Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.

Siobhan Plouffe

We are doing what we were born to do! If we were doing what we were told to do, I think we would all have much less interesting careers. Read more>>

Priscilla Sweet

YES! So quick backstory – we started as a cottage bakery out of our home in our 300sq foot garage turned makeshift commercial kitchen and we decided to go retail. Read more>>

Ali Mariles Golamb

Gosh!! I feel like I want to give up all the time. I don’t though, of course. I can be very stubborn and giving up is not in me. I want to be the best role model for my daughter. Doing what I do is very important to me and it really brings joy to my life. Read more>>

Nikki Madden

Being a small business owner comes with many challenges. In June 2024, we experienced ours. I began my nonprofit organization in 2018, amidst my own crises. I was determined to figure out a way to help families during their rough patch. Between 2018-2020, I was able to research and create collaborative efforts with multiple sources. Read more>>

Chelsie Tamala

Right now, I’m being called to expand beyond what’s comfortable to let my work reach further than it ever has before. For a long time, I was afraid of being fully seen, of owning the impact my art and ideas could have. Now I feel called to step into that to speak louder, to show more, and to lead through my creativity. Read more>>

Stephen Barnett

I’m being called to lead with more courage and authenticity than ever before. For years, I felt the weight of needing everything to be perfect before taking the next step — but growth doesn’t come from comfort. Now, I’m embracing the unknown, trusting my vision, and allowing myself to be seen. Read more>>

Emma Henry

Everyday life can seem like its filled with chaos, bad news and a never-ending new cycle that is focused on doom and gloom. What sparks joy in my career as a wedding officiant is that I get to be up close to the stories of real, true life, stuff-of-romance-novels, love. Read more>>

Bethany MacLean

Suffering taught me what success never could — how to listen to the silence between worlds. Pain strips away illusions. It humbles the ego, quiets the noise, and reveals what’s really beneath the surface. In my darkest moments, I learned to find light not outside of me, but within me — in the quiet pulse of my own soul. Read more>>

Ana Ita

Suffering taught me lessons that became the foundation of TAMED. Going through my own challenges—whether it was setbacks, self-doubt, or starting from nothing, this taught me strength, patience, and purpose. It showed me that growth takes time, just like healthy hair does. Success never taught me how to rebuild, but struggle did. Read more>>

Dezirea Contreras

Little Dezirea was shy, she didn’t think she was smart or could do anything worth accolades. What I thought were my weaknesses turned out to be my strengths now as an adult. I didn’t have a traditional education at all, I used to think I was dumb because I didn’t learn what other kids were learning. Read more>>

Annie Dulin

My friends would probably say that I’m driven by passion, whether it’s through my art, helping others feel more confident, or giving my time and heart to animals in need. They know that connection matters most to me, both with people and with the ones who can’t always speak for themselves, and that I truly value spending quality time with loved ones. Read more>>

Judi Bagnato

Our closest friends would probably say that family means the world to us. We both light up when we talk about our grandchildren — they’re a big part of our joy (and they keep us on our toes, too). But really, it’s all of it — kids, grandkids, and the friends who feel like family. Relationships are what matter most. Read more>>

James Mueller

Art and literature. Art defines a people. Has any culture developed without its being defined by its art? Not only our conception of them – but their perception of themselves? Could the Greeks and the Romans have achieved what they did without the very art that defined them? Read more>>

Santiago Almada

Two moments that completely changed how I see the world are my own wedding and becoming a father. When I got married, I experienced what it feels like to live a day that passes in a blur but means everything. I remember looking around and realizing how rare it is to have everyone you love in one place, just being present together. Read more>>

Hailey Benson

I was an avid dancer when I was growing up, from like 3 years old all the way to college age until having kids and pivoting my focus and cares. I do miss dancing because it was so freeing and it was so much exercise without even feeling like it LOL. Read more>>

Roscoe Smith

This is a very insightful question. I believe that inability to listen to people is what breaks bonds between people. When I say listen I mean really listen, not just hear. The thing that I think creates the division in today’s world is the lack of compassion, the need to always be right and our microwave mentality- meaning it has to happen right now! Read more>>

Garrett Larribas

What breaks the bonds between most people is evaluating each other based upon our differences. When we look at those differences and interact based on what is ‘different’ between each other, we tend to lose the simplicity of what makes us collectively human. What restores those bonds are the simple, but sometimes not so apparent, similarities. Read more>>

Lisa Lloyd

I think the biggest misunderstanding comes when inventors are looking for help. Most assume the way to judge a service provider is by how many products they’ve personally licensed — because licensing feels like the finish line. I’ve licensed 9 of my own products, and while that matters, it isn’t the most important thing. Read more>>

Stefani Michelle

People don’t understand what Shadow Work is or how metaphysics works. I find that most people don’t really understand energy or the power of the mind. It has been hard for me to sell myself or create a clear branding without sounding too woo woo or too generic. I find there are a lot of boxes that I fit into yet none at all. Read more>>

Karina Castillo

I think people might misunderstand my legacy by assuming I did it for the fame or the money. But that was never the goal. I did it for the art — for the joy of creating something from nothing, for the stories behind each piece, and for the connection it brings to others. Every collection, every design, is a reflection of passion and purpose. Read more>>

Andrea Savarese

A typical day for me at Amethyst Veterinary Clinic is a dynamic blend of clinical work, staff management, and administrative responsibilities. As the owner and sole veterinarian at a small, independently run practice, I begin my day early by reviewing the appointment schedule, checking messages, and touching base with my team to ensure we’re aligned. Read more>>

Patricia Poto

A normal day always starts with movement. I take my dog for a walk through our historic downtown Phoenix neighborhood a stop at Bang Bang Coffee is a favorite. After that, it’s Orange Blossom Pilates to get my body moving and clear my mind. Then the workday begins. Read more>>

Jacquelynn Buck

On a recent trip to Pennsylvania to visit family, I drove by the home that used to be my grandmother‘s house. It didn’t look much like it did the last time I was there, 25 years ago, but it still looked enough like the one I recall to pull on my heartstrings and remind me of what used to be. Read more>>

Jordan Santini

Grit and Resilience. I don’t think I realized how deeply those two things were a part of me until I started working in sustainable fashion. There are days when it feels like I’m taking two steps forward while the fashion industry takes two hundred thousand steps back. Read more>>

Laurie Canfield

The most joyful times for me are when I get to spend time with all of my children together. I have six children and three grandchildren. The oldest four children – nicknamed ‘the Varsity Squad’ – are adults who live in different parts of the country. Our two children that are still at home – nicknamed ‘the JV Team’ – are 17 and 10. Read more>>

Jesus Leyva

The last time I felt true joy would have to be during a recent photo critique, I was a part of where an artist I have become very close with was getting the recognition they deserved after doubting themselves for a long time. Read more>>