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.
Bailey Rowland
They opened Creme de la Cocoa around 2015 as a small dessert operation inside of DOS Coffee & Wine. Over time, that “simple love for desserts” grew into it’s own brand and following. As their reputation and demand increased, they moved out of the shared space and into a dedicated storefront. Read more>>
Enricka “Rik” James
In 2021, I launched MamaSita’s Decor, my balloon and event design company, which opened doors I never imagined — from three years of Essence Festival Glam Suite to corporate events, fashion shows, and city-wide celebrations. What started as a side hustle became a full business, and it proved to me that my creativity could fund my life and my dreams. Read more>>
Connor Miller
My path hasn’t been traditional — or easy. In my late teens and early twenties, I struggled with addiction and a series of poor decisions that ultimately led to spending 20 months incarcerated. That season became a forced pause — one that stripped away distractions and forced me to confront responsibility, discipline, and the long-term consequences of my choices. Read more>>
Kristy Labardee
I felt called to build Luna Linda as a way to merge several parts of my life into one purpose driven brand. It began with creativity as an outlet, but it quickly grew into something deeper. Read more>>
Anisha Hicks
My journey began with a simple purpose to help people see the beauty in their natural selves. Long before I had a salon, I had a pair of hands, a vision, and a deep love for locs. Doing hair wasn’t just a job for me; it became a calling. I started small, renting booths and learning every lesson the industry could teach me. Read more>>
Andrea McKay
I started dancing at the age of 8 in my hometown of Portland, OR, where I learned ballet, jazz, tap, modern and hip hop. I danced for a number of years competitively as a teenager in Oregon and across the country. I moved to Los Angeles, CA after highschool where I joined a dance company and became a professional dancer. Read more>>
Mick Janusko
I didn’t grow up planning to be a physical therapist or a business owner. I just loved sports, competing, and being active. In high school, basketball was my thing. Going into my senior year, I fully expected to play at some level in college – until a freak water-tubing accident changed everything. I tore my ACL, PCL, and medial meniscus. Read more>>
Frank Smetak
After being downsized by a corporation I was working for in Columbus, OH, I decided I didn’t want back in the corporate world. I was living near a Flowerama in Columbus and was intriqued by the number of customers and the uniqueness of the business model. I decided to open a Flowerama in Jacksonville in 1997 and have been here ever since. Read more>>
sarah Eklund
From a young age, I was drawn to the art of creating beautiful spaces. I spent countless evenings with my mother rearranging rooms in our home, discovering how thoughtful placement and attention to detail could completely transform the way a space felt. Read more>>
Ron Whittington
I recently won a 2025 Royal Palms Award from the Florida Writers Association for my most recent Parker Glynn thriller, In Disguise of the Storm. I’ve worked as a ghost writer on two national best-selling books and was a prolific freelance writer for many years with several regional publications including Texas Business, Texas Monthly, Jacksonville Magazine, Beson Publications and The Florida Times-Union. Read more>>
Christopher Marlow
My parents and I moved to Flagler Beach from St. Kitts in the Caribbean in 1992. My dad was in the casino business at the time, and while visiting Flagler Beach my parents found a small bar available. The Golden Lion Cafe’ opened 33 years ago with only 16 seats. Read more>>
Dwayne Jackson
I started my career in the mortgage business in 1998, beginning with loan setup. Within six months, I advanced into a loan processor role, which gave me a strong foundation in the lending side of real estate. In the early 2000s, I transitioned into accounting, working for a Fortune 500 paper company for about five to six years. Read more>>
Bianca Stewart
My Journey Into Esthetics and Entrepreneurship My journey began in 2008 while I was in high school. I was enrolled in a cosmetology class, and my teacher, quickly noticed my natural passion for makeup and skincare. I often did makeup for classmates during prom and graduation season, and she saw how dedicated I was to keeping my own skin healthy and glowing. Read more>>
Jackie Gifford
Beauty, to me, has never been about appearance alone. It’s about confidence, safety, and feeling truly seen. That belief is what led me to create Haute Mess Hair—a boutique salon built on empowerment, individuality, and a judgment-free experience. I’m Jackie Gifford, the owner and founder of Haute Mess Hair. Read more>>
Jay Gardner
My story begins with a small prayer I offered when my then wife, Shanna (still business partners), and I were considering a move from Salt Lake City, UT to Jacksonville, FL. She was the hair stylist and I was the college grad. That particular prayer left me a feeling of encouragement that it was the right move. Read more>>
Joseph Reaves
I grew up in North Carolina learning how to survive early. My childhood was full of adventures that, looking back, could have easily cost me my life. At the time, I didn’t think of them as dangerous—I just knew how to keep moving forward. One moment that still defines me happened when I was young. Read more>>
Danilja Howell
I work in the nursing industry for 20 years. But sadly in 2017 my mother had a brain aneurysm that changed the course of life and made me rethink the way I was going. I had to change everything to fit her needs. Read more>>
Jeff McNally
My wife Genie and I opened The Floridian Restaurant in downtown St. Augustine in September of 2010, with the goal of bringing something fresh and creative to our hometown. Read more>>
Janet Vaine
I began Planned to Perfections Events & Rentals, LLC, in 2020 blending my 34 years of teaching skills with creativity to provide clients a memorable event. My classroom experience in planning, coordinating, and designing now benefits clients. My team’s eye and truly listening to our clients helps us capture their visions. Read more>>
Keri Slate
There was a time when my favorite hobby was getting drunk, partying, and being the one who always showed up with something wild to try. In my early 20’s, nothing got the night started faster than a big bowl of jello, if you know, you know. 
As I got older, the party-girl energy never left… it just evolved. Read more>>
Julie Todd
I fell into the beauty industry through state association work where I developed a program for expediting licensing for beauty professionals in the State of Florida. During the economic downturn of 2009, Aveda Florida decided to withdraw their membership from the association but hired me to bring my licensing assistance program in house to assist their students with getting to work faster. Read more>>
Teddy Transou
I moved from Tallahassee, FL to the Mayport area in 2021 and quickly fell in love with the Jax Beaches. I am an active fellow and this area is great for that, whether it’s surfing, rock climbing, running, kayaking, swimming, hoops, pickleball, tennis, martial arts – Jax beach has got it all. Read more>>
Helen Johnson
I am from Rochester New York. Rochester is the third largest city in the State of New York. Rochester is about a third of the size of Jacksonville both in land size and population. Rochester has a very small-town feeling. I have been in Jacksonville Florida since 2007 because of my husband’s job. Jacksonville has been good to us. Read more>>
