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.
Lorna Roberts
Fashion is my ministry. It’s more than just clothing—it’s self-expression, confidence, and healing. It’s a gift that allows me to serve, uplift, and empower others. Through my journey, I’ve witnessed firsthand how personal style can be transformative, not just in appearance but in spirit. That calling, deeply rooted in my faith, led me to create Blackpine Vintage Boutique, a space where fashion, style, culture, history, and service meets purpose. Read more>>
Tara Gowen
Eventually, I found myself missing the creativity and connection that comes with working on a diverse clientele of both men and women. I returned to full-service hair and mentored under another exceptional master cosmetologist who owned her own salon. However, the work environment proved to be toxic, and I knew it was time to take control of my own path. Leaning on my business background, I opened my own salon suite as well as a brick-and-mortar boutique in the midwest, embracing both my entrepreneurial spirit and my love for beauty. Read more>>
Hilarie Lambert
I started off as a graphic designer/illustrator in Rochester, NY. I was Art Director at a major corporation Paychex before moving to Charleston, SC, where I started painting in oils and pastels. I participated in the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition for 18 day (this is an outdoor show lasting 17 days). My client list grew, I worked fr months on the pieces for the show and got better every year. I also participate in The South Eastern Wildlife Exhibition I Charleston which I take advantage of researching and painting the wildlife of the coast. Read more>>
Julie McAllister
Although I have been a lifelong hobby baker, it wasn’t until I had worked in the advertising field for more than a decade before I ended up with a culinary career. I knew I had a calling for doing something in the culinary space, but I didn’t know how to make that transition happen. Ultimately, I decided to start a cake business on the side, where I would only take cake orders for the weekends, and slowly over time I built that business until I was able to make the jump to doing it full time. I never would have imagined what started as a hobby would have led be down the path of being on a cake show on Netflix. Read more>>
Aaron Guy
Guys were no longer encouraged to get their license or education. It was all pressure to sell, and sell the most. This made me unhappy. I’m not a salesman at heart, I’m a plumber. I enjoy solving the problem, not the person. So in 2023 we started our own company (Low Coast Plumbing). And work didn’t feel like work anymore. It felt like I was doing something good again, helping people. And that is our main focus, treating people how we would want to be treated. I feel like that is the only way for small businesses to succeed. You can’t go wrong if you do the right thing. Read more>>
Lauren Odessa
The journey was full of challenges, as healing my body wasn’t always straightforward. It involved a lot of trial and error, along with seeking guidance from various professionals. I experimented with treatments like acupuncture and herbal teas, both of which take time to show results. With the unwavering support of my family and loved ones, I was able to stay consistent and ultimately see the positive changes. Read more>>
Tyler Cole
A glimpse of something different came when Hurricane Matthew hit. I took a year off to help a friend in the arborist community and saw firsthand what it meant to provide a tangible service. We cleared roads, helped neighbors, and rebuilt parts of the town we all loved. It was exhausting work, but it was fulfilling. I wasn’t just processing reports—I was making a direct impact. Read more>>
Christi Johnson
For the longest time though, I didn’t believe I was “good enough” to call myself a coach, so I didn’t claim that and tried selling other things that didn’t really take off. I became an Online Business Manager in 2023 which eventually flourished into a full-blown creative agency doing backend business tasks, marketing, and websites for business owners. I burnt out badly at the beginning of 2024 and after I spent some time recovering I realized what I really wanted deep down was to be a coach so I just got back into coaching at the beginning of this year and am feeling more aligned than ever! Read more>>
Will Roth
It all started while I was working in car sales, and had found myself longing for something more. That’s when I did some research and discovered a small studio in Mount Pleasant, called Charleston Sounds. The head engineer and producer, Noah McGrath had been more than willing to help me record some music that I had written. At this time, being a singer with little experience on the guitar, I had asked Pat to come in and help lay down some chords and notes for a specific part. Afterwords, Pat and I had a conversation where he explained to me that he wanted to do this again, and that’s when we decided to take it a step further and form The Roth Brothers. Read more>>
Randi Weinstein
My whole story is way too long for this piece, but the short version is, I was director of events and logistics for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival for 7 years. After I left there I went into restaurant operations for a local restaurant group. It was then I along with two other women began a series called Bad Bitches and showcased women’s rise in the hospitality industry through the decades beginning in the 50’s through the decade we’re in now. We raised money through scholarships to help women further their journey in this industry. Read more>>
Grace & Emily Attig & George
Working in social media comes with the challenge of keeping up with constantly evolving algorithms that impact engagement and reach. Strategies that work one day may become ineffective the next, requiring ongoing testing and adaptation. Balancing creative content with data-driven decisions is essential, as viral moments can be beneficial, but long-term growth depends on consistency and quality. Managing client expectations is also a key obstacle, as organic growth takes time. Additionally, standing out in a highly competitive digital space demands continuous innovation and a strong, strategic approach to content creation. Read more>>
Olivia Olson
As someone who’s always struggled with anxiety, the decision to start our lives over somewhere foreign to us was terrifying. On one of our first road trips to Asheville our car broke down on the side of the road at night and we only had one person we could call who we had met just a couple weeks earlier. I was worried about what people would think when we announced our decision to move and when I started posting more about our story. But both of those decisions have opened up so many opportunities and experiences for us! Read more>>
Rebekah Craig
Not at all—while our mission is strong, the journey has come with challenges. One of our biggest hurdles has been securing locations willing to host our programming, as pool availability can be limited. Additionally, funding and donations are ongoing struggles. To continue providing free and low-cost swim lessons, we rely on community support to cover the costs of equipment, pool space, and other essential resources. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to breaking down barriers and making swimming accessible for all. Read more>>
Summer Gossett
FamZing originally started as a husband and wife team and was overcome by the birth of the “Christmas Camera Photographers”. This was about the time period when Best Buy started selling prosumer cameras and everyone was an aspiring photographer. That is what gave us the idea to turn FamZing into a Studio, as we would be able to service a lot more couples with quality, as well as train new photographer on the proper way to shoot, light and pose. Read more>>
Rebekah Truett
I began by offering simple floral arrangements for local events and farmer markets, alongside catering small gatherings. I started with custom charcuterie boards, which I had always loved creating for friends and family. I quickly noticed that these personalized boards—filled with delicious, artfully arranged meats, cheeses, fruits, and spreads—were a hit at every event I catered. It was a beautiful, interactive way to serve food that also acted as an eye-catching centerpiece. Read more>>
Victoria Breault
Then, life took an unexpected turn—my mother passed away, shaking my world. My job at the time gave me a severance to grieve, and rather than sitting in my sorrow, I decided to take a leap and get my real estate license. I figured I would give it a test run, and to my surprise, I absolutely loved it. Over 20 years later, I’m still going strong, building my career and planting even deeper roots in real estate. Read more>>
Emily Sutherland
I needed to have surgery but with that came the risk of losing all function in my arm completely. I was already in my senior year and had put so much work into gaining my license that I decided I wanted to wait until I went to state board before having the surgery. I finished my classes, passed my state boards, gained my license, and went to work in a salon for a few months before I finally decided it was time to do the surgery. God was with me and had a plan for my life and as faith would have it the surgery was completely successful and I walked away with around 97% function of my right arm and hand. Read more>>
Jessica Beran
I am a passionate dance educator, entrepreneur, and mentor who has dedicated the past 22 years to empowering young dancers. I began dancing at the age of three and earned a degree in Dance in 1996 from The University of South Carolins, I defied expectations and built Dance Moves of Charleston, a thriving, non-competitive studio that nurtures confidence, discipline, and artistry. My studio provides a space where young women can develop self-esteem, learn the value of hard work, and connect with their community beyond a screen. Read more>>
Alexsandra Sheffey
Slowly I starter getting orders and within 6 months my business started booming all around the army base. One year later I proudly have created/printed tshirt designs for different battalions and companies all over the country. PT gear has became my main selling product but I also create custom designs for customers and small businesses as well! Make Ink Mama is done straight out of my home where I can be my own boss and still stay home with my kids. I been working since I was 14 years old so the gap I had not working was a rough change and creating my small business definitely filled that space for me again Read more>>
Tracy Reid
Honestly, it is scary to run your own business and there are a lot of things people just don’t realized that are involved with it such as administrative/social media content work. I guess the biggest struggle is not knowing how much work you’re going to have. You have to trust the process and share, share, share your work so that others can see it. Another thing is you have to continually try and be creative and come up with new ideas. It’s super fun, but can be challenging if you’re not a motivated person. Read more>>
Anna Dolan
After graduation, I spent the next five years working as an event florist while also pursuing fine art on the side. After years of trying to balance the two mediums, I’m thrilled to open my own atelier where fine art and floristry can be explored together. The love of creating visual stories is what drives my work. Whether creating a unique atmosphere through floral design or capturing a precious moment in a painting, I hope to fill space with visuals that celebrate emotion, memories, and new beginnings. Read more>>
Amy Randall
And don’t get me started on the pandemic! I survived that partially thanks to a friend alerting me about PPP funding. Fortunately, the unwavering support of my family and friends, along with Greenville’s vibrant and diverse community, has made all the difference. My network of fellow entrepreneurs and Rotarian friends has been invaluable in helping me navigate the ups and downs of this journey. Read more>>
Amy Naughton
My eyes were now opened to all of the flaws in the system and I felt powerless watching what some of my students went through every day. I knew I had to go in another direction, but when I started looking at positions with other agencies, I quickly realized that our area is seriously lacking in Neurodiversity-Affirming agencies and services, and that I would likely encounter a lot of the same things that had bothered me in the school system if I were to go work for another organization. In June 2023, after a decade in the school system, I officially started All Kinds of Minds, so I could focus on providing Neurodiversity-Affirming OT to children on my own terms. It has not been easy, but I will never look back! Read more>>
Casey Hatziemanuel
This past winter, I had the opportunity to bring two of my passions—fitness and giving back—together in a way that truly meant the world to me. I organized a giving tree at the studio, allowing our incredible clients to purchase gifts for students in need, many of whom were my former students. Partnering with two local elementary schools, we were able to make the holidays a little brighter for so many children. It was a full-circle moment—finding a way to impact students’ lives outside the classroom while building something meaningful within my new career. Read more>>
Carrie Caldwell
One of the things that I’m known for is my relaxed attitude. I’ve always been pretty chill, but starting yoga in 2004 took my laid back attitude to a whole new level. After taking classes for a couple of years, I began teaching. Now I lead about 5 classes per week, ranging from fast paced hot yoga to slower, stretch classes. Read more>>
Seth Russell
However, that orchestra suddenly folded over the summer, leaving me with no work at the beginning of the next season. It was a challenging time, feeling equipped with two music degrees from reputable schools, but struggling to find work as a cellist. Thankfully, as time passed I was able to work with friends to form a new quartet and a new orchestra, and new opportunities became available to me. Years later, I finished a Doctorate degree in Cello Performance, ready once again to pursue jobs in the music world, only to have the world press “pause” as COVID reared its head. The path forward is never a straight line. Read more>>
Heidi Black, Faith Wannamaker, and Collin Black
Heidi established this business with the aim of earning a living while also raising her two young children. As the children matured, so did the business. We operated multiple brick-and-mortar locations over the years, with the assistance of older children. Eventually, we discovered that our business would flourish best by concentrating on wholesaling, online sales, and participating in a few retail artisan markets and shows. This shift has proven more beneficial now that we are a three-person family team. Our current team consists of founder Heidi, her daughter Faith, daughter-in-law Collin, and three grandsons: Davis (6), Rabon (3), and Fletcher (2), who often accompany their moms to work. Read more>>
Kayla Symone Price
While my journey hasn’t always been smooth, it has certainly been a blessed one. One of the challenges I consistently face is navigating perceptions of beauty in the workplace. Unfortunately, this often means that people focus more on my appearance than on my skills and mindset. To combat this, I committed myself to furthering my education, ensuring that the respect I receive is earned through my hard work and execution. Read more>>
Justin Barra
As Barra Construction LLC grew, so did the scope of work. The team tackled everything from framing, siding, and roofing to the finer details of painting, tiling, and sheetrock work. With each project, the commitment to quality and customer satisfaction shone through. It was gratifying to see clients’ faces light up as their dreams transformed into reality, with me and the team leaving every space not just remodeled, but rejuvenated. Read more>>
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>>
