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.
Cecil Dove
In April 2025, Eternal Pressure Intuitive Massage and Bodywork Studio opened in the BullStreet District at Image Studios. That same year, I secured an independent contract with Zeel, providing medical massages to retired military veterans. Soon after, I partnered with the University of South Carolina McCausland College of Arts and Sciences for my first university-contracted chair massage event. In 2026, my work expanded into sports massage, supporting elite athletes preparing for the NFL Draft through Apex Athletics. Read more>>
christie michaud
I’ve typically shied away from the spot light, preferring to listen, reflect, and encourage others. My internalizing and perfectionistic tendencies led me down a path of shame and depression. For a long time, I kept this to myself and suffered alone, but little by little, God opened my eyes and led me down a new path of restoration. Read more>>
Rochelle Alves
I have loved painting and drawing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was always drawn to art, especially portrait drawing. I’ve always enjoyed studying people’s faces and expressions and trying to capture their personality on paper or canvas. About fifteen years ago, I discovered oil painting, and it quickly became my favorite medium. Read more>>
Alisa Turner
My path into functional nutrition and metabolic coaching grew out of my own experience rebuilding my health after many years of burnout and disconnection from my body. For much of my early adult life I worked in a demanding sales career that required constant travel and long hours. I was often working 16-hour days and on the road most of the week. Read more>>
Meghan Timby
My path into the culinary world actually started long before culinary school. I grew up cooking with my grandmother, and those early moments in the kitchen were really where my love for food and hospitality began. I later attended the College of Charleston for undergrad before moving to New York City to attend culinary school at the Institute of Culinary Education. Read more>>
Tara Mueller
My journey into chiropractic really started with a deep interest in the human body and how it functions. I completed my undergraduate degree in kinesiology at the University of Central Florida, where I developed a strong foundation in movement, health, and performance. From there, I went on to earn my Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Sherman College of Chiropractic. Read more>>
Jacqueline Putegnat
Becoming a healer wasn’t something I imagined for myself while growing up in San Diego, but over time, it became clear that this was my soul’s calling. I had always been drawn to spiritual practices like yoga, sound baths, and tarot, though at first they were hobbies rather than a career path. Read more>>
Cassidy Mansfield
Starting Surfs Pup, I had a small budget and a whole lot of faith. I took a leap and put everything I had into building the company from the ground up. Read more>>
Andrew Van Kirk
Carolina Detail Co. began in 2017 with a simple idea: treat every vehicle with the same care and attention you would give your own. What started as a small, hands-on operation built on hard work and word-of-mouth quickly grew into one of the most trusted detailing companies in the Charleston area. Read more>>
John Neel
“I was born and raised near the Midlands of South Carolina and have watched the state change a lot over my life. After graduating from Saluda High School in 1990, I attended Anderson University, where I studied Communications, focusing on broadcasting and journalism. During my time there, I discovered a strong interest and talent in politics, which even led me to consider law school. Read more>>
Andrea Hanzel
I have always loved makeup and fashion since I was in high school. Always trying to recreate outfits and makeup looks I saw in magazines. Tearing out pages and had them all over my walls. I decided I was going to go to College for Fashion Merchandising. I loved doing makeup for my friends and clients for their special events. Read more>>
Bency Beals
My journey into speaking, coaching, and leadership development is deeply connected to my own personal story of growth and transformation. I’m a first-generation American, raised by Indian immigrant parents who came to this country with courage and hope for a better future. Read more>>
Bria Steele
My name is Bria Steele; wife, and mother of 2. The earliest memory I have of taking pictures is from the age of about 11, I borrowed my mom’s digital camera and took it to school. I was always capturing the moments and wanting to take pictures of everything. Read more>>
Danny O’Driscoll
In 1973, after I left College of Charleston, I moved to Columbia, SC and worked for the state. I had a chance meeting with the Art Director at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. He invited me out to apply for an Exhibitors job. Read more>>
Bridget Brancato
Thirty seven years ago, after Hurricane Hugo, Barb Mains and two friends went out into the country intending to do a ‘little volunteer work’. But as Barb describes it, ‘We found a whole different world from our own. We found people living without bathrooms or running water- with holes in their roofs and floors-people so poor they had no beds, no stoves, no shoes. Read more>>
Ryan Lubker
The general overview of my story is that while I was in college in 2020 at The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), I created a decorative craft project for fun in the Maker Space of the Manufacturing program I was studying in. The decorative project was a 3d model deer head made from beer boxes. Read more>>
Jennifer Ritacco
My story is one that begins with three incredible humans- my bonus dad, my mom, and my sister. When I was in grade school, my dad learned the trade of tattooing, and he and my mother opened their own tattoo studio, Hole in the Wall Tattoo”. Read more>>
Ashley Vinston
Since high school, I’ve always wanted to have my own salon and natural hair care products. While in high school, I took cosmetology classes and ended up failing the Stateboard. After high school I went to college for Business Administration and soon after college ended, I went back to cosmetology school completed the courses and passed. Read more>>
Ryleigh Falls
Ever since I was a little girl, I always had a creative outlook on life. Whether it was through arts and crafts, school projects, or digital design, I was consistently eager to express my creativity in every way I got the chance to. Read more>>
Ravon Hernandez
My story is a mix of childhood ambition and adult grit. It started with a passion for performance and evolved into the creation of AmiracleEyes. Today, after reaching milestones like being featured in Vogue and launching my own cosmetic line, I’ve realized my true ‘why’ is helping women heal. Read more>>
Veronica Damron
I began walking dogs and pet drop-ins 5 years ago when our family lost our own two dogs to cancer and seizures. What began as a passionate side job, blossomed into so much more as I connected with clients. I was personally not looking to grow a business and truly just wanted to help out. Read more>>
Paul Thompson
I spent about 15 years in corporate America — Big Four accounting, Fortune 500 companies, venture capital, and family offices. I loved the work and I learned an enormous amount from the incredibly smart people I got to work alongside. But I always had an entrepreneurial itch, this internal drive to build something of my own. Read more>>
Shayla Tabor
I started my career in journalism, and it laid the foundation for my photography business in so many ways. After graduation from college and spending a few years as a multimedia journalist at a TV station, I found myself wanting to invest in people’s stories more. I transitioned to a nonprofit in Columbia where I was able to simultaneously begin building Stabor Studios. Read more>>
James Phillips
It all started when a I was just a kid. The eighties were tough and bullies reigned supreme. I was gifted a black lab for Christmas and the rest is history. She became my best friend. Learning how she communicated and how she understood my communication. Was the catalyst that opened the world of dogs to me. Read more>>
Tavin Whisler
When I finished my time in the military, I decided to come home to Spartanburg. I had six month old twins, no idea what I was doing next, and a nervous system that just needed to be home. Over time my healing lead me to start looking for a place where I could belong and connect with others. Read more>>
Dillon and Breanna Howard
Dillon and Breanna both worked in the commercial construction industry. They both knew they wanted to build something of their own and something to pass down to their children. While in the industry, they realized how string the need was for a reliable dumpster service. Read more>>
Chantell Summers
My journey into entrepreneurship started with a desire to build something meaningful while helping people protect what matters most in their lives. I began my career in the insurance industry where I gained firsthand experience working with individuals and families who needed guidance navigating their coverage options. Read more>>
Inga Carey
I’ve always loved cats; and it’s a love that my mom and I shared. When she passed away in 2020 I wanted to do something to honor her and do something good for my community. Read more>>
Adrienne Tellier
Musical Chess began with a SPARK! – an unexpected moment on a simple drive to work that ignited a mission inspired by play. I’ve always been inspired by the magic of childhood: bright minds, big imaginations, and the moment a child’s curiosity catches fire and they realize just how capable they truly are. My own path to that moment started in the arts. Read more>>
Karla Reeves
My journey has been a blend of professional expertise and personal calling. I have over 12 years of experience working in accounting, bookkeeping, and contracts, and I hold an MBA in Accounting along with degrees in financial services and accounting. That background gave me a strong foundation in business, structure, and organization. Read more>>
Bresha Marvray Miranda Gilbert
With over a decade in the industry Miranda realized that her clients needed and deserved more out of their monthly waxing visits and began curating treatments for a more personalized and effective approach to hair removal. Bresha, once a dedicated client, joined Miranda as a business partner driven by her passion for excellence in waxing and skincare. Read more>>
Jennifer Grove
I didn’t set out to become a “Venting Coach.” I started in a much more traditional lane, doing the responsible, high-functioning thing and trying to keep it all together on the outside. From the outside, I looked calm, capable, successful. On the inside, I was tight. Braced. Over-functioning. Living in that quiet pressure of being the “easy one” and not wanting to need too much. Read more>>
Kenyetta McKnight
My journey actually started very organically by helping family and friends solve their skincare concerns. I began experimenting with natural ingredients at home, creating simple products for the people closest to me. Seeing the results they experienced and hearing how much they enjoyed the products gave me a sense of fulfillment I didn’t expect. Read more>>
Ashley Olayinka
I grew up in Sandy Run, South Carolina, a small community that remains racially segregated today. Witnessing racism and inequity early on shaped how I understood power, opportunity, and belonging. Those experiences didn’t just inform my sense of justice, they sharpened my ability to see gaps, imagine alternatives, and build what didn’t yet exist. Read more>>
Marcus Benjamin
From 2015 to 2019, I was mentored by former Wall Street executive and bank Senior Executive, Charlie Williams. This mentorship offered a disruptive global perspective and a level of accountability that significantly contributed to the compounded growth of my consulting company and public speaking company. Read more>>
