Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.
Jasmine Nelson
Jasmine: I hope people remember me as someone who truly cared about others, about purpose, and about making a difference. I want to be known as someone who used her voice to help others find theirs, whether it was a child learning to communicate for the first time or a therapist discovering confidence in their career. Read more>>
Yvonne Madueke Akunyili
I hope the story people tell about me is that I lived with faith, courage, and purpose. That I never gave up, even when life tested me, and that I used my gifts to build something lasting. I want people to say I was a woman who loved God, loved her family, and poured into her community. Read more>>
Thanh Nguyen
I have found my purpose in life and it is to detail cars at a high level to make people happy. The feedback I get from each car owner when I am done cleaning their vehicle is what keeps me going day after day. Read more>>
Maria Esmeralda
I’m doing what I was born to do. For a long time, I thought success meant following a certain path, but over time I realized that what truly fulfills me is helping people, whether it’s through nursing, business, or simply making someone feel seen and cared for. I wasn’t told to do this; it’s something that comes from within. Read more>>
LaToya Holloway
I beleive I am doing both- walking a path and wandering. I am in a new chapter of my life that I often describe as uncharted territory because I never seen anyone navigate a similar jorney, so I am learning as I go. Read more>>
Daevion Smith
Absolutely. One recent moment that made me both laugh and feel proud was during Summerfest. It was such a great experience being surrounded by talented artists and an energetic crowd. There were a few lighthearted moments backstage that had everyone cracking up, but what stood out the most was seeing people vibe to my performance — singing along and feeling the energy. Read more>>
Claudia Fernandez Carquez
Recently, I’ve felt very proud seeing how my clients not only enhance their appearance but also regain their confidence. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work can have such a positive impact on how they feel about themselves. Read more>>
Jacob Brinnand
These are such beautiful questions today — thank you. I speak to my inner child every day. I listen to my emotional self without judgment or condemnation, offering it love, care, and encouragement. I practice the same with the children I teach, many aged 3–12. The message is the same for them and for me: Do not shy away from what is difficult. Read more>>
Ramiro Alvarado
No — I’ve never been the type to give up. I actually suck at quitting. I have a relentless, can-do attitude that just won’t allow it. If you really want to motivate me, tell me I can’t do something — especially if it’s something I believe in. That’s when my discipline, focus, and drive go into overdrive. But it’s never with a bad attitude. Read more>>
Jasmine Pachar
The biggest lie the industry tells itself is that creativity is all about self. Self-expression. It’s not…It’s about everything else. It’s about giving voices to the things unseen, embracing light and glorifying God. Read more>>
Autumn Chastain
Right now, I’m being called to step fully into my voice and my power — not just as a fitness professional, but as a whole woman. For years, I poured into others through movement, classes, and events, but I kept certain parts of myself quiet — the spiritual side, the healer, the creative. Read more>>
Helena IweajunwaLiska Sims
Self esteem –Building self-esteem is like constructing a house from the inside out — nobody sees the bricks you’ve been laying, but they can feel the strength when they step inside. It’s one of the hardest things to build because it doesn’t happen overnight; it’s daily choices, quiet wins, and reframing how you see yourself. Read more>>
Liska Sims
I wouldn’t say I suffered, but I did grow up with humble beginnings. I didn’t have many of the things my friends had, and that experience shaped my perspective early on. Starting work at a young age taught me responsibility and resilience. More than anything, it gave me a deep appreciation for what hard work and determination can create. Read more>>
Violet Moon
Countless. Truly I wish, like many, that I could pinpoint a few and claim victory. But, my wounds haunt me. They define my demeanor and presence, my approach to (or absence from) places and relationships. To say I have healed my hurt would imply my definition of healed is eradication. It is to remember without regression, and I fall all the time. Read more>>
AL Heilman
The wounds that have defined me were not just physical, though there have been those too. Years of surgery and, later, radiation and surgery for prostate cancer taught me that healing is not a straight line—it’s a dialogue between body and spirit. When I left medicine and moved from the operating room to the studio, it wasn’t a retirement; it was a reckoning. Read more>>
Maria B. Rodriguez
Outside of work, I’ve been finding so much joy in the simple rituals of everyday life. Cooking meals with my family has become one of my favorite ways to slow down, connect, and share love through food. Read more>>
Edgar Cano
I’m committed to my art—to the act of creating images that carry meaning beyond technique or appearance. For more than two decades, I’ve developed bodies of work, exhibitions, workshops, and artist talks, all guided by a single belief: that art itself is the project. Read more>>
Ana Torres
I don’t have just one moment, I have many. As a child, I experienced being called ugly and hearing others laugh at my pictures. As a teenager, I found comfort behind the camera, photographing school events and scrapbooking memories to show future classes what Student Council was about. Read more>>
Kurt Kelley
Integrity. Integrity brings effort and predictability. It someone has integrity, it’s not sure they will successfully complete their part, but it is predictable they will try and they won’t leave y0u hanging. I good friend and mentor of mine some years ago told me, ‘We don’t work with assholes.’ That’s a life simplifying, improving rule. Read more>>
Carmen Martinez
I think once I lost someone to suicide, that moment made a transition in my life. I started speaking and sharing my story to simply let others know that you do not have to struggle in silence. I realized years after my friend’s passing that education is the key to simply aid someone in need. To feel supported and not feel judged. Read more>>
Darrell Merrilll
All my life I wanted to be an artist people like my art. Lots of people love it but No one encouraged me to take it to the next level. My ex wife was just waiting on me to just become famous. So I went to work as a DJ 35 plus years waiting for the chance to be and artist. Read more>>
Theresa Peek
With our business, we have a focus on education and entertainment, that’s probably because we both come from education-related careers, we really love rocks, and we love what we do. On our Facebook and Instagram live shows, there is always banter, laughter, and education. Read more>>
Mela Clark – Pitts
The often-overlooked aspect of event rental, planning, and decor design services is the extensive effort that goes on behind the scenes. While the services may seem straightforward, they entail countless late nights and meticulous preparation to ensure events run seamlessly. For planning a significant amount of time is dedicated to coordinating with clients, especially when it comes to finalizing timelines for day-of coordination services. Read more>>
Monica Snideman
People often assume ziplining is just for kids — or on the flip side, that it’s only for hardcore thrill-seekers. The truth is, neither is accurate. Our course was actually designed with adults in mind. Kids as young as six can join in with adults, but it’s not a “kids’ park.” It’s an experience built for adults looking for something genuinely exciting and refreshingly different. Read more>>
Celeste Henry-Gordon
The relationship with my late husband Gebree Gordon, really shaped how I see myself. My husband always saw more in me than I did, and he pushed me everyday to be better. He was my partner, and we were able to bounce ideas around with each other, until they became a reality. Read more>>
Roy Rivera
Authenticity is the cultural value I protect at all costs. It’s not just a buzzword to me; it’s a way of life, and a survival mechanism. As a queer Latinx man in healthcare, business, and now technology, I spent years navigating environments where I was expected to shrink, to sanitize my identity, to play by rules that were never written for people like me. Read more>>
Xochitl Rodriguez
I think many well-intentioned people misunderstand the teenage years. Through both observation and professional experience, I’ve learned that parents often see this stage as something to simply get through—a temporary, turbulent phase that will eventually pass. But while the teenage years are indeed temporary, they are also profoundly formative. Read more>>
