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.
Alexis Legg
I have been a stay at home mom since my husband and I began growing our family. We now have 4 daughters (YES, ALL GIRLS) ages 8 years old, 4 years old, 2 years old and 6 months old. Read more>>
Mandi Kelloway
I’m a Jacksonville girl through and through, and I’ve spent the last 25 years doing what I love in the beauty industry. Four years ago, I took over San Marco Strands from my mom and finally got to do something I had dreamed about since I was a little girl. Read more>>
Devon Eure
My story has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I grew up in an urban environment in upstate New York before later moving to a rural town in Cheraw, South Carolina. Despite those very different settings, one thing remained constant—my family’s commitment to serving others, even when we didn’t have much ourselves. Read more>>
Chris Garcia
My journey began about 30 years ago when I enlisted in the United States Navy. Today, as a retired veteran with close ties to first responders through both family and friendships, I carry a deep understanding of what it truly means to serve others before yourself. Read more>>
Elva Chase, BCCC
My story really starts with my first marriage. I was in a domestic violence situation for 15 years, and for a long time, I lived in silence, trying to hold everything together while struggling internally. Leaving wasn’t easy, but it was necessary, and it became the beginning of a completely new chapter in my life, as well as my children, who are now grown. Read more>>
Mark MacDonald
I started my career climbing the ladder in the advertising world in Canada and eventually became Creative Director at one of Eastern Canada’s leading agencies. From the outside, it looked like the dream job, but internally, I kept wrestling with a question: what if the communication skills used to sell products could help organizations that were trying to help people? Read more>>
Marissa Chunn
We Rock the Spectrum has been a part of the Jacksonville community for TEN years this year! Marissa & Lea opened the sensory gym in 2016 to create a play space for children with ALL abilities to have safe space to learn through play! Read more>>
Amanda Conner McLendon
Our family lived on the farm for years as chicken farmers with Tyson foods. About 25 years ago-Tyson closed all accounts in Fl leaving our family along with nearly 100 others in the NE Florida area with no income. Read more>>
Allison LeBaron
I’ve always been interested in playing with mud ever since I was a child. I first saw somebody throw a pot on the Potter’s wheel when I was young and was immediately fascinated by it. I got my first opportunity to sit at the wheel, in my second semester of college and continued throughout my college studies. Read more>>
Danielle Curry
The articles and interviews I’ve shared over the years touched on pieces of my journey, building 4 Facilities & Affiliates with my family, growing through difficult seasons, and learning how to keep moving forward even during moments that felt impossible. Today, my husband and my son, Taj Curry, continue helping lead the company alongside an incredible network of subcontractors and people we truly consider family. Read more>>
Clayton George
I was primarily raised by my grandparents. My grandfather was a cabinet worker from Germany. I spent a lot of time learning woodworking, and learned how to make projects using only hand tools. For example, my tool box contains no metal fasteners. It is all dovetailed and fit by hand. Read more>>
PJ svejda
In 2020 I moved to Mount Dora as a single mom with a small child. That was the beginning of Covid. I established myself as a working Artist and Art Teacher. At the beginning of 2022 I went out on a leap of Faith and rented an empty storefront here in Mount Dora. That is where Studio art farm began. Read more>>
Joy Schmidt
Well, it all started back when I was a little girl and I used to play with Barbie’s hair instead of actually play with them. My mother used to get so mad at me because I used to cut their hair off. Read more>>
Audrey Prim
My Mom created a village of support for both my sister and I. When she had to work and couldn’t be present to physically support us, we could always look out into the crowd and see someone we knew, who cared. I’ve wanted to create that same sense of community in everything I do. Read more>>
BRANDY BENNETT
Brandy Bennett’s story is one built on grit, sacrifice, and determination. Long before becoming the owner of The Betty Brow Co. , Bennett was bartending full time while raising two daughters and putting herself through school — often balancing survival, motherhood, and ambition all at once. Read more>>
Pamela Davis
FAITH, FAMILY, EDUCATION I grew up in rural Northwest Florida in the 70s; in a household with both my college educated parents in what back then was considered a middle class family. They instilled in me the belief in God, importance of family and the value of an education. Every Sunday, you’d find me in church; singing in the choir or playing the piano. Read more>>
Erin Zuback
From Healing to Hearth: The Story of Rustic Roots For 25 years, my life was dedicated to being a certified veterinary technician. It was a career I loved, but it was also one that took a significant toll on my body. Read more>>
Heather Blanton
I started my art career as a fine art and commercial photographer, specializing in manipulated SX70 Polaroids. In 2008 when the recession hit I was always thwarted by Polaroids decision to stop manufacturing that type of film. Read more>>
Barb and Ron MacGillivary
We’re Ron and Barb MacGillivary, the husband and wife team who own Stogies Cigar Events based out of St. Johns, FL. Our journey really started with Stogies Cigar Shop in St. Augustine, FL, which we owned and operated for several years. While running the shop, we discovered p eople not only loved cigars, but also the experience of seeing cigars rolled right in front of them. Read more>>
Jenny Sandell
The practice started in Clay County in 2014. There was such a demand for services for children and teens, it only made sense to go over the bridge. So many times people would say ‘we have had such a hard time finding someone’ There are so many barriers to mental health services for youth, we make it our mission to be the solution. Read more>>
Troy Towsley
The John Muka Band really grew out of years of friendship, collaboration, and a shared love of music that connects emotionally with people. John and I had both been involved in music for decades in different projects, and over time we realized we wanted to build something that blended strong songwriting with the energy and musicianship of a live band. Read more>>
Carly Shooster
I joined the Sequential Artists Workshop Yearlong Program in 2018 and got my certificate in 2019. In that time, I made 25+ pages of comics, met two lifelong friends, and learned at an exponential rate. In 2020, I pursued an MFA in Comics at California College of the Arts based on my experience at SAW. Read more>>
Nengah Mustika
My journey has really been shaped by entrepreneurship, hospitality, and community. I’ve been a Jacksonville and St. Johns County resident for over 20 years, but I’m originally from Bali, Indonesia, where I grew up in the tourism and hospitality industry. Hospitality has always been in my blood. Read more>>
Aline Franz
Ventura Silva Solutions started with a strong focus on pool tile and paver installation, driven by our passion for quality craftsmanship and outdoor transformations. In the beginning, we took on small residential projects, working closely with homeowners to deliver clean, durable, and visually impressive results. Our goal was always to combine attention to detail with reliable service and honest communication. Read more>>
JEREMY LUCARELLI
Jeremy Lucarelli of Lucarelli Outdoor Lighting My name is Jeremy Lucarelli, and I’m the owner of Lucarelli Outdoor Lighting here in Jacksonville, Florida. I’m 42 years old, and my path to owning a business definitely wasn’t a straight line. Read more>>
Michael Scott Thomas
Michael Scott Thomas Award-Winning Percussionist, Artistic Director, and Founder of the Old City Drum Corps Michael Scott Thomas is an award-winning percussionist and artisan with over four decades of experience in music and the performing arts. Read more>>
Dalonte aNd Adriana Henderson
Our passion for coffee started over a century ago supporting a local cafe in PA, our home location. After moving to FL our search for our favorite cafe began yet led to starting our own. It’s In The DNA Coffee started as a mobile cafe, 1 year later moved into a shared space and 1 year after that into an independent space. Read more>>
David Tromble
ViBAN started with a critical discovery—one that identified a major scientific omission. The discovery was that, for most people, carsickness is caused by the motion outside a moving vehicle, not by the inner ear as much of the scientific literature suggests.It happened one day while my ex-wife and I were driving down I-10 toward Destin. Read more>>
Shanekia Bing
My journey started long before ALIRRA officially became a brand. I originally built my foundation through hairstyling and working closely with clients, which gave me firsthand insight into the everyday struggles people were having with their hair and scalp. Over time, I realized many people weren’t just lacking products they were lacking structure, consistency, and education around healthy hair care. Read more>>
Stacey Haynes
In 2011, I began creating out of a need for simple, beach signs for myself, in my home in the middle of landlocked Tennessee. The beach was my happy place, and I wanted to bring that calm feeling into my home even though the actual beach was far away. Read more>>
Meghan Vargas
I’ve always been passionate about community impact and mission-driven work, which is what first drew me to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation nearly 17 years ago. I earned my B.S. Read more>>
Barry DeGroot
Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, even though my path didn’t begin there professionally. For many years, I built a successful career practicing law, a profession that demanded discipline, precision, and dedication. Although law became my profession, music never truly left me. Read more>>
Emily Gaffney
Growing up, I always enjoyed DIY projects and had many hobbies. I inherited my creative side from my dad, and I always knew I wanted to succeed in a career that allowed me to share my creativity with others. However, I struggled to identify what that career could be. Read more>>
Sean Bielman
I started my career in engineering drafting and was homebrewing as a hobby. That hobby became my full-time focus when I opened Engine 15 Brewing Company in 2010. Out of necessity, I learned how to fix things when they broke and picked up a few things along the way. Read more>>
Dondi Springer
Well, long story short—I left home when I was 13 and never looked back. Through everything, the one thing that stayed with me was writing. I started with cheesy rap jingles, then journals, then poetry and prose. No matter what was going on, I kept writing. Over time, that turned into something real. Read more>>
Kate Vivenzio
My name is Kate ViVenzio. Ive been in St. Augustine for over 20 years, I have two teenage girls and a tiny dog and sweetest human in the world for a boyfriend. I owned Bikram Yoga St. Augustine for 15years and had two locations for over 3 years and both are still operating and successful, Blue Cypress Yoga and The Yoga Collective. Read more>>
Shawn Jolly
My journey actually started back in Dallas in 2011, but not with houses. I was originally shooting finished pools for friends! Capturing the way light hits water and landscaping eventually led to friends asking me to shoot their real estate listings, and I realized I had a knack for making spaces look incredible. Read more>>
Riley McClellan
I have been creative since I was little. I was always drawing, collaging, crafting. The women in my family are also very artistic so I always had plenty of supplies to play around with. When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a fashion designer and I had a book full of my “designs”. Read more>>
Kamlesh Minshew
Feeling drawn to the energy of healing arts since my early teenage years, I pursued a BA in Psychology and an MA in Physical Education. I backpacked around the world for a year in my early 20’s to explore other cultures and view points. That led me to Southern California where I first stepped on a yoga mat. Read more>>
Noel Michael
1967 – 2019: The Foundation Operating as Things Very Special in Jacksonville, the business spent over five decades as the premier destination for high-end wedding and social invitations at our little pink shop located off St. Augustine Road 2019: The Catalyst Hosting a local arts market at the St. Augustine Road location sparked a new passion for the artisan community and handmade goods. Read more>>
Terrie Bass
Burro Buddies started from a simple love for animals and the joy they bring people. I’ve always been an animal person, but donkeys in particular completely stole my heart. Their personalities, intelligence, gentleness, and emotional connection with people and each other are unlike anything else. Read more>>
Latascha Williamson
Hello, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist by profession and now an entrepreneur. I originally developed the SLANT stand for clinicians like myself to use in therapy sessions. However, I quickly learned that this convenient dry erase board with attachable mirror and clips is useful for everyone. Read more>>
Jessica Boyd
Haw Creek Cattle Company is owned and operated by local Florida rancher, Jacob Boyd and his wife Jessica Boyd. Jacob comes from a long line of Florida Crackers dating all the way back to the 1500’s. His great-grandparents moved from Ft. Christmas, FL to Bunnell, FL in 1933 to escape the tick epidemic and raise more cattle. Jacob’s grandad, the late Raymon F. Read more>>
Evan Rajta
I didn’t start with a straight line or a perfect plan—I started by saying yes to opportunities and figuring things out along the way. Early on, I was drawn to environments where energy, people, and experience all came together. Read more>>
Madeline Nguyen
⸻ Asian Night Market Jax started about two years ago with a simple idea—to bring something new and exciting to the Jacksonville community. We wanted to create a space where people could experience the vibrant energy of an Asian night market, right here at home. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. Read more>>
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>>
