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.
Josh Marr
I graduated the University of Florida over a decade ago now with a degrees in Business Administration. Directly from college I got a job offer to work with West Marine, Inc, the boating company. They were located near Santa Cruz California so as a Florida boy I immediately took the opportunity to see the West Coast. Read more>>
Rachel Crismond
I’ve owned Kyds children’s boutique (located in Neptune Beach, FL) with my twin sister, Melody Joy Snelen, for the past nine years (since 2016). Read more>>
Aimee Roberts-Serrato
I grew up on a farm outside of Newberry, FL – just west of Gainesville. I graduated high school, failed out of college 3x because I was too lazy to go to class. Although, now looking back that was social anxiety. My parents told me they would no longer pay for college however, I was still expected to go to college. Read more>>
Ryan Campbell
I was encouraged by my parents to take one on one music lessons as a kid. As many kids do, I lost interest after a year or two of practicing drum rudiments alone in my bedroom. However, in middle school I got plugged in with a local church youth band, and music quickly took on a whole new meaning. Read more>>
Nikol Ashual
I started my tax journey during my senior year of high school 2006. I was working as a front-end manager at a grocery store after school. There was a well-known tax preparation company in the same shopping plaza as where I worked and they were advertising free income tax courses. Read more>>
Dara Sweatt
Everything started when I graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunications and News Media. I fell in love with radio early on and worked at UF training students on how to be on-air personalities—running soundboards, managing mic levels, and producing shows. Read more>>
Jessica Vickers
My name is Jessica Vickers. I am a mom, wife, full time anesthesiologist, and business owner. My motivation for founding The Cultivated Skin Company was exasperation with my overall skin health. When I reached my mid-thirties, my skin was a huge source of frustration and embarrassment for me. I tried countless skincare remedies and laser skin treatments to correct my skin to no avail. Read more>>
NENE SHEPPARD
My journey began when I was helping a classmate with a local restaurant. She was in need of a bartender, and I realized that I took pleasure in making people happy through creative means. So, I thought, why not? Read more>>
Jenifer Pessina
I’ve known my whole life that I wanted to do hair. I actually got my cosmetology license in 1989 while I was still a senior in high school. Over the years, I’ve worked in all kinds of salons, been a Redken performing artist, owned my own salon, and now have my own private salon studio. Read more>>
Colin Murphy
Based in St. Augustine, Florida, Myco-Medix is a federally and state-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) dedicated to improving brain and body wellness through the power of functional mushrooms. My path here wasn’t a straight line. When I retired from the military, my mind and body were not in a good place. Read more>>
Heather Hurwitt
It all began with my own experience with narcissistic abuse. Like many, I found myself entangled in a toxic relationship where manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional turmoil became the norm. Struggling to recognize the signs of this dysfunction, I experienced a profound impact on my mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Read more>>
Miranda Suggs
My Yoga journey started when I was pregnant with my son in 2010 as a home practice. I was off and on with it until I found Hot 26&2 Bikram Yoga in 2013. I was hooked. There is nothing like Hot 26&2 Yoga in the 105 degree room having to stare at yourself in those mirrors, healing yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally. Read more>>
Jonathan Wilson
I started by just taking a few pictures with drones which led to my getting my part 107 certification to fly professionally. I now do videography and photography for large events, festivals, commercials etc. Read more>>
Whitney Andrews
Yoga Elements Retreats was founded in 2022 by Whitney Andrews and Maggie Merkiel, two best friends fresh out of yoga teacher training and fresh off a few retreats together. They knew they wanted to create something of their own—and from day one, three things were clear: yoga, nature, and connection. Read more>>
Ekaterina Derevleva
My Story — Ekaterina Derevleva My journey in dance began when I was a little girl growing up in Russia. Before I ever stepped onto a ballroom floor, I was a competitive gymnast. I loved the discipline, movement, and artistry of the sport — but after an accident, my mom decided I needed a safer activity. Read more>>
Amy Justice
Originally from the small town of Jesup, Georgia, I made my way to Jacksonville in 2000, where I built a life, started a family, and began pursuing my passion for helping others move and feel their best. Read more>>
Claudia Rocabado
My journey started back home in Cuba, in the kitchen with my grandmother. She was the kind of woman who could turn simple ingredients into a meal that brought the whole family together. I would watch her, help her, and learn from her without even realizing it at the time. Later, I spent a lot of time cooking with my mom and dad too. Read more>>
Bianca Enriquez
I started my business in 2023, I found out I was pregnant while active duty. I originally wanted to retire from the Navy, but with a daughter I know I need to be a present mother. My mother left when I was 4, so my dad raised me. He had his own lawn business and worked another job to give us the best life possible. Read more>>
Zachary Oliver
I want to help people not only perform better now but also extend their Healthspan and Longevity; by having the strength and cardiovascular fitness to live independently longer. For me, success isn’t when a client hits a lifting PR; it’s when they can keep up with their kids, grandkids, hike without pain, or feel confident they’ll thrive in their 8th, 9th, and 10th decade of life. Read more>>
Conny Dempsey
CONNY L DEMPSEY Conny enjoys creating intimate and thoughtful impressionistic paintings. Her subject matter ranges from animals, still life, children, seascapes and other nostalgia memories. Each painting is a slice of life reflecting a moment in time and tells a story. Read more>>
