Where are you from and how did your background and upbringing impact who you are today?

Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

Clay Steelman | Entrepreneur / Co-Owner of Steel Mill Farms

Steel Mill Farms is owned by four brothers, Clay and Clint Steelman and Michael and Kevin Miller. All four of us were born and raised in Bettie, a small community just north of Gilmer, Texas. Bettie is a very rural community with one blinking light, a small 1A school and plenty of agricultural land and black top roads. I first met Michael Miller in this small community at the age of 5. Michael and I were very close in age and immediately became best friends. Read more>>

Karina Blanco | Branding Manager

I believe that who I am today has a lot to do with where I was born. I’m from Nicaragua, a country in Central America. My grandparents raised me in the early stages of life because my mother was still studying to become a doctor. I learned the most valuable things during that time of my life, so precious that they’re still a part of me. Read more>>

Jennifer Cholula | Photographer

I was born in Dallas, TX and have lived in Texas my whole life. My parents are from Mexico and I feel like I’ve always struggled feeling like I am from the U.S. or from Mexico. People in the U.S. view me a a foreigner and tell me I’m not American enough and when I go to Mexico they tell me I’m too white washed and that I’m not a true mexican. I am very proud of my heritage and always try to incorporate it into my art work. I feel like it’s important to use our platforms as artists as a voice for other people who can’t. Read more>>

Jay Maymi | Nationally Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host / CEO / Creator of the Thrive Sales Mastery Course / Noted 9 Time Author / Keynote Speaker / Sales Psychologist / #1 Actiontainer in the World

I am a product of the NYC adoption system of the late 1960’s. I was adopted by wonderful but poor Puerto Rican parents and grew up in meager means in Spanish Harlem during the 70’s. By age 13 I knew that if I wanted to have all of the cool things that the other kids had then I had to figure out ways to make the money, legally. I started collecting bottles and cans to trade them in for a nickel. This started my journey as an Entrepreneur. That experience taught me that anyone can break free from lack if they desire to. Read more>>

Scarleth Romo | Event planner and Florist

I’m from Dallas, TX. Born and raised. When it comes to who I am today many factors and people come into play. My parents are both Mexican. They’re hard working and very successful. That did not come easy to them. Many ups and downs and hard work. They both had to pick themselves back up many times. Although that was very difficult to watch them go through throughout the years. It was very necessary for me to be who I am. Read more>>

Alex Mancias | Business Owner & Contractor

Ok this is my story, I came to this country when I was 16 years old, my mentality was to just come and work for 3 to 4 years and then go back to my country, but when I got here, I found my difficulties because I didn’t know the language english and the work that I did in Honduras was work on electrical motors, but everything was difficult, I didn’t know anyone. Only the people I lived with were all from the neighborhood in Honduras. When I got here I remember that I didn’t have any clothes, Read more>>

Toey Courtney | Dairy Farmer

Born and raised in Waco, Texas. Got involved in FFA and realized I enjoyed agriculture. Majored in Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M. Served in the Navy and eventually was able to return to agriculture some time after discharge. Read more>>

Dom & Devin | Artists & Co-Founders of REALEZT

Hello we are Dom and Devin a producer/dj/creative duo going by REALEZT. We are both originally from Amarillo, TX. We met in the 6th grade but at first we did not like each other for whatever reason. After a year or so everything changed and we have been inseparable ever since now going on almost 10 years of friendship. We were together everyday until it came time to go to college. We both got recruited and eventually signed to play football at different universities in the same conference. Read more>>

Jerri Harper | Glorified Cook

I am from Oak Cliff, TX baby! PTP’s finest! I grew up by T.G. Terry and it was my older brother and I along with our parents. I my upbringing definitely shaped who I am and still influences who I’m becoming. My dad had his own business and worked with his hands doing upholstery. He erected his shop in the backyard and was doing everyone’s car. My mom worked for the state and it would be times he made more than her and I admitted that. Read more>>