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.
Genesis Tortolero
I arrived in United States about eight years ago, at a time in my life when I had more uncertainty than clarity. I didn’t speak English, I didn’t have connections, and I was also a single mother, so the responsibility was entirely on me. Like many immigrants, I started by doing whatever work was available. Read more>>
Aimee Dijkers
I started One Eleven Farmhouse out of a love for transforming spaces and bringing old pieces back to life. What began with furniture refinishing and creative home projects slowly grew into a full-service home transformation business. Over time, I realized I didn’t just enjoy painting or refinishing furniture — I loved helping people feel proud of their homes again. Read more>>
Emily Mitalas
The military took Peter and I to Naples, Italy during the height of Covid. During the start of our journey there, lockdowns forced us to participate in wine tasting from our living room via Zoom and this is where Florida Vino Imports came to fruition. We decided to bring Italy home with us to share. Read more>>
Velour
My parents had enrolled me in harmonium, classical Indian music and singing classes in India. I was probably around 5 or 6 back then. My mom didn’t push me to pursue music. She joined me. and like any 6-year-old, I copied my mom. Read more>>
Kim Bednarek
Professional Biography & Organizational Overview I am an entrepreneurial and resourceful leader recognized for delivering on mission, vision, and long-term organizational growth. From 2007 to 2020, I served as Head of School at The Discovery School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida—a nationally recognized Montessori–International Baccalaureate program. In 2020, I was appointed Executive Director of Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc. Read more>>
Ephraim Badea
I am a long time friend of Dr. John Rossi who opened his private garden to the public as a non profit in October of 2023. Read more>>
Christina King
For a lot of us, 2020 was a time for change. My husband Adam and I quickly realized the pandemic was the perfect opportunity to get started on ‘that thing we put off for one day’. Living near the beach, most of our family time was spent surfing, swimming, and riding bikes at low tide. Read more>>
Kali Taylor
I didn’t grow up in jiu-jitsu—I found it as an adult, and it completely changed my life. I started training around 5 years ago and quickly realized it was so much more than just a workout. It gave me confidence, structure, and a sense of purpose that carried into every area of my life. Read more>>
Xiomara Spadafora
My story began in 2005 when I arrived from Colombia with a Green Card in hand, seeking career opportunities and safety. The United States gave me both in abundance, deepening my gratitude for this wonderful country. I put down even stronger roots when I married the love of my life and welcomed my precious son, Gabriel, who is now 15. Read more>>
Julia Vareldzhyan
My journey into photography began over 11 years ago, with the birth of my daughter. Like many mothers, I felt an overwhelming desire to hold onto every fleeting moment—the tiny hands, the quiet smiles, the way time seemed to move too quickly. What started as a deeply personal need to preserve those memories soon grew into something much bigger. Read more>>
Amanda Sheets
I have been a physician assistant for 20 years, with much of my recent experience in the hospital setting. Read more>>
Katelyn Daniel
I studied Marketing in college and had the opportunity to work across many different industries within the social media and digital marketing space. That experience gave me a real understanding of how important online presence is for businesses — but also how many small business owners simply don’t have the time or resources to stay consistent with it. Read more>>
Scot Ackerman, MD, FACR
Dr. Scot Ackerman, a board-certified radiation oncologist with a background in biomedical engineering, founded Ackerman Cancer Center in 1997 with a clear vision: to provide more accessible, personalized cancer care outside of the traditional hospital setting. Read more>>
Joshua Valencia
We started selling plate taking pictures and selling them on our social media platforms! We build this business from the ground up selling plates on instagram! Until we got our very first truck now fast forward we have 4 trucks in Jacksonville florida Read more>>
Lexi Brown
I am doing what I love, where I love. I am a creative artisan and business owner creating home décor candles locally in Saint Augustine, Florida. I have been making candles for over six years now and provide clean, safe and fragrant candles that light people’s lives and add beauty to their homes. Read more>>
Maggie & Tessa Taylor
Our story really started with a shared dream. We always knew we wanted to own a small coffee shop by the beach — a place that felt welcoming, where people could slow down, connect, and spend hours just talking like we always loved to do. Read more>>
Kristopher Sawyer
Barbering has always been a part of my life. Growing up, my dad cut our hair, and later my brother started cutting mine and our friends’. It wasn’t something we thought much about at the time—it was just normal for us. But looking back, it was a gift that ran in the family. Read more>>
Hayley Wilder
I’m a mom of two with a background in marketing. When the cost of childcare started eating into my salary to the point where it barely made sense to keep working, my husband encouraged me to take a leap of faith, quit my job and build something on my own. So I did. I started my company and I named it Cherry Pie Branding House. Read more>>
Alyssa Ciaccio
I’ve always been connected to the spirit world. I remember at a very young age having people who passed come to me in dreams and tell me things I shouldn’t have known. Growing up Catholic, this was not something my family leaned into so I learned to keep it to myself. Read more>>
Marilyn Felizola
It all started with having to work since 15 years old in retail, then converting to jewelry sales at 20 I had the idea of not wanting to work for anyone anymore then I fell in love with real estate. Finally saving up enough money to begin the process of becoming a real estate agent at 23. Read more>>
Cheyenne Lefaivre
It all started in Murray Hill, where two friends were brought together by a shared love of music, creative energy, and a desire to build something of their own. Not long after, they connected with the missing piece of the puzzle, who was running a coffee shop just a few miles down the road. That is where everything clicked, where flavor met its fate. Read more>>
Olivia Reid
My journey into this business really started long before I realized it could become a career. As a little girl, I loved going over to friends’ houses and seeing all the different types of homes—how they were laid out, how they felt, and what made each one unique. I didn’t know it at the time, but that curiosity would stay with me. Read more>>
Erica Joy Siegel
Throughout my life I’ve been drawn to helping people heal naturally and understand the body on a deeper level. That calling led me to study Traditional East Asian Medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego, where I completed extensive training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and integrative care. Read more>>
