Life, Lessons, & Legacies

Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.

Tylauna Gilder

Oh wow! I’ve not been asked this question aloud before, however I frequently ask myself this question. . . I would like to say that I do have a path that I’m walking on. Read more>>

Lena Buckner

My most recent Proud Moment was when I won the Ms. Ultimate Elite 2026 Title with the Ultimate Elite Pageant Queens.. Like most women I never thought that Pageantry would fit my lifestyle, but this Particular Pageant System has accepted me for who I am as a Model, Mom and Business Woman. Read more>>

Paula Johnson Hutchinson

People believe that having a job and a business means they are not successful. Success is so broad and cannot be defined in simple terms. If both are bringing in revenue, you’re successful. If you’re using all of your talents , you are successful. People stress themselves out trying to be in one space when perhaps, they are meant to be so much more. Read more>>

Nicole Bowman

The photography industry is full of people who will tell you that the market is saturated and everyone is your competition. I have found so many friends within this industry, and some of my best supporters are fellow-photographers. Mentoring and supporting new photographers brings me so much joy! Read more>>

Ashley Pinnick

I’ve been called to slow down. In my twenties, I threw myself into work with a lot of energy and drive. I wanted to learn everything I could and make the most of every opportunity. But over time, I realized that constant motion doesn’t always serve creativity. Read more>>

Christina Mata

I’m being called to come back to myself. It sounds simple, but it’s taken me a long time to feel safe enough to just be me again, to stop trying to be what everyone else needed, and to start listening to what I actually want. For a while, I felt like an imposter in my own life. Read more>>

Janet Cabral

Thank you for having me. I am thrilled to announce that we are actively building a sense of community through our passion for plants. Each month, we host a variety of events, including workshops, private gatherings, and markets, designed to bring together individuals with similar interests. Read more>>

Ashley De Vor

When I was a kid, I was extremely shy. If someone came up and said, “Oh, what a pretty little girl!” I’d immediately start crying and run away. I was bullied all through elementary school and into early high school, so I spent a lot of time alone. That’s when art really came into my life. Read more>>

Oswaldo Ramirez

I don’t believe in “luck”… I believe in hard working individuals that are willing and capable to make the right decisions to be successful in life Read more>>

Henri Benard

Our mornings are sacred. We like to start early — coffee in hand, journaling about what we want in our lives. There are no limits when we write; it’s a stream of consciousness where dreams flow freely and we reconnect with what we’re truly working toward. Read more>>

Autumn Dominguez

I feel a lot of people live their whole lives trying to impress others, or they try to be a certain way in order to feel accepted. It really comes back to the idea of being completely and entirely YOURSELF. It boggles my mind that people don’t think their individuality is worth expressing, or they believe they have to fit some sort of mold. Read more>>

Joe Cox

The thing I understand deeply that most people don’t is autism. I think that most people are really not familiar with autism and all of its quirks and eccentricities. Having autism is a struggle for me. Read more>>

Brian Loeffler

I do photography in my spare time, and when I am out photographing wildlife, the night sky, or the landscape at sunrise or sunset, I do tend to forget about time. Read more>>

Sierra Orona

Honestly, the biggest project I’m committed to is myself. I’ve learned that the most important investment you can make is in your own growth — personally, professionally, and emotionally. On a personal level, I’m deeply passionate about mental health. I’ve seen how powerful it can be to give yourself permission to heal, to slow down, and to rebuild. Read more>>

Diane Howard

The EF Harmony Method is something I truly believe in with my whole heart. It’s not just a technique, it’s a mission, to help women feel confident in their skin. It’s all about creating balance, restoring what may have shifted over time, and bringing back that soft, natural light that makes someone say, “I feel like me again.” That’s the magic. Read more>>

tapaul henderson

All of these are very important, but if I had to choose, I would say integrity, because when your integrity is In check, your energy is directed with intelligence. Read more>>

Angi Connell

The first time my pain began to take shape as purpose was in 2021. I had just been released from prison after a wrongful conviction, carrying both a deep desire to prove myself and very little confidence that I could. Around that time, I came across an opening at Exhale ProVoice for textline counselors. After reading about their mission, I was instantly drawn in. Read more>>

Brittany Prince

The shift happened when I realized my pain wasn’t something to fix or overcome—it was my greatest teacher. For years, I hid. I smiled through the struggle of single motherhood. I pushed down the trauma. I convinced myself that if I just worked hard enough, thought positively enough, healed ‘the right way,’ everything would fall into place. But I was exhausted. Depleted. Still stuck. Read more>>

Eugene Ward

All of the options were great questions, but this one in particular stood out to me. The thing is, I don’t know that I’ve ever fundamentally changed who I am for long, so who I am now is just a more evolved version of who I’ve always been. Read more>>

Valerie Brion

Absolutely. I believe true dedication and integrity come from within, not from external validation. I take pride in giving my best effort in everything I do because it reflects my values and work ethic. Whether or not someone acknowledges it, I know that the quality of my work and the experience I provide speak for themselves Read more>>

Kaleb Kearl

Yes. In my opinion giving everything your best should be a you decision anyway. You shouldn’t be relying on someone else’s praise to help you give your best. I completely understand the feeling of not getting praised for things I feel I have tried my best on. In the equine industry there is always something better to do, there is always someone better doing it. Read more>>

Michelle Monique

Yes! Fulfillment doesn’t come from praise, it comes from being your best when no one is looking and enjoying what you’re doing. As as artist, I think we all want to be seen or heard at some point, but doing it without praise is the true test of passion. Read more>>

Brandon Bird

Yes. I have an entire category of disappointment to answer this question with. I fell very hard in my mid 20’s when my back went out and medication and pain made school impossible. My entire life, career and education came to a crashing halt. It took years to build back. Read more>>

Tabitha Dumas

Starting out as an image consultant who specialized in color analysis, I could not have dreamed of being hired by big businesses to do corporate events at fancy resorts. What a thrill! Read more>>

Maria Denicola

Absolutely. Senza Pelo has always stood for inclusion and dignity , Senza Pelo began back in the ’80s, long before the internet or open conversations about extreme or unwanted hair. We’ve served people with PCOS, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, transgender individuals, and yes, those with just a few unwanted hairs. Read more>>

Heather Ferrari

The difference between a fad and a real foundational shift comes down to depth, longevity, and impact. Fads are often flashy, short-lived, and driven by excitement or novelty. They may capture attention quickly but fade when the hype dies down. Foundational shifts, on the other hand, create lasting change. Read more>>

Will Hancock

The boat. We used to have a band boat that we’d take out on the weekends during the early summer. We’d cruise around, wakeboard, have some boat drinks, and enjoy the water. It was amazing. Read more>>

Jocelyn Garcia

While I don’t see myself pursuing a perfect life anymore (2015-2020), I’ve found a new sense of purpose in my life because it aligns with my values of family and adventure. (2021-2025) What im really chasing is, not a destination but a feeling of growth and fulfillment every day. Balancing my career with my family and always continuing to learn new things. Read more>>

Zach Wetzel

In partnership with Jay Melberg and Catherine Ricafort McCreary, we are chasing the dream of Beyond Broadway. This incredible Cabaret performance will premier at the ATC Cabaret Theatre on May 9, 2026 and continue at Green Valley Recreation the following month. Read more>>

Jonathan Gabriel

I’m planting slow seeds. For music, I’m building a small catalog of finished cues and themes for ExxoStack, with stems, tempo maps, and notes filed so future me or a collaborator can find and reuse them. For ThanatoGlyphs, I’m drawing a black-and-white series with a consistent visual language, scanning clean masters, and keeping high-resolution files and vectors organized. Read more>>

Cyd Peroni

I believe that everything is connected. That every plant, animal, human is connected and has a spirit. Read more>>

Nicole Kuck

One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is that it is only for the wealthy; only for people with vacation homes, trust funds, or large portfolios. The truth is that estate planning is for everyone. Read more>>

Jess Alfano-Scott

I think a lot of people are quietly struggling with the pressure to look like they have it all figured out, especially in creative and entrepreneurial spaces. There’s this unspoken fear of being seen as “behind,” so people overwork, overspend, or over-curate instead of admitting they’re unsure. What most won’t say out loud is that success can feel isolating when it’s built on comparison. Read more>>

Matthew Fritz

Probably that it was all about the wellness industry. It never was. I’ve never been interested in selling the performance of peace or the aesthetic of spirituality. The industry made wellness look like a product; I wanted to remind people it’s a practice — one that’s raw, human, and sometimes uncomfortable as hell. Read more>>

Jim Keegan

I wake up around 4am I start my day with slow deep stretch yoga and breathing followed by meditation lasting anywhere between 5-30 min. This is all done with a learners mindset even after 30 years of practice I am still meeting my mind and body on the mat each day. Read more>>

nicole nicolas

These days, I’m a full-time artist and a mom of two little ones, so my routine is all about finding balance. Some mornings I’m sketching ideas with a baby on my lap, other days I’m just celebrating that I managed to paint something between snack times and naps. It’s chaos and creativity rolled into one, and I wouldn’t trade it. Read more>>

Beth DuPree

From breast cancer surgeon to Baba!! Currently my normal day is absolutely amazing. I am still practicing breast cancer surgery, part time on the east coast in Suburban Philadelphia with Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeons of Redeemer Health. This is the practice I started decades ago and have been commuting from Sedona to Pennsylvania since 2023. Read more>>

Natalie Forand

My friendship with my energy healer is what has completely changed myself, my life and how I view it. My experience with her and reiki has helped me realize that the world is not just happening to me but that I am also happening to the world. Read more>>

Melanie Herschorn

My relationship with my grandma shaped how I see myself. She just passed away at the age of 100 1/2 and I had the great fortune of having her as a support system. She believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. She also showed me that I could be loved for who I am not for what I do. Read more>>

Antonio Bomar

My earliest memory would have to be all my equipment to create the music I put out. Everything I have is at an arms length. With technology I can make notes or even crest something right on the spot. Instead of waiting or looking for studio time, I can just power on my computer and release all my creativity. Read more>>

Cindy Gentry

The most surprising thing I have learned about our customers is how caring and patient they are and how devoted they are to supporting local farms. We make mistakes with delivering orders, or Mother Nature intervenes with a crop harvest. And while our goal is to eliminate at least the human error part of this, things may still happen. Read more>>

Mya Warren

Just this morning! I try to focus on gratitude that’s huge in my life and because of it joy comes naturally amongst a plethora of other emotions. Read more>>

Andy Kvesic

Too many smart people mistake intelligence for wisdom. Being great at one thing doesn’t mean you are great at everything. Lawyers are some of the smartest people you’ll ever meet, but intelligence without experience can create blind spots. The smartest people I know are the ones humble enough to admit what they don’t know and curious enough to keep learning from those who do. Read more>>

Julie Lancaster

Succession planning: building the bench from within and preparing team members for the next role before they reach it. I was working with a director who said, “I have 60 folks in this department, and none of them are capable to take on my job.” Arrogant? Maybe, but also accurate. Read more>>

Marcus Orelias

Where smart people get it wrong today is in thinking that intelligence alone can solve everything. We live in a time where being “right” is valued more than being real, and analysis often outweighs empathy. A lot of brilliant people are missing the emotional and spiritual intelligence that gives meaning to knowledge. They know how to build systems, but not how to heal people. Read more>>

Mesia Ren

Smart people sometimes let fear of failure stop them from even trying. I know because I did it for a while — after burnout and postpartum depression, I stepped away. But the truth is, you’ll never feel 100% ready. The key is to take the first step, learn as you go, and not let fear keep you from what you love. Read more>>

Portia Ishmon

In Wealth Management, I’m continuously learning directly from Vice Presidents and top leaders across the financial industry — the minds behind some of the most trusted programs and products available. This hands-on collaboration allows me to serve my clients as their Personal CFO, offering tailored strategies and access to the best financial tools on the market. Read more>>

Summer Olson

The youth. Their interests, trends they’re creating, all of it. Read more>>

Christin Kless

I would definitely hire me. I am professional, a rule follower (mostly), I think I interview well, and I follow instructions given to me. Quality is important to me. I am detail oriented, and I notice things others might miss. I don’t take short cuts, and I do what is asked of me. I am learning to feel more confident in asking questions. Read more>>