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.
Ethan Chene
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but that’s part of what makes the journey meaningful. Starting a creative business means wearing a lot of hats. Creative, strategic, and operational roles can all be overwhelming at times. I’m still in the thick of it, figuring things out as I go. There were moments early on, and still today, when balancing client work with backend systems, financial planning, and growth feels like a stretch. Building trust as a new studio and proving value in a saturated market takes time. But every challenge pushes me to stay focused on what matters most: creating work that genuinely supports the people and missions I care about. Read more>>
Patricia Wilson
Growing up, my mom didn’t know anything about styling hair, which made things a bit difficult for my sisters and me. If our aunt or cousin couldn’t style our hair, I faced bullying. Determined to avoid that, I made it my mission to learn how to do hair. I practiced different hairstyles on myself and my sisters until I became proficient. In high school, I began taking clients and charged $20 to $30 for styles that would typically cost between $100 and $200. Read more>>
Abra Zawacki
I have worked in professional photography for over 15-years, with the last ten of those years in my current role, as owner of AZ Photo Jax. Like many photographers, my love for the medium began when I was quite young. I learned photography working with black & white film in the darkroom and shooting primarily with 35mm and Medium Format film cameras. I did this for many years before I even picked up a Digital Camera in college! This statement certainly dates me – but digital camera technology was in its infancy when I was introduced to my first Cannon DSLR camera. Read more>>
Logan Sadler
I’ve always been a car guy since I was in my early teens. I started working at the port with the cargo ships when I was 20 and that allowed me to have access to cars coming from Japan that were never sold here, i.e. Nissan Skylines and such, most car guys dream cars. In 2022, when I was in a position to start my own business, it was only natural that I started a transportation and logistics company so that I could make my passion into a career. Read more>>
Johnette Wiggins
What started as a one-woman show grew into NettaFurryBabies, a luxury grooming and boarding brand known not only for its quality care but for its heart. I partnered with organizations like The Arc Jacksonville and MEGA to give young adults—including those with intellectual disabilities—hands-on training and real career opportunities. I’ve proudly mentored future pet professionals, including my own daughter, who’s now on her path to becoming a veterinarian. Read more>>
Argie Mitra
Again, I do quite a few things—you have to as a freelancer sometimes—but as for “muggle” jobs, I’m an independent designer, stylist, and seamstress. While at home I’m working with clients on their alterations and custom designs, or on set styling or tailoring for productions. One of my main gigs is at sea, and I work as a Wardrobe Lead or Theatrical Stitcher making sure the singers and dancers look good on stage. Read more>>
Dennis Fermin
Beautiful music from Spain to the Caribbean Islands”. Hailing from the roots of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and even further to Spain, Fermin comes to share his beautiful and uplifting music with you. Even as a child Fermin was playing instruments and performing at large family gatherings and thus his passion for music began. Coming from a very musical family it wasn’t that hard for him to follow his chosen path that now has touched the hearts and lives of many from the U.S. to the Spanish Caribbean Islands. Let his music take you to your favorite exotic getaway destination, a place where mesmerizing waters and rich ancient cultures come to life. Come and enjoy the sultry sounds of Fermin Spanish Guitar. Read more>>
April Lewis
Duval Babes started from my personal need for genuine connection and community. I was navigating business, motherhood, and healing and realized so many other women felt the same. I created a space for us to support each other, grow together, and feel seen. What started locally has become a movement of sisterhood, empowerment, and shared success. Read more>>
Kainani Stevens
I studied Journalism in college and I worked in local TV for ten years as a reporter and anchor. I was a one-woman-band band for most of my career. I would shoot, write, produce and present all my stories. Things were especially difficult during the pandemic and I wanted my next job to be the perfect fit. I applied for a team reporter job with the Jaguars on a whim and the rest is history. Read more>>
Kuri Kapa
The beginnings were the best, I’d say. Everything came together practicly itself. Everything felt as organic and time was no object to be worried about. Nowadays its bit hard to get the people together. Making a first album and just really getting started was not much of a challenge but rather a thrilling experience. While everyhing now has taken shape experience wise, its rather tough to keep it afloat both physically and mentally. Read more>>
Cathy Jenkins
After going through a divorce and being a stay at home mom I decided to follow my dream and open a boutique. I was always obsessed with fashion, even as a young woman; I always loved boutique shopping. A’propos was founded in 2008 and 17 years later we are still in business and helping women with their fashion needs. We pride ourselves on being personal stylist for our clients and curate a beautiful collection of everything from denim to cocktail attire. Read more>>
Lori Jackson
Professionally, I spent the past 6 years in corporate sales. I enjoyed the challenge, believed in what I was selling, and cared deeply about my clients, but I never quite found a company that aligned with my drive for continuous personal and professional growth. I wasn’t solely focused on hitting sales numbers. I wanted to make a positive impact on the people and environments around me. Eventually, I realized the only way to truly remove those limitations was to build something of my own. Read more>>
Kevin Buhnerkempe
One of them offered me $100 to take their family pictures one day and the next thing I know I’m looking at more professional cameras and gear. I have now been shooting professionally as a freelance photographer for 6 years. I decided to get out of the navy in 2022 and pursue photography as my full-time profession. I never imagined that a childhood hobby would open to a side gig and then become my full-time job. I will be graduating from Jacksonville University next spring with a BFA in Photography and I am currently in the works of opening a new studio here in Jacksonville. Read more>>
Rachel Carroll
Depending on what it was, she would make me stop what I was doing and roll over to help her. I found that I was routinely holding up dress layers or handing my mother buttons and thread. Between the ages of five to eight I was beginning to understand patterns and learning the right cutting techniques. What I know now is that she was slowly tricking me into learning how to become a seamstress. This is where my unofficial tailoring training began. After all that, I knew that one day I would be working in fashion. Read more>>
KC Shore
In high school and beyond, I played guitar in numerous local bands, mostly in the metal and alternative scene, until I decided to quit my last metal band, Silence The Doubtful, and take my music in a different direction. Though my life has been a bit taken over by other endeavors for now—such as the Jacksonville Parques mobile app and SpotOn Stage Lighting—I still release music on a sporadic basis as KC Shore. I’m also currently sitting on a healthy pile of unreleased material I intend to revisit one day, and I have many songs that I wrote with my friend Ivy Crosby that are trickling out this year. Read more>>
Kate Gomes
In 2022, we expanded to Jacksonville where Prima Dancesport offers private and group dance instruction, as well as custom entertainment for weddings and special events. I continue to manage and produce talent in New York, while cultivating our presence here in Northeast Florida. To this day, my most favorite thing is working with wedding couples. Helping them create a meaningful, memorable first dance is always an incredible privilege. Read more>>
Melissa Thacker
We were invited to participate in three Cummins sponsored events this year. It’s taken us around the country. We’ve been to Las Vegas, Orlando, Ohio, and Indy for Cummins this year alone. With the exposure that the Cummins event gave us we’ve been able to partner with more companies to do more trade shows to offer fully custom hat bar and experiences live in their hosted exhibits. That’s pretty much our story in a nutshell Read more>>
Jim Thelen Chris Richardson
At that point we had to go back to the drawing board and taught ourselves how to utilize social media to sell our products online, which in turn became a blessing in disguise. From there we worked with Social Media Agencies that just bled us dry, we had products produced overseas incorrectly, and too many other obstacles to name, but the one thing we always did was regroup, adjust, and kept moving forward. Obstacles are inevitable and necessary, and the companies that see them as opportunities are the ones that have a chance to survive. Read more>>
Claudia Nicole Parker
In December 2022, I moved to Yulee, Florida, and launched my Cottage Food Business in the spring of 2023, participating in local markets across Nassau County. In March of this year, I officially established Uniquely Made Cuisine, LLC, where I now offer personal chef services, catering, meal prep, and baked goods—all made from scratch, true to my roots. My brand is SoulFusion, and I specialize in customization due to growing up and being forced to eat things I knew I didn’t like as a child. I believe you should have options and you know what you like and don’t like even as a kid and should be forced. Read more>>
James Thomas
So I worked the clinic during the day and school at night for two years until I graduated with a wife and two young children at home. Then I applied for a job at Baptist Beaches Hospital and got it and have been there for 25years. In 2017 started Pulse Imaging and I created a program that would help patients get their heart scan in the convenience of their own home at an affordable price. I am very passionate about treating all patients with respect, and compassion as I would my own family. Pulse Imaging is a veteran owned small business. Fast turnaround on results. Board certified Cardiologist reading the Echocardiogram’s and EKG’s. Read more>>
Andrea Vallencourt
What sets us apart is how personal we are. We truly get to know every couple and do everything we can to bring their vision to life. From the moment they arrive in the morning to get ready in our private suites, through the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, our team is there to make sure the day flows smoothly. We handle all the setup and cleanup, coordinate the ceremony, and work closely with all the vendors to make it seamless. Read more>>
Chris Skeens
Over the years, my clinical background has included multiple specialties—from Cardiac and Emergency Care to Progressive and Forensic (correctional) Nursing among others. I’m certified in Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and I specialize in ultrasound-guided IV placement—a unique skill I developed in the ER and while travel-nursing in cities like Tampa Bay, Miami, and Nashville. We’re proud to be one of the few clinics in the country using ultrasound technology to improve accuracy, reduce discomfort, and help patients with needle phobia feel more at ease. Read more>>
Jeffrey Gaines
We had opportunities to open for Stevie Wonder at the Helsinki Classic Festival, John Legend at the Blue Balls Festival in switzerland and Gregory Porter at the North Sea Jazz Festival and Bootsy Collins at the Montreux Jazz Festival just name a few. While Touring we were called to play on a Spotify session and also Record 1 song on the “12 years a slave” sound track produced by John Legend and Alicia Keys. Since touring I’ve provided sound, backline and other production services for Kirk Franklin, Stephanie Mills. Confunkshun, Yolanda Adams, Pastor John P. Kee, T-Pain, Tweet, Jessica Reedy, Johnathan McReynolds, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, The Mahattens, Shirley Ceasar, Jekalyn Carr and several other artist. Read more>>
Dayana Alvarez
But what I didn’t expect was how challenging the postpartum period would be. I experienced postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD. My daughter had tethered oral tissues, which made breastfeeding extremely difficult, and I ultimately chose to exclusively pump to nourish her. I had no idea where to find support—for lactation, my mental health, or even for bonding with my baby. And let me tell you: that connection didn’t come naturally at first. Read more>>
Chloe McInerney
I eventually fell into the lap of an amazing and well known artist, Lia Croke, who is a wedding MUA. As I was really just wanting to stick to editorial work, I was hesitant about the wedding scene but now that I am almost 3 years in, I’m hooked. Aside from weddings, I am so lucky to work with such talented and amazing women at Studio Sage, producing major campaigns and editorial work that really let my creativity shine. I am still growing and learning in this industry and my goals for my career in it change regularly, but I am so grateful for where I have ended up and where I will go next. Read more>>
Andre Martins
If any single band member got sick or got hurt, they were not easily replacable, and therefore, the show would not occur. That would mean a lost paycheck for me and this reoccuring issue made my finances unpredictable. Once COVID hit in 2020 and band/musician shows tanked altogether, I had to come up with another plan to sustain myself and pay my bills. That’s when I looked into DJing and the rest is history. Not only did I pursue DJing for the next 5 years, but I also combined my piano playing with DJing to create my unique “Hybrid Sets” that I play at festivals and such. I am so blessed to be able to do this as my career! Read more>>
Katie Vidan
I was exploring every nook and cranny of the theater while she conducted the fittings; and if I wasn’t at either of THOSE places- I was at home in my leopard print-themed bedroom, working on some kind of art project and soaking up every bit of far-too-advanced pop culture I could get my hands on from my cool older sister. So, with that being my origin story– it should probably come as no surprise that I eventually ended up going to art school and then moving to New York City for nearly a decade. Read more>>
