Portraits of Phoenix

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Phoenix.

Annika Mills

When my daughter was just three months old, I was deep in the beautiful, exhausting season of motherhood. Like so many stay-at-home moms, One of my mom friends invited me to take a Mahjong lessons together, and I had no idea how much that decision would change my life. Mahjong quickly became my joyful outlet—my first hobby after becoming a mom. Read more>>

Long Le

I have been living in the U.S. for more than 17 years. When I first arrived, I had little money, no established career, limited English, and very little knowledge of the U.S. home-buying process. After earning my master’s degree in engineering, I built my career and purchased my first home, creating a foundation for my family’s stability and long-term wealth. Read more>>

Dr. Melissa Kim Corter

My path has been a strange winding road hinged on unusual synchronicities that continued unfolding way back in early childhood. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to the things people hide, how the psyche speaks in symbols, and why suffering transforms some people while deeply disturbing others. Early on in my educational pursuit, I studied criminalistics, criminology, and psychology. Read more>>

Monique SongByrd

Started singing at age 7 and ended up being signed underneath Sony/AMG and touring to now having my own band and complete team, it wasn’t easy and I had trauma from growing up. Dad being on drugs and many other obstacles. However, with Prayer and hard work and God I overcame Read more>>

Lisa Scarpinato

In 2006, my husband, daughter, and I were trying to volunteer in our community. Many nonprofits turned us down as my daughter was too young to meet their age requirements. My husband and I wanted our daughter to be a good citizen and a good Samaritan; we felt strongly that volunteer work should be part of her upbringing. Read more>>

Kay Tam

I’ve always had a passion for food, local culture, and storytelling, but I never imagined it would become my full-time career. Based in Arizona, I spend my days discovering everything from hidden neighborhood gems and award-winning restaurants to local events, concerts and unique experiences, helping people find what’s worth exploring across the state. My journey started unexpectedly in 2020 after I lost my office job. Read more>>

Mickey Pangburn

MRCH started making electronic bops a decade ago. Carving a particular brand of cinematic indie electronic music and landing spots in several TV Shows before the pandemic took the wind out of our sails. After that we jumped back in self-producing and opening for one of our favorite bands Cannons. Read more>>

Shandalee butcher

I operate a dessert food trailer. I started during a really rough time when the pandemic had occurred. I had lost my job of eight years as a baker for a restaurant. I had a dream, I had a talent, and I was willing to work really hard to see it succeed. Read more>>

mmcmahon@skoilsales.com McMahon

My restaurant career started in Madison heights Michigan at Steak & ALe 1975. I left S&A in 1980 to start up a new company that at the time had 4 locations in in Midwest called CHI-CHI’s we had the rights to 7 states open our first store in Hampton VA… Read more>>

Gaby Israel Grinberg

My path to fine jewelry hasn’t been a straight line, but looking back, it feels like the different parts of my life were quietly preparing me for it all along. Jewelry has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. I grew up surrounded by women who understood that jewelry could be far more than decoration. Read more>>

CarieAnn Ochs

It actually started as a child. I couldn’t understand why so many people around me projected so much hate, But something deep inside didn’t feel right!! That’s the thing, there has always been a ‘but’, in my life!! Read more>>

Doug Day

30+ years of highs and lows. Some years you stay in the hobby because it’s in your soul and you make nothing for money, but grow with each hatchling you create. Other years you make up for the money lost the years before. This industry isn’t for the faint of heart, if it’s not part of you, then don’t do it period. Life is a struggle, however it’s better when your doing something you love. Read more>>

Justin Park

I started off my journey as a university student trying to get into med school. Years into it, I realized how much I hated where I was and decided to pivot heavily. After switching majors and graduating with a degree, I immediately went to helping my family at their business. At the time my parents were running a small fast-casual teriyaki/sushi restaurant. Read more>>

Goran Stojčetović

I grew up and developed as an artist in a social reality marked by political instability, violence, war, displacement, and profound changes in the communities around me. These experiences made me very aware of the ways in which society creates boundaries between those who belong and those who are pushed to the margins. Over time, this became an important part of my understanding of art. Read more>>

Austin Ackert

I got my start drawing flyers and album covers for local bands in high school and then after a period of time where I became a father I got back into art and started doing small street events out front of a coffee shop in downtown Mesa. There I was able to practice my table set up and talking to the public about my art. Read more>>

Valeria Diaz

My love for baking and anything related to pastries started when I was around 10 years old. I grew up watching baking competitions and YouTube tutorials from some of my favorite bakers. As I got older, my love for baking became more serious. I started practicing cake decorating and learning all the techniques that go into baking. Read more>>

Laura Liebig

Thinking back, my journey to Baby Parent Steps began twenty-six years ago, when I became a mother. My background in social work, which included counseling families with children ages 0-18, gave me professional insights into child development. Still, it wasn’t until I participated in PEKiP® (Prague Parent-Child Program) classes with my babies that I fully understood the power of early, intentional infant support. Read more>>

Paul Gold

I’ve lived in Tucson for over fifty years. After graduating from the University of Arizona school of art (BFA, 1983), I worked as a commercial artist before getting hired at Hughes Aircraft Company in 1985, a job I got because I knew a hiring manager who owned a bar where I played chess. (I was a master-level player). Read more>>

Vangie Rodriguez

Art has always been part of who I am. I am primarily a self-taught artist, and creativity was something I was drawn to from a very young age. But like many women, my path wasn’t a straight one. As I raised my family and built a life, I stepped away from creating art for nearly 20 years. Read more>>

Richaa Shaah

I am a Finance Professional, ACCA affiliate by my profession and most of my life was spent studying, giving exams and completing my internship. Before perusing ACCA, I was doing my CA and almost entire college years went in studying and giving exams, I never got time to explore my hobbies, which otherwise I am have a creative knack beyond books. Read more>>

Derek Peters

I initially got started in the mortgage industry back in 2006. I helped a friend move from my home town in Wisconsin to Arizona who was in the business. I wanted it! He eventually got me an interview to be a loan officer and I got the job. I packed up everything I owned into my 1990 Honda Civic and drove out. Read more>>

Vanessa Wilde

I originally started my business in 2012 as a way to make extra money for my family. At the time, I was teaching, and once I got pregnant in 2013, something shifted for me. Read more>>

Jaime Cerreta

I’m a Phoenix native. I went to Cherokee Elementary, Cocopah Middle School and Chaparral High. I graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Broadcast Journalism. From there, I got my first job in radio at MetroNetworks at the Scottsdale Airpark. I worked 8pm -4am right out of college; writing overnight for the morning radio anchors. Read more>>

Jacquelyn Johnson

I started Organized By JJ in 2023 after helping a friend organize her closet and realizing, “If only I could get paid to do this!” The idea clicked immediately. I had spent years searching for my purpose across different industries, not realizing that organizing, creating systems, and helping people were the common threads all along. Read more>>

Christopher Macwan

My journey to where I am today began in India. I came to the United States in 2010 with faith, hope, and a willingness to work hard. I did not have everything figured out when I arrived, but I trusted Jesus Christ and believed that if I remained faithful, continued learning, and worked hard, He would guide my path. Read more>>

Mateusz Dominik Modrow

I lived in Budapest with my parents for a very long time and all I wanted was to create something special. To give something to people. Something lasting. Then I got the opportunity to move abroad and build my empire. I took the opportunity and moved to Leipzig. Read more>>

Isaiah Anthony

Native to the Phoenix area, achieving a BFA from Arizona State University. I have been able to explore so many different mediums during my time in school which help achieve my style of work allowing myself to share a perspective of a world still learning to navigate Read more>>

Iris Franco-Phan

Con Tanto Amor was never meant to be just an event company. It began as a reminder not to wait. It’s rooted in the belief that the things that matter most: community, creativity, gathering, celebrating, and supporting one another, don’t happen on their own, they happen because someone chooses to create the space for them. Read more>>

Rob Hundley

I started out officiating weddings as a part of my work as a local church minister. After retiring from serving churches, one of the duties I especially loved was officiating weddings. I connected with several wedding venues and slowly grew my business. Read more>>

Keira Schultz

I started in Interior Architecture as an undergraduate then ended up changing majors and received a degree in Textiles. Years later after raising my two children, I went back to school and received a Post-Bacc degree in Interior Design. I had always known it was what I wanted to do as a career, it just took me a while to get here. Read more>>

Camryn W.

I’ve been an animal lover for as long as I can remember. Over the past decade, I’ve worked in many areas of the canine industry across Arizona’s East and West Valley, which has given me the opportunity to meet incredible dogs, dedicated professionals, and passionate pet owners. As an Arizona native, I also had the chance to live in Dublin, Ireland, for 18 months. Read more>>

Cara Alvey

I’m a proud Arizonan, born and raised right here in the valley. My roots run deep-my grandparents moved to the heart of Phoenix way back in the ’50s. When I was a teenager, I thought modeling was my path. Read more>>

Ben Whitneybell

Growing up, my favorite activities were dance and gymnastics. And I was good at them! But I quickly learned that these were viewed, by some, to be girls’ activities. I faced a lot of bullying for being an effeminate boy and for loving “girl things.” It caused me to learn to feel shame for and try to hide those parts of myself. Read more>>

Adam Schweibinz

It all started when my mom and dad bought our first computer in the early 90’s. An Intel 386 running Windows 3.1 and a boy fascinated by every aspect of how it all worked together. Read more>>

Dani Bell

I actually never planned on becoming a cake artist! I actually have a degree in elementary education and spent years thinking I’d be a teacher forever (just like my mom and sister). But after having my first son, I made the decision to stay home with him. Read more>>

Sarah Stockwell

Prior to starting this business, I was a newly divorced mother, with a little one starting school, and a parent suffering with Parkinson’s Disease. I had been a stay-at-home mom and freelance makeup artist and had to figure out how to make this new life work. Then November 2015, I got a call from my dad. He said “Watch this news segment. Read more>>

Freed

Some of my earliest memories go back to the 1980s. I’m a little kid playing with Star Wars action figures in my dad’s saxophone while he paints a portrait of a beautiful woman. Purple Rain is playing in the background, he is mixing colors together, and I am surrounded by music, art, imagination, and these bright characters and vibrant colors in front of me. Read more>>

Dustin Yoes

Forged from the ashes of acclaimed post-hardcore outfit Eclipses for Eyes, this dynamic new project brings together two veteran musicians who have spent over a decade honing their craft on stages across the country. With their combined 10+ years of performance experience, they bring a refined musical maturity and commanding stage presence that can only come from countless hours spent connecting with live audiences. Read more>>

Ashlyn Hunt

I graduated hair school a year and 2 months ago, I started off as a commission stylist at the salon I now own just a year later. Read more>>

Andrea Neff

Arizona called to me back in 2015 as I searched for the perfect journalism program to complete my bachelor’s degree, so I packed everything up and left my small Illinois hometown to enroll at ASU. As students, we scrambled to get our hands on any type of media experience, and a friend of mine suggested I come along to capture a wedding. I was hooked. Read more>>