The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.
Anthony Bowden
For me, the idea of starting a school was never just a professional ambition—it was a personal mission. I recognized the power of education early in my own life when it opened doors and provided opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t have been available. The Pivot Schools represent my vision of a learning environment where students are not only academically equipped but also emotionally supported to thrive. It’s a place where community and opportunity intersect, and where students are prepared for both college and career pathways. Read more>>
Erin Rodriguez
Like any business starting up, there have been a few bumps in the road. One of my biggest struggles was trying to figure out a balance with school and working on my business. I prioritize our homeschooling and most days I’m able to work after lunch. Luckily, the kids enjoy helping me or working on their own art, so they are pretty motivated to get their schoolwork done before lunch. Read more>>
Mithun Bhagat
Our journey has been fulfilling but not without its challenges. Like any endeavor, there were hurdles to overcome—building the right team, ensuring quality standards, and gaining the trust of parents. However, each challenge has been a learning experience, helping us refine our approach and stay committed to our vision. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received and remain focused on creating a nurturing and enriching environment for children. Read more>>
Jennifer Kraus
Quickly we saw that people really had been waiting for a business like us and we began building up a following of lovely and devoted customers. We started getting festivals and businesses reaching out to us and wanting to book us at their events, having customers come up to us at our tent and telling us they had our food once and had driven hours to come back and see us, and being asked to be a private chef during the Masters. We have been able to grow from a tent-and-table set up to having our own food truck, famously named Juniper, and have been able to be a part of so many incredible experiences throughout this journey. Read more>>
Terrence Turman
I’m currently active military and stationed in Hawaii. My son & I love to enjoy our time alongside the many beaches Hawaii has to offer. One day, my son mentioned how cool it would be to have his own brand. Processing to ask him questions about what he would like to wear and possibly sell and he preferred sunglasses and swimwear. We came up with a plan and ideas on logos, color schemes, and materials. Read more>>
Jonathan Douglas
My grandfather taught himself to draw while stationed in Japan during the second world war, and I was surprised to find very deftly executed images of palm trees and Japanese huts on note paper that he would throw away. My father was a dedicated amateur landscape photographer and my mother was an avid student of contemporary interior decorating. I learned a lot from both of them, informally through osmosis. There were always unspoken social rules involving class, race, and gender. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned why my grandfather threw away his drawings. Read more>>
Cliff Garzzillo
The establishment of Apizza di Napoli provided me with the opportunity to mentor young individuals, helping them acquire vital skills necessary for achieving success in life. I focused on instilling a robust work ethic, imparting effective money management techniques, and promoting wise spending habits. This experience allowed me to support them in taking charge of their own futures. Numerous former employees have advanced to managerial roles in various restaurants, launched their own businesses, or pursued higher education, all of which have played a crucial role in their personal and professional achievements. Read more>>
Kerri Devine
It was a wake up call. A friend said “check your levels.” “Levels?” “Yeah, you’re probably in menopause.” It had never even occurred to me of course because our mothers and doctors have told us very little about this. The irony was here I was a crisis manager that I spent decades writing everyone else’s scripts for them, cleaning up their messes, giving them the perfect spin. I responded to Wall Street scandals, employee firings, September 11th. But when it came to my own midlife crisis, I had few answers. So I built my own playbook. Read more>>
Mikey Lee
Growing up in a bustling household, music was a central part of his upbringing. With a diverse range of musical influences flowing through his home, from his parents’ love of Two Tone and Reggae, to the energetic beats of his siblings’ playlists, Mikey was surrounded by the sounds that would later shape his own musical identity. As a young boy, Mikey developed a deep appreciation for music, and it became his outlet for self-expression. Whether he was singing along to his favorite songs, performing in plays, or creating makeshift instruments, Mikey’s natural musical talent quickly emerged. Read more>>
Lateifha Mcdonald
Well, I can say I officially started The LSM foundation back in 2018, which is a nonprofit organization that caters to the needs of the homeless and less fortunate. It was something I always wanted to do because as a kid growing up I remembered that my family and I didn’t have a lot, but we always seemed had enough when it counted. And I say that to say this, yes we struggled, but we always seem to have just the right amount of love just the right amount of support just the right amount of community to help us get through those struggling times. Read more>>
Cris Miller
I love being out on the water and hosting guests who love it too. Teaching someone how to find fossils and shark teeth is rewarding; it’s great to see kids and families enjoying nature together. The fossil hunting community is incredible; I’ve met so many wonderful people who share the passion. We had our first fossil club meeting last month where we got together to share and learn how to wire wrap shark teeth for jewelry. I have so many repeat guests; that is the best compliment I can hope for! I value the small, intimate format of my center console; I can host 6 guests maximum. When fossil hunting, usually the fewer folks searching alongside you the better. Read more>>
Jess Peri
In 2015 my educational journey picked back up when I traversed the Llano Estacado to New Mexico where I was accepted by the University of New Mexico’s MFA program to study photography. It was in New Mexico I got my first chance to teach and saw a growth of my understanding of myself as an artist. My work, as it was before, was rooted deeply in place, or if it were put into a genre of art, landscape. My interpretation of the world around me deeply influences how I navigate it and interpret it, and these things have been associated with my work for a long time. After graduating from UNM in 2018, I got the chance to live and teach in Taos, New Mexico for a year (what an artist’s dream that was!). It was in Taos that I got the offer to come teach across the country to a state in which I had never been before: South Carolina. Read more>>
Christopher Shoemaker
We lived on the May River and when I was around 10 years old, I started taking out our little Carolina Skiff shrimping, crabbing and fishing. I attended the local schools then went onto the University of South Carolina where I graduated from in 2007. I came back home and worked a few jobs and in 2010 decided to start May River Excursions with one 24′ Carolina skiff doing river tours, fishing, crabbing, shrimping and shuttles to Daufuskie Island. Fifteen years later May River Excursions has 7 boats and a retail store up on Calhoun St in Old town Bluffton. Read more>>
Hannah Jeffries
The focus of my experience is on facilitating creativity in a warm and encouraging environment where guests’ personalities can really shine. It’s amazing to see the different approaches everyone takes when making their candles– no two creations are ever the same. I find it fulfilling to witness how these sessions provide a chance for hardworking individuals to unwind and express themselves; Read more>>
Maida Libkin
When we moved to Charleston about 32 years ago, I was pregnant with our beautiful daughter, Johanna. I didn’t participate in much as I was busy being a new mother. But gradually, I joined my husband who was the music director for St. John the Baptist Cathedral in downtown Charleston. I also taught music theatre at College of Charleston. And then I ran the theatre department for Ashley Hall–school for girls. All during this time, Bill and I started and ran our music theatre company–The Company Company. Read more>>
Bair Da Bru
For most of my life, I never even considered art as a career, nor was it a hobby of mine. I worked as a bartender, a restaurant manager, a receptionist at a nail salon, or a mechanic- jobs I took far more seriously than the idea of being an artist. My real passion was fitness, running, and a comfortable certainty of my chosen career path. I worked long hours as a mechanic and spent my free time running and training for a marathon. In a blink of an eye, that all changed. Read more>>
Nia Gaillard
This biggest struggles in the culinary industry from my perceptive have been being young, and a women. Especially when you’re in charge. This industry has always been male dominated and you have to fight for your spot to be seen and heard and work twice as hard. When you do get to the top, they feel you don’t belong so they may make your job harder just because. You have to gain trust and earn that respect. Its been a very bumpy ride but I’m still riding. Read more>>
Judy Mcsween
I SO believe in the power of art and creativity to give meaning to our lives at whatever stage we are in. It hit home during the Covid lockdowns. I live streamed painting on Fridays for homebound viewers. I participated in “Put Art on Your Porch,” each day setting up easels outside with paintings that I shared on social media. The response to both was heartwarming. Strangers reached out to tell me how the art lifted their spirits. That’s a whole different kind of love, isn’t it? Read more>>
Kim Nielsen
Lessons are learned from each project and nothing ever goes perfectly in the design world. I aim to stay authentic and to trust my instincts. Take risks. Live out my dreams, not just think about them. Take those projects that challenge me. It’s the only way to grow, not only as a designer but as a person. One example would be my Bahamas project. It was my first project oversees and I had to research and navigate how I was going to move furnishings across the ocean into customs. It was all new, a battle at times and tested me, but I had to stay confident and it ended up being one of my most favorite jobs. Read more>>
Lauren Parks
I am a family and wedding photographer. I am located in Charleston. I really enjoy photographing couples, families and pets. I am also a veterinary technician, so when people bring their pets to a session it’s a bonus for me. Read more>>
Altanya Coaxum
In 2019, after my mother passed away, I couldn’t stay at home with my dad—it just wasn’t the same without her. I knew I didn’t want to rent, so I went house hunting, determined to find something downtown that I could truly make my own. After a few misses, I stumbled upon this house. While I wasn’t sold initially, I brought my dad (a contractor) to take a look. I turned to him and said, “I’m buying this, but I need your help to gut it out!” Read more>>
Michael Lounsbury
After transitioning to corporate America in 2017, I quickly realized that HR had a very different reputation. I started at the entry level, working my way up from an HR Generalist to Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). But the higher I climbed, the more I saw a frustrating reality—HR was often seen as a roadblock instead of a business asset. Employees dreaded hearing from HR, and leadership saw it as a department that enforced rules rather than a strategic partner driving success. Read more>>
Jadon Lowe
My mom used to always say “You’re like the Myrtle Beach mascot with how many events you go to, they should build you a statue here and make you a landmark’. I piggybacked off of that by saying “Yes, I’m kind of like a Myrtle Beach Encyclopedia if I do say so myself”. This then gave me the idea for the name of my YouTube show! I’ve been doing my YouTube show for almost a year now and It’s steadily growing each and every day with more and more people tuning in and subscribing! I’m still what you would call an “up-and-coming’ content creator, but It’s been such a fun journey thus far and I’ve made many new friends and fun memories along the way! Read more>>
Nico Romo
I spent a large portion of my early career in Charleston working at Patrick Properties, a hospitality group doing multiple weddings a week every week! Those years bringing happiness to all of our guests inspired me to want to open my own event space, and so Kersey House was born. Read more>>
Katie Miller
In 2023 I started a Dance Ambassador program that included 24 dancers from 6 studios in the CSRA. We did group photo shoots and solo photo shoots. It gave me the opportunity to connect with more dancers and studios in the area and to help dancers connect with each other outside of their own studio. Two of those girls went on to become college roommates this year! This year we have grown to 43 ambassadors from 16 different dance studios, including dancers from Charleston, Columbia & Greenwood! Read more>>
Brandon Roberts
I realized rather quickly that if I wanted to pursue this profession, I needed to go on with it. So it was then that I expressed an interest in it to a local funeral director and was given a part time position helping on funerals, removals, and that sort of thing. I thought it wise to start part time to see if it would fit what I thought it would be rather than jumping right into mortuary college right away. I understood very quickly that this was the profession I wanted for my career and thus I took off and ran with it. Now in 2005, 21 fast-paced years later and at 39 years old, my current location is the fourth funeral home I have personally owned with my first being purchased in 2020. Read more>>
Claudia Bartoli-mckinney
Claudia is a bestselling book cover artist and mixed media creator based on a small ranch in Southern California. Once blind, she experienced a miraculous healing that not only restored her sight but also led her to her life’s work. Drawing inspiration from her journey, Claudia blends traditional techniques with AI-generated art, crafting unique and thought-provoking illustrations. Her work has graced numerous bestselling books, making her a sought-after artist in the publishing world. Read more>>
Wyatt Gaus
After years of culinary training and working in fine dining restaurants and catering, I knew I wanted something more personal—something that truly connected people to their food and their community. That’s why I became a private chef, focusing on bringing the best local ingredients from farmers, fishermen, and butchers straight to the table. Through my cooking, I strive to highlight the incredible producers in my area and create meaningful dining experiences that bring people together. Read more>>
Catherine Schuck
Being self-funded I’m sure is a challenge for any business. I’m working full time in corporate America and running my business at night and on weekends. I’ve been learning how to do a lot of things I would have otherwise previously considered a foreign language, like sales tax, building a website, and social media. I think that first announcement that I was starting a business was the most nerve wrecking. You never really know how people will react. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s been a smooth road, but it’s so much easier to overcome the obstacles when you are doing something you love and building something of your own. Read more>>
Abigale Acerbi
We have been together since May of 2016, which was when we were in eighth grade. We are now happy engaged as of April 2024 and are getting married May 2nd of 2026! My parents have also been my other biggest supporters whether it be driving me to sessions, helping make setups perfect, or anything in between they have been there. Lastly, my clients are who have truly gotten me to where I am today. Just from each and everyone of them for choosing to book me helps my love grow more and more for my job. Many of them have become such amazing friends or even chosen family at this point. I owe it all to them! Read More>>
Tim Jump
I started doing graphic design work for them. I did some markets around town which helped me get my space in The Station Park Circle. And I was just luckily enough that my wife gave me the support to go for it, and that word got around and I got busy. I am very grateful. When I was in high school art class all I wanted to do was be the guy that designed the bottoms of skateboards. I didn’t even skate that much. I just thought that to me that was the coolest job that you could have. So in my mind, I’m living a dream. Read More>>
