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.
Sam & Kelli Johnson, Wallace & Danielle Skipper
Seed Slingers was founded by four Coastal Carolina University graduates. We started with landscaping and have grown to specializing in erosion control while also offering clearing, grubbing, silt fence and landscaping services to support full site preparation. Today, Seed Slingers partners with contractors and developers across SC & NC, providing dependable, efficient solutions that keep projects moving and compliant. Our growth has been driven by hands on leadership, strong relationships, and a commitment to doing the job right the first time. Read more>>
Max Gravlee
My name is Max Gravlee and I am currently an attorney with the law firm of Howard, Howard, Francis & Reid (d/b/a “Francis & Reid Trial Lawyers”). I specialize in criminal defense and personal injury litigation in courtrooms throughout the Upstate. I absolutely love what I do, those I work with everyday, and the clients that place their trust in me to achieve the best possible outcome. Read more>>
Monica Parkkonen
I have a photography studio in taylors. I started photographing as a child and have loved it ever since. My passion is photographing families and to capture real moments. I also enjoy photographing newborns and weddings, I find it a blessing that I am able to be there for some of lifes unforgettable moments. Read more>>
DEMETRAS DOUGLAS
My journey has always been guided by service, resilience, and a deep belief that people deserve clarity and dignity when it comes to their health and financial security. Raised in the South, I grew up surrounded by strong values—faith, community, and the importance of looking out for one another. Those principles would later shape not only my career, but my purpose. Read more>>
Amy Weedo
Betting on Yourself: Building a Life, a Business, and a Legacy Success is often described as a straight line—clear goals, perfect timing, and predictable outcomes. My journey has been anything but that. It has been built through resilience, late nights, early mornings, difficult seasons, and an unwavering belief that if I kept showing up, the results would eventually follow. Read more>>
John McMahan
Meet Our Pastor Pastor John C. McMahan has been spreading the gospel through singing, rapping & preaching since 2010. Pastor John C. McMahan has been leading Community Apostolic Church’s congregation since January 2024; becoming the Senior Pastor July 5th, 2024. He invites you to come be a part of our community and ‘Grow With Us!’ Pastor John C. Read more>>
Mark Hood
My story begins when I left the corporate health care world. I had worked in mental health care my entire career and left nearly three years ago and cut all ties with that section of health care. Upon leaving, I pursed my three joy filled passions: photography, yoga and special event management. Read more>>
Martha Ferguson
Friends Books on Main was established 10 years ago in April. We had previously held quarterly sales at a church gym and always had many books left after the sale. (We averaged 10,000 books pre-sale). Read more>>
Malgorzata Rogala
If I had to begin my story, I would say this: I have never given up. Life brought many challenges — moments that could have broken me. But instead of breaking me, they made me stronger and wiser. Every obstacle taught me resilience. Whenever problems appeared, I found the strength to move forward. Read more>>
Natasha Blevins
I began practicing yoga almost 10 years ago as another fitness modality as I had primarily only ran and lifted weights before then. After only a few classes, I could tell there was more to yoga and new that I wanted to teach it one day. I continued practicing for some years, often on my own as I started progressing in my practice. Read more>>
Alessandra Bracciodieta
I was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I got my first Polaroid camera at six years old and never really stopped taking photos — it just took me a while to realize it could be more than a hobby. Read more>>
Michelle Ricalde
Of course! I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I started out painting alongside my dad and following along with Bob Ross on TV when I was about 8 years old. I am blessed to have been born with a natural ability and come from a long line of artists in my family. Read more>>
Todd Pinkler
I grew up in northern New Jersey and joined the Marine Corps directly after the 9/11 attacks. Originally I planned to stay in for four years but eventually retired after 22 years of service. After taking orders for a majority of my career, I decided I wanted to be my own boss so I inquired about Voodoo Brewery. Read more>>
Khadijah Dawkins
My story isn’t one of a sudden awakening or dramatic pivot. It’s been a long, steady process of paying attention. I started in very structured spaces. I studied business, spent years working in service-oriented roles, and learned how systems operate—how people move through them, where they break down, and what it takes to sustain something over time. Read more>>
Corey Richardson
I officially launched Daniel Island Paws and Claws in 2023, but the heart behind it started years earlier. I’ve always had a deep love for animals, and over time I naturally became the person friends and neighbors trusted to care for their pets. Read more>>
Ragi Riad
At the young age of 19, back in 1997, I immigrated to the US by myself. I learned quickly to be completely independent and to face every challenge on my own. Back then, the use of the internet was not popular, and it was much harder to get the necessary information needed for the daily activities. Read more>>
Alise Monroe
To set the scene before I go into all the nitty-gritty details, we’re an author-duo. Two best friends writing together under one pen name. We live in two different states though, so I’m doing this interview as Alise only, but Monroe is half of this, so you’ll get her side of it all too! Read more>>
Karriem Edwards
For the last three and a half years, I have served as the President of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a role that feels less like a career milestone and more like a date with destiny. My mission is fueled by a childhood yearning for a father’s presence and a mother’s relief. Read more>>
Ricardo Joe
I got introduced to fitness from playing football, but after my playing days were over, I let myself go and became out of shape. That period was a wake-up call for me. I realized that if I didn’t take my health and fitness seriously, it would eventually catch up to me. Read more>>
Jamar Glover
I started producing music in 1997. Back then, it was pure curiosity and creativity — learning how rhythm, emotion, and sound could move people. I didn’t realize it at the time, but music production was teaching me discipline, structure, layering, and storytelling — skills that would later become foundational in filmmaking. Read more>>
Pola Seeley
My life has always revolved around babies. I’m originally from Poland, and after earning my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, I came to the United States as a live-in nanny. Read more>>
Patrick McCormick
About Patrick Patrick holds a degree in architectural engineering and is a master draftsman who brings technical rigor to creative projects. Fairly new to the art world, he transitioned to being an artist later in life, and his prior professional and life experiences have been instrumental to that choice. Read more>>
Scott McVaugh
My folks got me music lessons after I figured out the Olympics theme on our family’s piano. When I switched schools, they let me choose another instrument since piano lessons were no longer offered, so I thought saxophones looked cool and started lessons and band class at 4th grade. Tried indoor drum line out because the drummers seemed to be having the most fun. Read more>>
Taco Beltran
Business partners Greg Lyman and Taco B, with more than 25 years of retail/ customer service between them and being fans of vintage, collectibles and the local art scene wanted to combine their passions and create something magical. With this town having no shortage of thrift stores, it needed an artsy flare so Woodrow Marketplace was born. Read more>>
Marilyn Capparell
The Dove Collective began in a season where I felt the pull to slow down and live more intentionally. My faith has always been the anchor in the ways in which I live my life, and being a wife and mother motivated me to create something that reflected what mattered most. Read more>>
Martha Bennett
MY name is Martha Littlefield Bennett I am the daughter of the late Russell Ray ‘Red’ Littlefield and my mother Doris Freeman Bendt. Our family was large with 7 children, all boys but me. We moved around alot due to my father’s job. We moved from Miami, Florida in 1983 to Greer, South Carolina and never looked back. Read more>>
Erika Lloyd
’My journey started at CSU, where I learned the value of leadership and critical thinking. But the real lesson began when I started working one-on-one with animals. I realized that my degree wasn’t just for my resume—it was a tool I could use to provide a higher, more compassionate standard of care. Read more>>
Lexie Murray
I actually started photography as a hobby while I was in college studying to become a nurse. What began as a small creative outlet quickly turned into something much more as friends and people in my community started asking me to photograph sessions for them. Those small sessions gradually grew, and I soon found myself photographing weddings and larger milestones. Read more>>
Brooke Williams
I didn’t begin my career with a clear sense of where I would land. I started with an undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems, working in the financial industry as a business analyst. This is where I learned how to think in systems and solve problems in structured ways. At the time, I assumed that was the direction my life would continue. Read more>>
Lisandra Ortega
I am a proud Cuban-American entrepreneur who has been part of the Charleston area community since 2017. I am also a wife and a mother, and my love for my family inspires me every day to strive for excellence and to contribute to building a stronger, more informed, and more responsible society. Like many immigrants, my journey began with uncertainty but also with determination. Read more>>
Annely Thorstad
I grew up in Atikokan, Ontario, known as the Canoe Capital of Canada, and have spent my life paddling. My passion for the sport has shaped who I am and inspired the business I started. I want to help as many people as possible discover how rewarding paddling can be, a concept known as “passing the paddle” among canoeists. Read more>>
Gerald Meetze
We have a great staff, now at 26 team members. Most of them have been with us over 10 years. I love my job and take pride in making customers happy. If a customer is upset, I lose sleep and do everything possible to fix any surprises or problems as fast as possible. I feel we have a great system in place, but not afraid to tweak systems and procedures when necessary. The best part of my job is meeting new people and staying friends with them for many years. 15% of our business is repeat customers and another 50% is word of mouth. Read more>>
Emma Shepardson
I absolutely would not be where I am today without the ones who walked this road before me. Additionally, as I’m sure comes with owning any small business, there is a sense of imposter syndrome. I have a tendency to minimize the work that has gone into building my practice. My husband has been a constant source of encouragement and makes sure I acknowledge my hard work. With owning a small business, there is a balance of patience, perseverance, and recognizing your achievements. Read more>>
