West Loop 5.24.2017

Marie Nguyen

Growing up with seven siblings, my mom did the best that she could to provide for us. My parents were Vietnamese immigrants so we didn’t have many luxuries growing up. Naturally when it came time to get our haircuts my mother would have to cut it herself. Taking eight of us to the hair salon was not an option. Read More>>

Frances Walsh

Started out of my home, doing mostly cakes for family and friends. Then I got an account at an exclusive hotel in Houston, and worked out of their kitchen until we got our 1st location, which we took over another bakery. We have moved our location 3 times, now we are in an expansion of the final location, which we have been at for 7 years. Over all we have been in business 20 plus years. Read More>>

Jo Ann Schwartz Woodward

I love our story…. As a husband and wife team we have created countless unforgettable weddings for Houston couples for over the last 15 1/2 years. I received my masters degree in social work from Tulane and went on to become director of business development for a major Houston corporation. I left the corporate world shortly after our romantic honeymoon in Tahiti to pursue my passion for planning and joined forces with my husband John Woodward and his extensive background in restaurant management and catering business. Read More>>

Sheryl Thomas

I can’t say that I’ve dreamed of owning a photography business since I was a kid, but I can say that I’ve prepared for this role my entire life without even realizing it until a few years ago. I worked in the commercial real estate industry for more than 13 years before starting my photography business. I held research and marketing positions and always gravitated toward the creative projects. I knew at some point I would love to be in a role that allowed me to work with Photoshop on a daily basis. Read More>>

Yasmeen Rana

My pole journey starts in 2009, with an average girl’s night out. Before meeting up for drinks and appetizers at Hotel ZaZa, I dragged a friend to a free introductory exotic dance class with a new pole studio. 15 minutes into class, I was in love! I loved all the different shapes, sizes, backgrounds, ages, and stories of the instructors. I signed up for classes on the spot. Read More>>

Bob Werre

Bob started his own studio in 1985 to serve his customers in the advertising and corporate arenas. Of course his style of photography also included architectural, medical, industrial, public relations solutions and then lifestyle and retail . Later he split this specialty to form the FotoBeauty section of the business to help individuals and those needing a different approach with beauty, glamour, product and lifestyle photography. Read More>>

M. Markman

Jake’s Philly Steaks was a small daily luncheon spot that started in the same Houston Galleria area location in 1988. In 2004 Jake’s expanded and added a bar space with beer and wine. In 2012, we bought the business and over the next few years we expanded the menu, expanded the space, refurbished the interior and kitchen, added a covered patio with 84″ outdoor projection screens, and added private room space for meetings and events. We never had previous restaurant experience or ownership, just used our experience and common sense to build a reputable sports bar. Read More>>

Rochelle Thomas

I was always fascinated with anything related to beauty at a young age. I’ve always been creative and imaginative~that’s what makes me smile. I’m a leader and I follow my own rules. Working for someone else was never a vision for my life so after college I decided to jump into the industry. I’m still working towards a larger goal. Read More>>

Arpan Gupta

My path has been unconventional, not only due to my effectively completely changing careers from medicine to construction, but also due to my ability for entrepreneurial risk taking at an age most of my peers most people are looking for stability and consistency. Starting a construction company was my brainchild more than a decade before actually starting Carnegie Homes. I founded Carnegie Homes with two luxury townhomes in 2009, in the midst of one of the largest real estate driven debacles in world history. Read More>>

Rob and Katherine Douglass

Thirteen years ago, Rob Douglass had a vision to open a company that would create outdoor living spaces that would be as functional and as attractive as the inside of the home. Something that looked original to the home and not an add on. Initially, Texas Custom Patios built simple decks and pergolas, but the market was changing and the timing was perfect. Along with his wife, Katherine Douglass, and business partner, Steven Schell, Texas Custom Patios began building luxury outdoor living spaces complete with fully equipped kitchens, outdoor living rooms, outdoor fire features, entertainment centers, and specialized dining areas. Read More>>

Alvaro Plaza

My name Is Alvaro Plaza and here is my story. I am the son to a father whose profession was in real estate, and mother, who was a house wife. I became the first in my family to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali, Colombia. Read More>>

Richard Arnold

Texas Treads is the sister company to International Flooring. Texas Treads is a wood shop I created about 10 years ago to manufacture wood stair treads for the custom builders in Houston that I service with flooring trough International Flooring. Our custom stair treads soon where popular among the Houston custom builders because we made the process simple to them and custom to feet the large quality homes they where building. Read More>>

Donnie P.

I started in business at the age of 22 and in my book “How to Catch a Mouse with No Cheese.” I explained what I did to get my first business going. I was a Millionaire at 22 and totally went broke at 26. I did not come from money but my parents always instilled in me to own my own business and not work on the corporate plantation. Read More>>

Corrie Domingo

My husband and I are fitness enthusiasts and when we were introduced to Zumba in 2007, we were hooked and we started teaching right away. We first rented group fitness rooms from different gyms in town before we decided that we needed our own space, and the rest is history. Now we offer a variety of classes and we are in the process of expanding soon so stay tuned! Read More>>

Tanya Seals

SHRINK Studios is Houston’s #1 location for Non-Surgical Lipo & Skin Tightening, we shrink fat and tighten skin on women and men ‘s abs, hip, thighs, arms, and face. I opened SHRINK Studios December 2013 with one machine, and one sauna on FM 1960. The 2nd year, Jan 2015 I opened the 2nd SHRINK Studios location inside the Woodlands Mall. January 2015, the 3rd year I moved the FM 1960 location to the growing Cypress area, and we have been there every since. Read More>>