Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Lorinda Mitchell | Seamstress & costumer

My grandmother was a master seamstress and taught me how to sew at a young age. I have always loved clothes and costumes, which started my curiosity in learning more techniques behind how they were made. Read more>>

Suzanne Beatty | Non-profit Animal Rescue

Our family has always had a love of animals. More specifically my daughter, Carly and I are very passionate about animals and animal welfare. Carly has been by my side and helped with fostering, rescuing and placing animals throughout her adolescence. Read more>>

Alyssa Nkani | Wife + Mama

Before the pandemic started, I was trying to build a career in photography. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to pick that back up, but my priorities have changed since this year I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Read more>>

Lynne Bernbaum | Artist Painter

It started with observing how other artists were successful with their own studio/gallery business. I live on the island of Anguilla in the Caribbean. I was exhibiting with a local gallery before and after I moved here. There were to French women artists who had their own studio/gallery. Read more>>

Kiara Harris | Tailor & Creative Entrepreneur

I was working full time for a company that specialized in helping small business owners and entrepreneurs build their brands and establish an online presence when it occurred to me one day that I was helping others realize their dreams but hadn’t stopped to think about what I wanted for my future. Read more>>

Aaron Ingersoll | Event Production Manager

The thought process behind starting the company, which celebrated 5 years this year, was the desire to be the one calling the shots and to do something different than my competitors. The company was started after I spent a long stint working in the live events industry. Read more>>

Pamela Wyatt | Owner of Mi Amiga Designs

I’ve always loved a good monogram and how it can take something ordinary and turn it into something customized and timeless. When I became a mom, I wanted ALL the embroidered pieces. After looking at my budget, I realized that I was spending so much money and started to really pay attention to quality and price. Read more>>

Jessica Gardner | Co-Founder of Dreamer & Co

I have always been doing different businesses on the side, even as a little girl. But I had never had a partner. I had the dream, but needed the extra push. When friend, and now co-founder of Dreamer & Co, presented her business plan for marketing artisan-made jewelry to a U.S. audience, I knew this was it. Read more>>

Avni Gandhi | Author, Teacher & Entrepreneur

My journey sort of started from my teaching roots. When I began thinking about having kids, I realized that the educational resources available for my own kids to learn about our native language (Gujarati) and our cultural heritage were either non-existent or poorly made. Read more>>

Greg Jake Gibbins | Voice Actor, Actor, Model, Radio Host, Podcast Producer

I spent nearly 20 years in the radio business wearing many different hats from on-air talent to promotions assistant to the highly coveted middle management. I LOVED the radio business. But, there were a few things I didn’t love about it. Read more>>

Rhea Pettit | Figurative Painter

After 25 years as a graphic designer, I found that I was more passionate about fine art than design. I was painting daily in my backyard studio, and selling a few paintings online. My husband suggested that I transition to painting full time, and I’ll be forever grateful for his support… and push!. Read more>>

Richard Miles | Founder, President/CEO

I was wrongly incarcerated and convicted at the age of 19 and spent 15 years in the Texas prison system. Growing up in prison, I personally experienced the lack of rehabilitative resources within the system. Read more>>