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.
Tatiana Henderson
The road hasn’t always been smooth, but it’s been manageable with ups and downs. A lot of my journey involved consistent investments in finding the right equipment, supplies, and techniques. There were struggles with last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and juggling a schedule as a full-time college student while maintaining a fully booked barber schedule. As a high-demand barber, I’ve faced challenges in meeting all the demands. In the beginning, there were days with no clients, but I pushed through by creating a buzz and continuously marketing to a constantly changing audience. Read more>>
Kurt Rogers
I founded Activated Awakening as a way to help others reconnect with themselves through the power of the breath. I currently offer group classes, private sessions, couples sessions, and corporate wellness workshops — all grounded in presence, emotional safety, and deep inner work. I’m also in the process of planning my first immersive breathwork retreat, which will bring together everything I’ve learned and loved about this practice in a powerful, nature-based container. Read more>>
Kati Lambert
I was holding so tightly to sabotaging thoughts and beliefs that I was unaware of the impact it was having on my health. Superficially I knew about the mind-body connection, but it wasn’t until I experienced significant permanent changes in my thoughts that my world shifted. My medical symptoms shifted. My relationships shifted. My relationship with myself shifted. When I realized that science has proven the relationship between energy and transformation, hypnosis became MY answer. It’s all evidence-based, with some “woo woo” sprinkled in for spiritual impact. The scientist in me was hooked and I pursued as much education and exploration as I could absorb! Read more>>
Amanda Parrish
My fitness journey began in 2017 when I was introduced to a CrossFit-style gym, which sparked my passion for exercise. While I initially struggled with maintaining healthy eating habits, I was able to lose approximately 30 pounds. After becoming pregnant, I found it challenging to stay consistent with my fitness routine. However, in late 2022, I renewed my commitment to health and discovered a passion for strength training and macro-based nutrition. This approach helped me achieve a total weight loss of 80 pounds. I am now preparing to compete in my first bodybuilding competition within the next couple of years and have recently launched a side business offering online fitness coaching. Read more>>
Ashley Roussell
Over the years, both in clinical practice and academia, I saw a consistent need—patients wanted more time, more compassion, and more personalized care. I always dreamed of having my own practice, but I wasn’t sure when the right time would come. In 2023, I truly felt God was calling me to take a leap of faith, and I listened. I launched NOLA Care in October 2023 as a virtual primary care practice, knowing it was just the beginning of something greater. Read more>>
Lindsay
I spent many years in the financial services and insurance industries. Over the past 6 years, I have worked with many skilled trades and contractors as an insurance adjuster. I noticed many times that they were short staffed or having issues with finding qualified employees. After researching for about nine months, I decided that The Blue Collar Recruiter and Virtual Trade School was a good fit. Read more>>
Petrova Moon
I was born and raised in New York City. I moved to Florida in April of 2015, lived in a couple of cities and settled in Jacksonville in late 2023. I’d always had an affinity for art in some way, shape or form. Growing up, I leaned more into cosmetology and spent some time learning and practicing doing hair and makeup. I had the opportunity to work on a couple of model projects and was the go-to in high school and college for hair and makeup. Sketching and painting was also on my radar as more of a hobby until I dedicated more time into it later on. Read more>>
Tiffany Hicks
My journey has been anything but traditional—but that’s what makes it powerful. I’ve been in the beauty industry for over a decade, and I’m now entering my 12th year. My passion for beauty and transformation started as something I did on the side, but it quickly turned into a purpose-driven calling. I unofficially launched my brand, Artistry by Tiffany J, in 2014—doing makeup for friends, family, and local clients—while working full-time in education. By 2018, I officially turned it into a business and began building something sustainable and impactful. Read more>>
Trei Walton
I grew up a coaches kid and played football myself. I graduated from college and started a career in scouting for the NFL. I learned a lot about corporate culture during those years. After my first full season of working for the 49ers my contract was up and I decided to switch career fields into becoming a wellness coach. I began my own personal training to become competitive in my new field. I eventually started Alpha Instinct Fitness Network – our wellness company. Read more>>
Stephanie English
I dealt with imposter syndrome in the beginning and wondered if I was “good enough” for a city so much larger than what I’m familiar with, or if anyone would really want to hire me or take me seriously as a young professoinal. I was also balancing school, multiple part-time jobs, and trying to grow a business, which took a lot of time and energy. Moving to a new city meant rebuilding a client base and networking all over again. But thankfully, those challenges pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow so much. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, stay true to my style, and not be afraid to show up even when I’m nervous. Read more>>
Ken Bacchus
Art has been a part of most of my life but I’ve been a photographer professionally for a little over seven(7) years now. I dabbled in almost every type of photography until I settled on being solely interested in fashion and portraits. There’s an Adrenaline rush that just takes over when I’m working on a project with models and designers and just bringing an overall concept to life with a creative team of people. Read more>>
Zura Moonleaf
I’ve always been drawn to movement and self-expression, which led me to explore modeling in 2016. As a freelance model, I was able to experiment with a variety of genres and styles, gradually finding my true passion in the world of artistic, one-on-one experiences. Over time, this passion evolved, and I began to incorporate elements of martial arts and physicality into my work, creating dynamic sessions that blend strength, creativity, and personal connection. Read more>>
Witney Conklin
Definitely not. Photography—especially newborn photography—isn’t always an easy path. It takes constant effort, smart marketing, and a whole lot of word-of-mouth to stay visible in a saturated market. This isn’t a typical 9 to 5 job you clock in and out of—it’s 24/7. You’re editing late at night, responding to inquiries while making dinner, and constantly thinking about how to improve your client experience and stay ahead. Read more>>
Artem Pavlenko
AVP Construction JAX started with a simple goal: to turn everyday walls into standout features. What began as a passion project—building custom accent walls and entertainment centers—quickly grew through word of mouth. Our attention to detail, commitment to quality, and a drive to make every space feel unique helped us build a loyal client base here in Jacksonville. Today, we specialize in high-end custom installs that elevate homes and bring our clients’ visions to life, one wall at a time. Read more>>
Melissa Baker
She called me when I was at my lowest thinking of going back to my corporate job. She came to Jacksonville a couple of days later and we began Little Dancing Stars in 2001 with four month old twins! That first year I had 27 students, which covered health insurance from the bank, and today I have 570 dancers. We worked very hard to get the curriculum and music just right for our age group. In 2001, we thought these two companies would just be us. But today the sister company, Dancing Little Stars is a trademark company all over the US. Read more>>
Carlos Smith II
My biggest struggles when it comes to filmmaking is getting proper funding for films as it’s been proven difficult for me to obtain a grant and/or investors for my film projects. I’ve had to find creative ways to raise funding in order to get this projects done while dealing with personal financial obligations. Read more>>
LaSean Rice Jr
I’m an actor. Mainly I have performed in plays and have done film. People have been recognizing me, more so, as Andre from The Future Soul. I am most proud of my work on the stage play, Sleeping with The Enemy. It was the first play I had audition for once I decided to pursue acting. I am set apart from others by the energy and spirit I bring to the production. Read more>>
Kelly Winter
The challenges have been there, most certainly. One of the biggest was keeping up with demand. We have been extremely lucky in finding our fantastic team but it takes a lot of time to find the right people. Contrary to popular belief, not anyone can do this job. We take our responsibilities of caring for pets very seriously and our team members need to align with our values. Read more>>
Alexander Buyanov
It all started when I noticed people’s growing interest in hobbies related to crafting and decided to make this process simpler and more accessible. We created String Art Kits—unique sets that allow people to turn any photo into a true piece of art made out of threads. It was a big leap, and I decided to expand internationally, focusing on the U.S. market. Starting a business in another country was challenging, but I believed in the product. Now we’re seeing fantastic results, and that brings me immense satisfaction. Read more>>
Krystal Kish
I eventually fought hard enough in a male dominated career fields (mostly advertising and marketing) to work my way up to management only to be kept “in place” by my male colleagues and bosses. They would tell me I couldn’t advance because I didn’t have a college education even though I had struggled to get my AA and started my BA with no reimbursement from my employers even though it was benefiting them through the extra tasks that I had taken on with the skills that I had learned. Oh they implemented many of my ideas but I wasn’t taken seriously for advancement etc. I began to believe that was the way it was to be in corporate life. Read more>>
Bruce Blauer
Following my five-year enlistment in the Navy as a Rescue Swimmer and Aircrewman Crew Chief, I set my sights on Los Angeles and earned a BA from UCLA in the School of Theater, Film, and Television. It was here that I began learning vocal warm-ups—an unexpected gateway to developing my breathwork practice. For over 10 years, I taught acting and my “Vocal Warm-Up Method,” experiencing unusual sensations in my body and an expanded mind. Read more>>
Kamran Raqs
My aunt is a cabaret singer, folk singer, and actress with an addiction to adventure- she and my uncle sailed the Nile, canoed the Yukon, trekked bike camping across the midwest, and scuba-dove most of the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands together. Meanwhile, in my early life, my mother worked in architecture and design, but boasted degrees in language and history. She set the standard in my home that my younger brother and I learn a second language- I chose Spanish, my brother German, and she replied to us in Italian and French. Read more>>
