner

UST Personal Training has gone in a different direction than the majority of fitness studios and companies in recent years. While the industry has mostly focused on creating large open training areas where multiple individuals train with trainers in a shared equipment/space environment; UST has tried to focus on the individuals who want to train completely privately with just their personal trainer/fitness professional. Read more>>

Prynce P | Award Winning Musician

I never release music that does not relate to me or what I believed in. The industry standard is to create some sort of buzz and me releasing music about saving our planet will not do that and honestly, I am ok with that. As an artist, at the end of the day, I am responsible for what I say and what projects I release. The world that we live in is already crazy as is! My goal is to help make it better, not make it worse. Read more>>

David Klein | Interior Designer

Industry standard is for an interior designer to impose his or her own design aesthetic onto the client’s project. Where I differ is I believe each client has their own design style and I collaborate with my clients to ensure their unique personality is reflected in the final design. Read more>>

Bobbie Weiner | Hollywood F/X Makeup Artist & Manf. Cosmetic Company

Yes. From the beginning I decided to become a special effects makeup artist while in makeup school. My very first film was Pumpkinhead 2 and it was a huge cult film. My last film I did was Titanic. I did the dead floating actors for James Cameron in this mega hit film. I went on to be a guest on morning show to show how I created the dead frozen actors. From that exposure the US Govt approached me and asked if I would create a new Camouflage face paint for the soldiers. I did and 2 weeks later I got my first order from the Marines. Today I have the contracts with the US Govt for Camouflage Face Paint and I also supply the Hunting Industry. Read more>>

cary sochin | chief solutionist @ clubX fitness

at clubX fitness we are one of the very few (certainly the only club/gym in Miami) fitness clubs that has a membership cap – this particular feature has quite a few benefits to both the consumer and the business operator; consumer benefits obviously are a guaranteed “never crowded” environment and an atmosphere that promotes an ideal customer service atmosphere where staff will assuredly know each members name and whatever details of there life they care to share as there is a marked increase in staff/member interaction time Read more>>

Valerie Engel | Owner of Roses and Dreams

We are not the ordinary online boutique! We offer personal deliveries, personal shopping and custom orders. Before placing an order we are happy to answer any questions and send more photos. Finally, we are able to search for any specific item we are asked for, order any size etc… Our services are personal, we are in touch with our clients and text/email them each arrivals they would like. Finally, our goal is to make shopping a pleasure and accommodate anyone who does not have time to do so! Read more>>

Calandra Hurd | Cosmetology instructor/ hair loss stylist and model

What I do differently from industry standards would be that I haven’t placed myself in a box. I’ve built a solid clientele in multiple cities and states to allow myself the option to travel and relocate to enjoy this one life we have been given. Read more>>

Robert Fernandez | Carpet & Flooring Dealer & Contractor

The simplest way of describing this is via the customer service we provide. On complicated jobs, I team up with my installation crews on site in order to quickly complete projects via organizing the logistical time lines and being onsite helping them (sometimes physically) to complete projects. Perfect example. This weekend we had to knock out about 500 sq yds (4500 sq ft in layman’s terms) of carpet tile in a fully functioning office. the business owners had a moving company there to assist in moving all their stuff around. Read more>>

Jarrett Patti | Automotive Protection Specialist

What I feel we do differently here at Jp Platinum than other companies is our customer service and education we provide to our clients that use our services. The biggest part of my success in this business is taking care of my customers as if they are family. It’s the opportunity you get with some of these folks that can change your life and business so when you treat people good, the outcomes become better. Read more>>

Inez Acevedo | House Cleaning Business Owner

A Cleaning to Remember provides top to bottom cleanings each visit. This sets us apart from other companies in our area because we include what others charge extra for (changing linens, washing dishes, wiping baseboards and cleaning inside the oven) at an affordable price. Read more>>

Ken Wahlster | Founder 8 Ball Motorcycle Tires

At 8 Ball motorcycle Tires we focus on doing only one thing (Motorcycle Tires) and doing that one thing very well. Many businesses try to be like Amazon, everything to everyone… we prefer to be experts in one thing and be the best in the industry. Read more>>