West Loop’s Rising Stars

Jacquie Baly

Jacquie Baly’s journey from St. Croix to Texas epitomizes the enduring spirit of the American dream, characterized by perseverance and a commitment to education. Born to parents who immigrated from the French West Indies, Jacquie spent her formative years in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, an environment that profoundly influenced her upbringing and values. Relocating to Texas at the age of seven, she courageously embraced the challenges of adapting to a new culture and way of life. Read More>>

Miyosha Weston

As they navigated through the complexities of their corporate careers, Miyosha and Jacie found themselves yearning for something more – a venture they could call their own, a business where they could pour their passion and creativity into. By February 2021, what had started as mere conversations and musings had blossomed into a clear and compelling vision – the birth of My Famous Daiq’s and Dogs. Read More>>

Gage Davis

While serving in the Coast Guard, I got my first tattoo out of a Sailor Jerry flash book in Honolulu. I immediately fell in love with everything tattooed and, after some trial and error, landed an apprenticeship a couple of years later. Due to the nature of the military, I moved around a lot until settling in Houston where I was able to complete my apprenticeship. Read More>>

Alexis Johnson

Starting a credit repair business can be challenging, just like any other venture. Overcoming these challenges requires dedication, resilience, and a commitment to ethical business practices. With perseverance and the right strategies, a credit repair business can thrive and make a positive impact on clients’ financial lives. Read More>>

Eydn

My journey began with a 5 yr. old girl deeply in love with music. I was so inspired by icons like Sade, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross. My fondest memories are from listening to them in the back of my mom’s car with our local radio station playing. You couldn’t stop me from singing everywhere from the choir to the bathroom. It’s definitely my 2nd love Lol!!! Read More>>

Prince Archie

My journey took a significant turn when I entered Prairie View A&M University. It was there that I crossed paths with DJ Chose, a moment that would alter the course of my musical career. Collaborating with artists like Yella Beezy and Lil Ronny Motha F propelled me further into the spotlight, but I soon realized that my true calling lay behind the scenes. Read More>>

Kati Hewitt

Kati Hewitt Photography was established in 2012 as a portrait and wedding photography business in Houston, TX. After building relationships with our wedding clients for many years, we’ve expanded our photography services to include maternity, newborn, and family photos. We’re excited to continue serving couples as they celebrate even more milestones in their lives. Our new family brand is called Families by Kati! Read More>>

Kenny Nguyen

I’ve been in retail my entire career. I started working in college at Abercrombie & Fitch as a sales associate and worked my way up to Assistant Manager. I was there for the better part of 8 years, and it was there that I discovered my love for visual merchandising. From there, I moved on to Zara for 2 years as a Visual Coordinator for the Men’s department and then to Intermix as a Stylist with visual responsibility for another 4 years. Read More>>

Trent Tidmore

After graduating high school in 1981, I went to East Texas State University and studied photojournalism for two years. I switched majors and schools and graduated with a business degree from University of North Texas. Towards the end of my finance career, I decided to get more involved with my passion for photography. Now, I live on a 45-foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey sailboat with my lovely wife, Jennifer. Read More>>

Passion Gamble

During my time in Phoenix, I discovered I could draw/paint in 2020 during the pandemic and decided to turn my hidden talent into a business to help others’ visions come to life! Outside of being an artist, I work in tech full-time and for a popular athletic brand part-time. I also love roller skating, working out, hanging out with friends, and chilling in the park with my dog. Read More>>

Allison Craig

In 2010, following the birth of my first son, I found myself drawn to photography. Though my early attempts were far from perfect, a disappointing experience with my own son’s newborn and first-year photos ignited a vision. I imagined a photography experience tailored specifically for moms like me—one where everything, from wardrobe to hair and makeup, location, and timing, was expertly managed, leaving the mothers free to simply enjoy the moment. Read More>>

Oprah Stephens

I started shooting in 2014. After talking about wanting to take better pictures for such a long time my husband bought me a camera and basically dared me to shut up or put up. I taught myself most of what I know as well as finding peers and mentors to guide me. I have shot almost every genre of photography to see what suits me best. Read More>>

Tawanna Houston

It’s rare for any successful person to have a completely smooth journey. I’ve faced challenges such as setbacks, failures, and even discrimination or barriers related to my identity or background. These struggles included financial difficulties, balancing work and personal life, dealing with competition, as well as overcoming self-doubt.  Read More>>

Amber Lowe

In 2018, she unfurled the Amber Lowe Public Relations Firm, igniting a spark that would soon blaze into a roaring flame of achievement. Fast forward to 2023, and Amber’s union with her business partner, KD Lowe, birthed the dynamic Lowe & Lowe PR Firm. Together, they embarked on an audacious venture, birthing the PWE TV Network—a groundbreaking platform boasting 10 channels and 600 show slots, syndicated on cable to over 10 million national viewers. Read More>>

DaWonn Andrews

I am 28 years of age, and I was born in Beaumont, TX, but I moved to Houston when I was ten years old. I am the oldest of six, and I am currently a full-time college student at Houston Community College, studying chemical engineering and doing photography full-time. I have always had a passion for photography; I was always the person that everybody wanted their pictures taken by. I was already creative, so I would make them do different poses and position them by different objects to create an amazing image with lots of creativity Read More>>

Janice Stokes

It was not a smooth road. As I grew, I became more confident and started standing up for myself. I remember earning a trip in my first direct sales business. My reason for earning that trip was because my husband and I had never been on a honeymoon, so I wanted to give that to us. However, on the trip, there was a black-tie celebration event, and I was all dressed up and ready to go celebrate my accomplishment, but my husband at the time forgot his belt, so he was not going to go to the celebration. Read More>>

Mitchell Bage

Back in 2000, I started out as a Business Analyst in the Aerospace Industry. It was a solid career, but deep down, my passion for Art, Architecture, and Interior Design never faded. Despite putting those passions on hold for a while, I always knew they were waiting for their moment. After years of helping others achieve their dream homes while working at NASA, I decided it was time to take the leap and create MDC with the support of my husband, Luis. It was a big shift, but it felt right. Read More>>

Angie Willson

I started exploring fitness in my late teens, and that passion only grew stronger after becoming a mom of two in my thirties. It was then that I truly committed to a healthy lifestyle through focused diet and training. My fitness journey took a competitive turn when I set my sights on earning an IFBB Pro Card. Determined to achieve my goal, I entered competitions and continuously improved my physique.  Read More>>

Lauren Sanders

I’ve always been passionate about the arts from a young age, so it was inevitable that I would pursue an art form. I started ballet when I was three and continued for ten years. The beautiful music, movement, and lines of ballet captivated me, along with the required pursuit of excellence. My creative expression was not limited to dance, and my parents would often say that if the house was quiet and they hadn’t seen me for a while, I was probably working on an art project of some sort.  Read More>>

LaKisha Mosley

I never intended to become an entrepreneur. I had a great time planning my 5-year wedding renewal. From getting laid off to deciding to start an event planning company, the journey has been amazing. I decided to start my own company as a side hustle until I found something else, but once I started, it just took off. I never intended for it grow this way, but it did. I started my business in July of 2012 and booked 3 bridal clients that year. Read More>>

Shynikia Means

I started my business “Purpose Walk LLC” while trying to navigate life’s challenges, which traced back to my childhood. I endured molestation twice, once by a family friend and once by my uncle. At 16, I experienced date rape that was thwarted and an attempted suicide, though I didn’t follow through. I grappled with anger toward God, seeking understanding amidst the turmoil. Later, I found myself in a dangerous domestic relationship where my life was at risk. With children depending on me, I had to make crucial decisions. Read More>>

Ken Underhill

To date, I’ve been fortunate to help over 2 million people all over the world and co-author an international best-selling book called Hack the Cybersecurity Interview that helps people ace job interviews in cybersecurity. Read More>>

Ericka Mitterhofer

As I began sharing my creations online- mind you, that were only digital at the time, I was met with an unexpectedly warm reception. Encouraged by the positive feedback, I decided to take a leap of faith and turn my hobby into a business. With each design I shared, my following grew, and before I knew it, I had a community of supporters cheering me on. This feeling is unlike any other! Read More>>

Kristin Bennett

Yes, of course! Ever since I was a little girl, I had a passion for helping others and wanting to ensure everyone was healthy. I am from a small town in South Carolina originally, and I experienced firsthand the loss of many family members as a result of limited health and healthcare resources. I knew from an early age that this was an area where I wanted to make a difference. My mother will tell you that even at 9 years old, I dreamed of opening my own health clinic in our small South Carolina hometown. Read More>>

Cynthia Garcia

My professional journey in theater arts began the moment I graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. After enduring such rigorous conservatory training, all I wanted to do was spread my wings in the real world, and the world welcomed me with open arms when I booked my first feature role at a Harlem theatre run by AUDELCO award winner Gertrude Jeanette. Within the next few years, I earned my Equity card and began to travel the country in a touring show. Later, my interests expanded into writing for the stage.  Read More>>

Tammy Pham

The immigrant story never crossed my mind growing up in Vietnam. There were no immigrants. All my friends and relatives had the same hair and eye colors. We spoke one language. In America, there are people of different hair, skin, eye colors, and cultures. Like other immigrants, my grandparents had to adapt to the new environment. My grandfather took night classes to learn English, learned to drive a car, and worked long hours at a Chinese sewing factory. Read More>>

Francisco Sanchez

I grew up in Mexico, and you see many artisanal popsicle shops on almost every corner. Every shop had their family recipes and twist on making their paletas. At a young age, I was offered an opportunity to work at my aunt’s popsicle and ice cream shop. During this period, I developed a passion for the ice cream and popsicle business. My apprenticeship at my aunt’s business was instrumental in my knowledge and skills in operating an ice cream and popsicle shop. Read More>>

Yolan Yoing

I have always loved poetry and storytelling. I remember back in elementary school when a storyteller came to our class. He told us how storytellers would travel from village to village, telling stories that would be passed down and evolve over time. I’ve been a natural history buff since I was a child. I would create elaborate poems and stories that my English and history teachers would ask me to read aloud in class. Read More>>

Pat Blissett

I really was inspired to do wedding ceremonies and relationship coaching. I began one wedding at a time, part-time, meeting couples at their location, whether it be home, park, church, or hall. I would craft the ceremony based on their love story. Sometimes, it would take an in-depth interview with the couple to get the story, but most of the time, most couples really understood what brought and kept them together, and it was easy to reflect that to their guests.  Read More>>

X Wanna Be Great

My story is simple. It all started in high school that Is where I got my first nickname, x In high school from, and I added x wanna be great in my name because I remember times I cried to my football coaches and said I just want to be great my family nicknames me Zay my real name is Xavier Askew but I go by X Or Zay I also always been humbled because I know what it takes to lose it all I been down that road before faced homelessness before and been kicked out of several places and starting from scratch and I know how it feels to start from square one. Read More>>

Kevion Xespansione

I have achieved the accomplishments by the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. Without the unseen guidance and instructions from that inward man I do not believe I would be where I’m at and where I’m going! It all started with the inspiration from God! Then, the vision and the learning process step by step. Read More>>

Sharon McDougle

After departing from the Air Force, I worked with the Space Shuttle Program for 22 years in the Space Shuttle Crew Escape Equipment (CEE) department, working with the orange launch/entry space suits worn by space shuttle astronauts. I was the first black CEE space suit technician, the first woman and first black crew chief, and the first black manager of the department. I’m proud to have made history again when I suited up the first Black woman to go to space. Read More>>

Natalie Hobock

Sure! I ventured into private practice in 2018. Prior to opening Houston Dyslexia LLC, most of my career was spent working with individuals who have learning differences in private schools that serve students with diagnosed learning differences. I spent my first four years in public school. I feel honored and privileged to work with amazing students and families in private practice. Read More>>

Crystal Tamar

I started singing at the age of 9. I’m grateful for a very observant father who saw something in me that I didn’t know I had. He formed a singing and dancing group out of my sisters, my cousin, and I after uncovering our love for learning choreo & songs from music videos on television. After performing locally and around the state and cultivating our craft, we pushed me to begin singing the songs we’d perform live. The rest was history… I just couldn’t stop doing it! Read More>>

Erika Alonso

I started out as a watercolorist, making works on paper from my apartment in the Heights. In 2019, I got my own studio space, which allowed me to work on a larger scale, so that’s when I started painting with acrylics. Fast forward five years to 2024, and I’ve had three solo exhibitions and been part of dozens of group shows.  Read More>>

Hosanna Rull

Growing up loving the sport of boxing, I joined Main Boxing Gym in 2009. Gym owner and fight promoter Lou Savarese hired me to design the promotional flyers for his upcoming boxing event when he learned I was a graphic designer. Just for fun, I asked if I could take pictures of the fights with my little digital camera. Soon after, I borrowed my friend’s professional camera for these events, and the next thing I knew, I started buying my own photography equipment. It was literally on-the-job training. It started off as an expensive hobby for me Read More>>

Shree A. Mukherjee

In this interview, I would like to share more about my upcoming book ‘The Crimson Thread.’ I have been thinking about this project for a few years now. I kept on writing this fiction as and when but took time to nurture the premise and the characters. The topic is very close to my heart and extremely sensitive; hence I had no option to rush with it and go wrong.  Read More>>

Ben Workman

Growing up in the 1960s, navigating the complexities of the very conservative and intolerant environment of rural Texas laid the groundwork for my art – a visceral exploration of my innermost thoughts and emotions. I faced bullying, discrimination, and harassment for most of my childhood and adulthood until, finally, the Jumper persona emerged as the alter ego that unleashed my artistic side. Read More>>

Ritchey Robin

A native of Sunset, Louisiana, my dream of being an entrepreneur started early. I have always enjoyed welding, fabrication, and design. As a high school student, I focused a lot of time on becoming a skilled welder and fabricator. I spent 4 years in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. I designed and manufactured my first barbeque pit at the young age of 14. Read More>>