Houston’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in Houston has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From the Fourth Ward to Sugar Land (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call Houston home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout the city.

Risa Auger

I grew up in California and started my family there, always dreaming of bigger, wider spaces to live, explore, and enjoy life. While the beach still calls to my heart now and then, I have to say, that whole “everything is bigger in Texas” thing really is pretty wonderful. Read more>>

Monica Noor Morales and Juan Pablo Osorio N/A

Thank you so much for having us. We’re truly excited to share our journey. Outreach In The Barrio was born in the heart of Houston with a simple but powerful mission: serving the most forgotten with consistency, compassion, and dignity. I (Monica Morales) grew up in the same barrio where we now serve. As a proud Houstonian and Mexican-American Muslim, I experienced the effects of poverty, homelessness, and neglect. Read more>>

Terrence Ray, CPA

My journey hasn’t followed a straight line, but every chapter has prepared me for the next. I began as a college football player, where discipline, resilience, and relentless preparation became part of who I am. Competing at that level while earning a degree in marketing taught me how to perform under pressure and think strategically about growth and opportunity. Read more>>

Drew Blumenthal

I’ve always been entrepreneurial at heart — even as a kid. While most of my friends were into video games, I was drawn to the challenge of building business models, testing ideas, and figuring out how value gets created and communicated. That early curiosity eventually became my passion. Read more>>

Trebien Robertson

Trebien Robertson | Founder, TLR TAX PROS My name is Trebien Robertson, and I was born and raised right here in Houston, Texas. Serving my community has always been at the core of who I am. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to roles that allowed me to help others and make a meaningful impact. Read more>>

Joli Briggs

My story of creating JV Marketing began when I was 18 years old—without a plan, but with an unhealthy amount of ambition. I was always a hustler. In high school, I grew my TikTok to over 10,000 followers and launched my own beauty brand while still in school. Read more>>

Lauri Matuska

I never thought I would own a bookstore – the opportunity just sort-of dropped into my lap. I actually taught high school English at a private school for 13 years, but I have two chronic illnesses and things got to the point that I was constantly in a state of flare, so I had to retire, which I did in May 2023. Read more>>

Dora Endre

I am a creative professional and educator, affiliated with SDC, IFTA and the Young Vic’s Creators Program. I started out curious rather than strategic. I was drawn to stories early on: first through theatre and books, later through film, and I followed that curiosity across countries and disciplines. Read more>>

Bobbie Jones

I started out working in our local school district (Cypress Fairbanks ISD) for more than a decade, serving as a homeless-liaison and grant administrator. Through that work, I saw how addiction, poverty, family breakdown, and lack of support created cycles of trauma that followed children and families for years. Read more>>

Janie Schwartz-Shaw

Angleton Cemetery was created in 1904 and has served multiple generations of families. The founder of Angleton is buried here along with his family. You will see many names on monuments within the cemetery that are also street names all over Angleton by those who helped develop the city along the way. Read more>>

Fabiola Gaspar

I began my journey with this community as an Activities Director. During the opening phase of the community, I took on many additional responsibilities, including housekeeping and assisting wherever help was needed. I also began going out into the community to do marketing. Read more>>

Candice Reyes

Her Well Center was born from a calling, one rooted in deep compassion, lived experience, and a desire to see God restore what trauma tried to destroy. In 2018, as founder Candice Reyes began intentionally engaging her own healing journey, she experienced God’s restoration in a profound and personal way. Read more>>

Nishat Jones

I grew up in a home where love, structure, and hard work were part of everyday life. I was raised to believe that effort matters, that you finish what you start, and that you treat people with respect. Those values stayed with me long before I ever thought about a career. Read more>>

Darnell Jones

Some just see the success from the outside but dont know how you got there, then realize how hard it can get and want to jump ship. Im just thankful that I have a solid team with me and they trust me with their livelihood. Every decision I make, directly affects them so I want to make sure im handling things the right way. Even though things get hard, I can’t complain about the challenges because this is who I chose to be and what I chose to do. Read more>>

Mario Varela

I moved to Houston from Mexico after college, where I studied Electrical Engineering. Once here, I kept going with my education. I earned an MBA from the University of Houston and then spent a few years working in the oil and gas industry. Even though I liked the work, I always knew I wanted to run my own business. Read more>>

Emma Faycosh

I started with A Chance to Dance when I was 10 years old, volunteering as a buddy and being paired with a dancer to work with in dance class. When I was 18, I began teaching a class with the program, and gradually began taking on more roles until I reached the point where I am now- Artistic Director, running the program. Read more>>

SHAYNA BELL

Shayna Bell, MBA, NSA, the president of Mobile Notary Dispatch Services and the author of “There’s Power in Your Stamp”. Shayna has over 15 years of experience in professional services and currently oversees the overall business and marketing initiatives for three departments at the University of Texas Medical Branch, as a Business Operations Manager. Read more>>

Tasharyia Smith

The Sunday Crumb began with a simple desire to create something of my own. I spent most of my twenties working in upper management for a women’s clothing boutique, where I gained a solid understanding of what it takes to run and maintain a business. While I was grateful for that experience, I always knew I wanted to work for myself. Read more>>

Carmalita Deeton

My career ironically began in oil and gas. I say ironically because I went to school for Criminal Justice, but I quickly realized that was not my ministry in life. I went to school and got a Masters degree in Business in 2011. In 2017 I left the oil and gas industry and transitioned in Technology. This is when everything shifted for me. Read more>>

Brianna Peed

I have been a lifelong athlete, growing up as a competitive equestrian and eventually going on to the Division 1 level on Texas A&M’s equestrian team. Like many athletes, I spent much of my career growing up focused on physical training, results, and performance. Read more>>

Matteo Marotti

I’m originally from Italy, and my journey to Houston didn’t start with fashion or business — it started with sport. I moved to the U.S. in 2015 with a background in soccer coaching and a deep belief in movement as a way to build confidence, discipline, and community. Read more>>

Essence Kyle

Stepping in Faith Walking Club was born out of a desire to combine physical activity with spiritual growth. It all started when I realized the importance of staying active for both mental and physical health, especially in a fast-paced world where it’s easy to neglect our well-being. Having faith is a foundational aspect of the journey within the Stepping in Faith Walking Club. Read more>>

Ricky McNeal

Ricky McNeal is the founder and CEO of Generation 25, a nonprofit dedicated to leadership development and mentoring the next generation. A native of Jonesboro, LA, Ricky now resides in Beaumont, TX. He has built a successful career over the past 11 years as former Associate Director for AT&T Retail, where he has honed his expertise in leadership and people development. Read more>>

Lisa Bourgoyne

I spent nearly three decades in the child advocacy movement, leading programmatic services at The Children’s Assessment Center, one of the largest child advocacy centers in the nation. With each passing year, my sense of calling deepened. I served in a variety of leadership roles, developing and expanding programs that reached more than 5,000 children and families annually. Read more>>

Tierra Foley

Tea Time Book Club was born from a deeply personal understanding of movement, transition, and the longing for connection, especially for Black women. Having lived in New Orleans, Atlanta, Texas, and now traveling regularly between Pennsylvania and Houston, I have spent much of my life rebuilding community in new places. Read more>>

Bri Landry Bunch

I actually began my journey very unconventionally. Art was never something I initially pursued as a career, it was simply my creative outlet. I doodled on schoolwork, drew tattoos on my hands, arms, and sometimes even my face, and painted pieces just for myself. I rarely shared my work and never imagined turning it into a business. Everything changed during the pandemic. Read more>>

Michael Agidah

Growing up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, I was surrounded by a vibrant culture and a rich tapestry of stories, but I also faced the challenges that come with growing up in a ghetto environment. My early life was marked by both struggle and resilience. I remember the days when resources were scarce, and opportunities felt out of reach. Read more>>

Tanya Crews

I learned how to survive before I ever learned how to rest. I didn’t come up cushioned I came up alert. Watching, adjusting, carrying more than my share because if I didn’t, things would fall apart. Somewhere along the way, being strong stopped being a choice and became an expectation placed on me by everyone except myself. For over 15 years, I worked in corrections.  Read more>>

Riley Brodal

Covered Bible Bar began as a prayer in 2019. Founders Jen and Riley, originally from North Dakota, have always loved gift shops and boutiques—places filled with beauty, creativity, and connection. But over the past seven years, their lives were also marked by deep loss, including the passing of Riley’s dad, Jen’s husband, and Jen’s mom, Riley’s grandma. Read more>>

Dymoné

Music has always been a part of my life, it’s in my blood and in my roots. I was raised in Houston, a city full of soul, rhythm, and real stories, and that energy shaped how I express myself as an artist. My great-grandmother was the best singer I ever knew—rest her soul—and she set the standard early. Read more>>

Adam Olsen

I got my real estate license right out of high school, my mom encouraged me to try it, and what began as a small opportunity quickly grew into a full-scale passion. I became fascinated with the strategy behind real estate: evaluating land, understanding highest and best use, marketing property at scale, and navigating complex deals. I worked hard to gain experience across residential, land, and eventually commercial real estate, because I knew I wanted a more diversified business model. Read more>>

CHERYL RICHARDSON

Long before sourdough took hold, baking was simply part of my life and my family’s identity. Warm kitchens, homemade bread, hands in dough, feeding people was how we celebrated, how we cared, how we showed up for each other. When sourdough entered the picture, it didn’t replace that foundation; it deepened it. Read more>>

Eric Drumgoole

My journey began with a deep love for rhythm. Growing up surrounded by music, my passion gradually evolved from simply playing instruments to understanding how exceptional music is crafted behind the scenes. Early on, I started experimenting with different sounds, learning how to build beats, and collaborating with local artists to bring their creative visions to life. Read more>>

Aleta Scott

I was raised by my grandparents, and from a young age I observed not only them, but the close-knit community of friends who shared their lives. Watching those relationships taught me the value of connection and the importance older adults bring to the lives of those around them. Read more>>

Lucy Paulise

My career didn’t start with coaching—it started with structure and numbers. I began my professional journey as an accountant at ExxonMobil. While working there, I studied quality engineering and process improvement, which introduced me to systems thinking and how organizations drive efficiency and performance at scale. That combination of finance, structure, and continuous improvement shaped how I approached work and problem-solving early in my career. Read more>>

Arnetta Meekins

I graduated with a B.S. in Biology knowing I wanted to be an entrepreneur, even though I wasn’t yet sure what that path would look like. A couple of years after graduation, I attended massage school and began treating clients, drawing heavily on my background in science, specifically in anatomy and physiology. Read more>>

Charlene Dixon

My journey has been shaped by persistence, reinvention, and a deep respect for service. I began my career in public service with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where I gained firsthand experience in tax administration, compliance, and auditing. That foundation gave me a unique perspective — I didn’t just learn how returns are prepared, but how they are reviewed, questioned, and sometimes challenged. Read more>>

Christian Combest

My partner, Caitie, and I founded Studio37 this year as a natural evolution of our shared lives and professional journeys. Having been together for five years, we reached a point where we wanted to synthesize our individual strengths into a singular, cohesive vision. My background is rooted in the high-energy world of marketing agencies. Read more>>

Liliana Vega

It hasn’t always been a smooth road. We’ve had good days, bad days, and truly amazing days. Like any small business, there are moments of doubt, long nights, and learning curves. But through it all, we’re incredibly thankful for the community we’re a part of and the amazing people we’ve met along the way. They’re a big part of what keeps us going. Read more>>

Roben Armstrong

As I grew professionally, I realized I wanted my work to be more strategic, community-centered, and long-term in its impact. That clarity is what led me to make a deliberate pivot back into aviation. I’ve always seen the aviation sector as a place where infrastructure, economics, and community development come together, and I knew my skill set could create meaningful value there. Moving into airport planning and strategy wasn’t a coincidence; it was a decision to realign my career with the field I originally set out to be part of. Read more>>