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.

Jon Bodan

Our motto is “home loans with the Rockstar Treatment, every time” – over the last few years everyone and everything has been called “rockstar” to some degree. In our case, we come by it honestly because I am literally the lead guitar player in a metal band called Halcyon Way – we have 5 albums out and have toured all over the world for years. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Coleman

We pride ourselves in being wine educators for our clients. As certified sommeliers with two masters degrees and twenty years of careers in education we engage our clients in multisensory wine experiences. As former educators we know that not everyone learns the same way, so providing a learning experience that hits all of your senses broadens the reach of the experience. Read more>>

Sandi Cresciullo

Our shop is 100% custom handmade pieces. Most orders are personalized with names or words of encouragement We offer everything from bracelets to phone charms/chains and necklaces. The only thing we stock are our beads. I believe this is the reason behind our success. We are reasonably priced and in the 5 years we’ve been in business only one person has returned something because the color was “ too yellow “. Read more>>

Christina Buckalew

I take pride in defying expectations as a photographer with a disability that affects my motor function and coordination. In this industry, I stand as a rare but inspiring example that anything is possible when one’s spirit dares to dream. I embrace my identity as a photographer, a philanthropist, and a student with aspirations amidst life’s challenges, and proving the limitless potential that resides within the human spirit. Read more>>

Tammy Wynn

True story! When I hired my first full time veterinarian, Dr. Kate Smith, she fell in love with our mission and the way we delivered our service, but she said “Tammy”, locking eyes with me, “what you are doing here at Angel’s Paws is different…no, Tammy, I mean it’s RADICALLY DIFFERENT”…as she banged her hands on her knees. We have laughed about that a million times, but there is a reason our approach is radically different. The design of the service Angel’s Paws delivers was born from a pet parent’s heart and not from the model of traditional veterinary medicine. Read more>>

Brandon Boyd

I believe what sets my photography business apart is my approach to working with clients. I enjoy creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere during photo shoots, which allows my clients to feel more comfortable and natural in front of the camera. This normally leads to more candid and authentic photos which is something that many clients enjoy. By using a more laid-back approach, I’m able to create a unique and fun experience for my clients. Read more>>

Dariel Devora

Something I do different when it comes to DJ I will say is the way I connect with the crowd and my ability to play different genres of music. Being a bilingual DJ in the United State give me the opportunity to not only play Hispanic/Latino music but algo play American music as well. Read more>>

Chavona Hawk

I differ from the industry standard in the personal training fitness world because I create my own exercises. There is a method to my madness lol. I create exercises that get you to the burn faster than traditional exercises. When your muscles are burning, that is when they grow the most! I thoroughly love and enjoy creating new exercises with that thought in mind! Read more>>

Kelli Ferguson

Something that is really important to me is being able to work with even the smallest business and the smallest budget. Many people in my industry have minimums that they charge for their services, and while I understand and respect their need to do that, I realize it makes services like mine unattainable for businesses that are small, new, or ready to take things to the next level. Read more>>

Robyn Cohen

For the past 15 years and all the work I’ve done in the women’s advocacy space, it has always included men. For decades now, a lot of the work around women’s empowerment has created a space, for the most part, that only includes women. I’ve never understood why we thought creating an exclusive environment or space for women ONLY was the way to creating a more inclusive and equitable world. Read more>>

Kari Stolpestad

We use real butter in all of our popcorn. We simmer it, brown it, and simmer it again, with fresh ingredients such as dill or jalapeno. This process gives our popcorn a rich, bold flavor that is unlike any other popcorn you can buy. We keep our ingredient lists short, avoiding preservatives. We also have a limited variety of flavors that we offer. Instead of purchasing prepackaged flavor mixes, we create all of our flavors from scratch. Read more>>

Charlotte Purvis

What I do differently from the industry standard is my sales and marketing strategy. Instead of spending time on the usual advertisement and digital strategy in hopes of generating prospective leads, I decided to use my strength of relationship building to grow my business. I am intentional about moving beyond the transactional aspect of my work by learning about my clients, what’s important to them, and the challenges they face everyday. Read more>>

Kimberly Dedyne

As the owner and Chief Candle Kimist (chemist) of Pure Kimistry, our brand provides more than just the average candle. When we are looking for fragrance oils to curate our candles we don’t just go straight to the best seller’s list. We take the time to research the fragrance oils to see how they are best utilized to create a luxury experience while burning candles. Read more>>

Talbot Reiber

One of the biggest breakdowns in the restaurant industry is between the kitchen and the front of the house. There is always a tension between the two areas since they exist as two entirely separate entities within the same restaurant. We have found a way to break down the barriers that exist between the two areas and have focused on using manners to cultivate that change. I encourage my employees to be cool. Read more>>

Gabriella Enniss

I have worked in the fitness industry since 2013 and have generally worked in gyms that cared about clients as a whole versus pushing body goals. However, the mainstream fitness industry is still consistently pushing the narrative that we all need defined abs and that bouncing back like a celebrity should be the thing we all seek. Read more>>

Gracie Smith

At SALT (Southern Automation, Logistics & Technology), we understand the Catch-22 situation faced by young job seekers who need the experience to get a job but struggle to obtain it without prior experience. This challenge often leaves them in a difficult position when entering the job market. We recognized this issue and sought to address it by taking a different approach from the industry standard. Read more>>

John FK Camire’

I strive to create dishes and flavors that are out of the box and different from classic plates and fan favorites. The goal is give the guest experience an uncharted culinary journey. I like to mix flavors along the Spice route throughout the world rather than stick to a specific region. Read more>>

Sydney and joe Meek

Our area (Fredericksburg) is very saturated with short term rentals and airbnbs, so we’ve worked hard to carve out a niche for ourselves. We operate more like a boutique hotel with a curated experience with high quality service. We have 28 units across town but they all have the same Porch Light standard of service and amenities. Read more>>

Shelby Kirchner

At Plan On It Events & Design, we don’t just plan your typical one night wedding. We specialize in full weekend, guest-centric celebrations that embody the couples’ relationship and feels like a vacation! Read more>>

Tab Talks

We re-tell stories in a culturally competent way when mainstream media gets it wrong. For example, when the Jonestown story first broke, the media was focused on Jim Jones and his ability to get a mass number of people to kill themselves. What was not reported was the majority of the followers were poor African Americans willing to risk it all to leave a country that did not value them. Read more>>

Aubrie Cornelius

As the owner of Aubrie Cornelius Photography LLC I prioritize my clients and deliver beautiful images. I use top of the line photography gear, invest in workshops taught by top industry professionals, and have over 10 years of experience photographing & styling food. Read more>>

Cynthia Valdez

The beauty industry has been filled with unattainable standards that affect everyone. The beauty industry is an industry that often gets overlooked as non essential and shallow but truth is that everyone is impacted by beauty and most often than not is in a negative way. Read more>>

Fern Lemus

CONTENT IS KING!!! My studio specializes in high-energy music and high-quality video content. The modern age of music has had many pitfalls, from the flood of subpar music to the rising cost of touring and performing. Read more>>

Sabrina Charles

Southern Naturals by Bri… Queen Cleaning, & most of Beaufort knows Sugar Baby Cupcakess are all home based small businesses under YuNique Stylz LLC. What makes my business different is I do everything from home, I make all of my products by hand from scratch, I bake anything my customers ask for at reasonable price. I take pride in being a 31 year old multi home based business owner and Sugar Baby Cupcakess has recently recieved an award for Best desserts in Beaufort on Restaurant Guru. Read more>>

Gustavo Costa

The U.S. economy is often based on a produce, use, and discard model that contributes to resource scarcity, toxic emissions and unnecessary disposal in landfills. Upcycling, or the circular economy, has surged in the last 15 years as a more sustainable and environmentally sound model. Read more>>

Paty & Carlos Magallanes Martínez

It is a reality that many illnesses today are due to the consumption of processed and industrialized foods, but fortunately, it is becoming more common for people to have the culture of reading product labels to examine the nutritional value of the foods they are eating. Although there is still a long way to go, the health food market is growing in the United States and around the world. Read more>>

Jayne Osborne

What we’ve chosen to do differently from the industry standard is to allow the author to maintain creative control. A lot of publishing companies will take a manuscript and throughout the editing process, will chop it up and change it into what they feel will best fit their readers’ interests. When an author begins seriously considering publishing their book, Read more>>