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.
Jonele Graham
I started my journey as a business owner during Covid when I was furloughed from my job at benefit cosmetics. During that time I worked as a mobile wax specialist and makeup artist. I worked my way up into my first official brick-and-mortar up until I had gotten pregnant with my daughter, Eden. Read more>>
Deadra Peterson
My journey didn’t start with a perfect plan—it started with passion, faith, and a willingness to step out and try. What began as me planning and designing my daughter’s wedding quickly grew into something much bigger—it became the foundation of the entire Southern Chic Brand. From that moment, I realized I had a gift for creating beautiful, meaningful experiences. Read more>>
Jay McGinnis
My wife and I moved to Charleston, SC 20 years ago after graduating from Auburn University. I started McGinnis Appraisal Services and began that journey in appraising. Along the way, I developed a product called Sherpa, which was an iPad Carrying Case. Read more>>
Michele Coleman
I discovered photography while attending college at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, where I took a required photography course for my Journalism degree—and instantly fell in love with the art. At 21, I photographed my first commissioned session for a college classmate, and by 24, I had opened my first studio and committed to photography full-time. Read more>>
Brie Bonaparte
Building something from the ground up is intimidating — but for me, it’s also been an exciting challenge. Bonaparte Event Scenes was born out of a simple truth: I’ve always needed a creative outlet, and I’ve always loved to decorate and celebrate. When my older sister suggested event wall rentals, it just fit and I decided to go for it. Read more>>
Shaniqua Hayward-Davis
My husband Terrance and I began searching for a small office space for our tax business. Knowing my background as a real estate entrepreneur, a friend jokingly asked, “What are you trying to buy now?” I laughed and replied, “I’m going to buy that building across the street!” As fate would have it, at that very moment the property owner was walking by. Read more>>
Drew Hardin
In the summer of 2024 I was taking a walk after my lunch break. I was working at a small local CPA firm, and it dawned on me I should go into business for myself. My prior experience was working at large multi-national companies, making the transition to small business and complex personal returns quite simple. Read more>>
Michael Day
Scan To Digital was founded in 2006 to address a growing challenge: how to preserve and share analog memories—such as photos, slides, and negatives—in a digital world. These images represent more than moments in time; they serve as a valuable genealogical record for future generations. Recognizing that physical media naturally deteriorates over time, we developed a solution focused on the careful digitization of pre-digital materials. Read more>>
Michele Shearin
My journey into homeschooling began nearly 20 years ago when I made the decision to educate my own children at home — a decision rooted in faith, purpose, and a deep conviction that parents are their child’s first and best teacher. What started as a personal calling quickly grew into a passion for serving other families who were walking the same path. Read more>>
Meghan Siefker
Meghan is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner originally from Maryland. She earned her RN degree in 2018 from Stevenson University in Maryland and spent seven years providing high-acuity care in an adult medical ICU in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with her Master’s degree in December 2024. Read more>>
Daniel Andrews
Growing up with a fighter-pilot for a father, I was always pushed to do my best. I don’t know if my drive and enthusiasm for accomplishment is a part of my nature, whether it was created through my parents, or some combination of the above, but I started out my ‘entrepreneurial ambitions’ early when I opened the lemonade stand the summer after 1st grade. Read more>>
Deldena Graham
Growing up in Murrells Inlet, I recognized the limited resources my childhood neighborhood had access to. After leaving the state, I always knew I wanted to give back. I returned to South Carolina in 2017 and opened an Early Childcare facility. Read more>>
Natalia Francois
From early on, I knew I wanted to create experiences that people would never forget, or at the very least, moments where they could let go of their worries and truly enjoy themselves. Everything changed when I visited Myrtle Beach on vacation. Something about it stuck with me, and just a month later, I made the decision to move there—without a solid plan. Read more>>
Anthony Manning
In 2016, as I prepared to transition out of the United States Army, I faced significant uncertainty about my future and next steps in life. Before leaving, I visited a local animal shelter with a friend, where I met a four-month-old German Shepherd who would ultimately change the course of my life. I adopted him and named him Ghillie. Read more>>
Maranda Hunnicutt
My education in property management started long before I ever realized that is what it was. As a kid, I helped my dad with his rental properties. I cleaned up trash, helped with make-readies, and got an early look at what it really takes to turn a property over and get it ready for the next resident. Read more>>
Mitchell Brannon
I grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in a close-knit Christian family alongside my parents and three older sisters. Being homeschooled gave me the flexibility to begin working early, and I spent much of my time learning hands-on skills through our family business, Integrity Blinds and Shutters and other self employed individuals. Read more>>
Toshinna Yancey
I ran away from home at 13 years old. My life took a plethora of bad turns which ultimately ended up with me attending and graduating for an alternative high school. By my senior year I didn’t have enough credits to graduate. I was placed in a program through the school that helped us further our education. Read more>>
David Batchelor
I began teaching music in private lessons while I was getting my bachelor’s degree. A local high school hired me to teach their choir students. Since then, I have traveled around other cities getting my education, all the while maintaining a studio of private music students. Today, I have non-music, full-time employment Mon–Fri, but I teach a full load of music lessons privately on Saturdays. Read more>>
Janelle Hoover-Pollock
My passion for trauma work is deeply personal. I grew up in a household significantly impacted by alcoholism and domestic violence, and I witnessed firsthand the long-term effects it can have on individuals and families. I also experienced the profound loss of my mother as a result of domestic violence when she was 80 years old, which further shaped my commitment to this work. Read more>>
Kelli Duncan
In 1996, my parents bought a raw piece of land with the dream of building a farm. Over the next 19 years, my father worked every day on fences, fields, animals, buildings, equipment, and all things whether large or small that were required of him on this farm. That legacy that he built was passed the day he died unexpectedly in an automobile accident. Read more>>
Ashley Pearson
My husband and I were determined to start our own business, we had several influential people in our life that helped us come to the decision that a party bus would not only be fun but would also be a safe transportation option. Read more>>
Mary Kay Hopkins
I knew from the age of thirteen that I wanted to pursue a degree in music to be a private piano teacher and a church music director/pianist. I have been teaching for nearly thirty years and just retired as a church music director after serving forty-nine years. I have also sung in college and community choirs, played for plays, weddings, funerals and other gigs.. Read more>>
William Rose
I worked full-time at Chick-fil-A for 11 years. After nine years of employment, our restaurant received a major demolition and upgrade, which required us to close for three months. During the closure, I started Gaffney Pressure Washing LLC. I continued to run the business after Chick-fil-A reopened, working both jobs. I continued this way for all of 2024 and 2025. Read more>>
Tanya Will-Jundt
I began my photography journey in 2005, exploring various genres before ultimately deciding to specialize in pet photography. This choice felt natural to me, as I have always lived with pets and have spent 25 years working in the veterinary field. I started studying photography part-time in 2004 while working full-time at a veterinary practice. Read more>>
Charles Dalton
I first discovered photography as a hobby, inspired by my father, who always had a camera by his side wherever we went. Watching him sparked something in me at a young age, and over time, that curiosity grew into a genuine passion. I began exploring on my own—capturing moments around the city and developing my eye for detail and storytelling. Read more>>
Chardonnay Johnson
My journey started with a passion for helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. What began as a personal interest quickly turned into something deeper as I realized the impact self-care and beauty services can have on someone’s confidence. I took a leap of faith and decided to invest in my craft, learning, practicing, and building my skills over time. Read more>>
Julia Watkins
I’m a nurse by background with over 16 years of experience, but my journey has always been rooted in helping people on a deeper level. Over time, I became more drawn to emotional wellness, mindset work, and creating environments that truly support people, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Read more>>
Toniette Carter
I’ve been a dental assistant now for 20 years currently. I moved to ATL in 2003 from Columbia SC to start over. I went to Medex Dental Assisting which now is called Fortis College. Graduated in 2004. I lived in ATL for 17 years. Read more>>
Kim Campbell
With over 35 years of nursing experience, I have spent the last five years specializing in aesthetics, providing neuromodulators, dermal fillers, micro needling, chemical peels and laser skin treatments. In 2023, I proudly opened my first medical suite in Monroe, North Carolina, where I have been dedicated to building a results-driven, patient-centered practice. Read more>>
robert macelhiney
Realizing a need for a quality cosmetology college in Greenville that kept it’s tuition within South Carolina averages, we felt and still feel there is a need for a college that provided a superior education in this area. Our college has won more awards in student competition at the local, state, regional, national and ever international contests than any other college in the area. Read more>>
Wendy Cox
My journey in the water began at just 14 years old in Georgia, when I started as a junior lifeguard and swim assistant. I was mentored by Carla Chelko, who was the Aquatic Director at Emory University at the time. What began as a summer job quickly turned into something much more meaningful. Read more>>
Matthew Foster
Motorbaot Mechanics started out of the back of a 2008 Ford Taurus. I was working this nights and weekend as a side hustle while working as an engineer. After about 6 months I built a customer base to a point where I could leave my job and pursue this business full time. Read more>>
Shawnte Posley
When I was younger I worked in retail and I realized then that I really enjoyed helping people. I held many roles in many types of retail stores, but across the board I enjoyed helping people. I honestly did not have a clear plan for a long time, and just took things day by day, week by week, year by year. Read more>>
Marlo Kanipe
In 1986, while attending the University of South Carolina, I partnered with my mother, Bunny McKelvey, to open Deserved Comfort House Cleaning. Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my family’s DNA, so starting a business together felt like a natural step. At the time, there were very few professional home cleaning services in the area, and we recognized a genuine need within our community. Read more>>
Kay Baker
Kay Baker was raised on a small horse farm in Baldwin, Maryland, where daily life revolved around hard work and a strong connection to the outdoors. Those formative years instilled in her a sense of resilience and determination that would later help her navigate some of life’s most difficult challenges. Read more>>
Sarah French
Nest Photo Studio opened its doors in Charlotte, North Carolina about 10 years ago, and interestingly, my story with the studio started as a client. When my son was born, I became a member and quickly fell in love with what Nest offers. We operate a little differently than a traditional photography studio. We’re membership-based, almost like a gym model. Read more>>
Jamie Earls
My daughter, Kelli, developed scoliosis at around 13 years of age. My dad, who is a chiropractor, advised me to take Kelli to a massage therapist who specialized in scoliosis to help loosen the muscles arou1nd her spine so that her chiropractic adjustments would hold alignment better. I found one in Charlotte and I took Kelli weekly. Read more>>
Stephanie Davis
I’m the founder of The Smel Gud Shop, and my journey really started with a desire to take better care of myself and the people around me in a more intentional, natural way. I’ve always had a background rooted in science—I studied biology and have experience in chemistry—so I’ve always been curious about how ingredients actually work and how they interact with the body. Read more>>
Zach Pace
I was first introduced to search engine optimization (SEO) at 18 during an internship with a water filtration company. At the time, I had never even heard of SEO. I was simply asked to become the in-house “SEO guy” and figure it out. That experience sparked something. Read more>>
Aaron Bouchillon
I started training in martial arts at the age of 6 and from the first time I set foot on the mat I was completely hooked. My wife, Kaitlyn and I met through martial arts around 2004 and, eventually, we switched schools and began training in Jeet Kune Do. Read more>>
Michael Mannino
I didn’t take the traditional path. I went to college in Colorado Springs, but quickly realized the education system just wasn’t built for someone like me. I’m a doer, not someone who thrives sitting in a classroom being told what to do. So I left and went back to Michigan, where I got into construction. From day one, I loved it. Read more>>
Tasha M. Frederick
I found my way into social work because I’ve always been drawn to people’s stories—especially the parts that don’t fit neatly into a chart or a quick explanation. I wanted to understand what shapes people’s choices, what they’re carrying, and what happens when life, trauma, and systems collide. Read more>>
Joan Rossini
Originally from Philadelphia, I have been working in the nonprofit sector for over twenty-three years. I currently serve as the Director of The City of Clemson Arts Center, a department of the city of Clemson. I have served as the Executive Director for the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles and the Bay Area Glass Institute. Read more>>
James Antezana
I was born in Panama, to Bolivian parents, at a time when life was already in motion—my father serving in the military, my mother carrying both strength and grace far beyond her years. My story has never belonged to just one place. It has been shaped across countries, cultures, and moments of both quiet reflection and profound challenge. Read more>>
Jack Swerling
I was born in the Bronx, NY. When I was 11 years old , my family moved to Bloomfield and then Belleville,New Jersey. I graduated high school in 1964 and enrolled at Clemson University. Read more>>
Twana McRae
My fitness journey began in 2018 when I made a personal decision to take control of my health and prioritize wellness in my own life. As I began to see changes not only physically but mentally and emotionally, I developed a passion for encouraging others to experience that same motivation, confidence, and strength. MOVE with Coach T Fitness officially launched on Oct. 4, 2020. Read more>>
