We asked some very talented folks to tell us about the most innovative thing they’ve done in their career.

Khalieb Rufael

I don’t see innovation as something difficult to achieve. A lot of the time, as creatives, we are merely re-inventing the wheel and referring to it as innovation. With that being said, I have to give credit to those who give birth to the ideas that change the way we think and operate as a society. To date, my most innovative ideas have come in the form of Menus. Read more>>

Nubia Soul Goddess

Although I am the Creative Director of my Publishing House, I’m also an author. Last year I decided to start working on the audio version of one of my books. However, I decided to release it (initially) on my Youtube book channel. Most authors look to release their audiobooks on Audible which is an Amazon company, but I wanted to do it differently for a number of reasons. Read more>>

Matt Shoup

One of our biggest innovations relates to one of our companies biggest screw ups. I call this my “Painted Baby” Story. In 2008, we had a paint sprayer explode on a job site, and it exploded all over our customer and her 9 month old baby. This was a very bad day at the office. As we approached the disaster to triage it, we eneded up making everyhting right. And, yes the baby was okay :) Read more>>

Adrienne Lake

After the layoffs at SXSW due to COVID, I decided I wanted to continue to work in music and help artists, but wanted to do it on my own terms. What I realized was that artists desperately needed help and consulting in a variety of areas, but what they were most willing to pay for is publicity. Read more>>

Mark Certonio

Creating the Key West Food and Wine Festival over 15 years ago. Read more>>

Bryan Cole

In the enterprise software sector, businesses that are going to purchase software solutions that costs hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars really need to see the software in action before they commit to that. One of the most innovative things I’ve ever done was develop a prototype for, and then develop and lead, a new generation of demonstration platforms based on containerization. It allowed the team members who are delivering software demonstrations to standardize, rapidly reset their environment, and came pre-integrated out-of-the-box so everyone had an outstanding demo environment to use. Read more>>

Mary Demirjian

When you think of an Optometrist or an eye examination, there are certain expectations. What typically comes to mind are a sterile, medical office, the air puff machine, and hundreds of glasses to try on. Read more>>

Poppy Teez

I am an “everything creative” . I create all forms of art and one of the ways I’ve been innovative is inclusion. My brand, whether it is spoken-word or fashion focuses on all people and not just a target audience. The content of my poetry is not something you hear within the realms of the genre, and the clothing I design focuses on gender fluidity and androgyny, the fashion events I curate focuses on the aspect that anybody can be a model. Read more>>