We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.
DANIELLE ARMSTRONG
One of the most defining moments for me happened in the winter of 2024, on the day my father was leaving after a visit. He’s been courageously battling late-stage dementia, and for a brief minute before he left, he remembered who I was. Read more>>
Kerrie Campbell
I changed my mind about staying in my corporate career, which I always believed I’d retire from. I’d spent 25 years building a successful executive career—working hard, performing at a high level, and even moving my family across the world for it. It was secure, it made sense, and as the breadwinner for my family, it felt like the responsible choice. Read more>>
Karen Schroll
I am definitely doing what I was born to do! My early life looked very different, but I truly believe God led me to exactly where I’m meant to be. After moving to Sarasota in 2019, I had the opportunity to become a class owner when the previous owner needed to step back—and that’s when I got to build something really special. Read more>>
Christina Calautti
Absolutely. Starting fresh in a new city has been both exciting and a little nerve wracking, you never really know how people will react to your products. Seeing such genuine, positive reactions, especially to the designs I’ve created myself, has made me so proud. It brings me back to my store days, watching customers light up as they walked in. Read more>>
Liesl Walsh
A few months ago I reached a very proud moment in my career as a professional photographer: I walked into the studio of KelbyOne to record my second online class. KelbyOne is a longtime respected online education community for thousands of photographers around the world. Read more>>
Jim Gaffney
If I could say something to my younger self it wouldn’t be just one thing. I would encourage the younger me to be a full time learner. The opportunities to read and study all aspects of life, communication, leadership, relationships and all the topics that would create a smarter more understanding adult. Read more>>
Wendy Thurlow
Many Times! It can be difficult to balance life, creative freedom, market demands, business aspects and recently physical strain from repetitive work. But at heart I’m a maker and could never abandon it. I realize I have a gift, not only to share with the world but with my local community. Read more>>
Cristy Berry
The biggest lies that the healthcare industry tells itself is that medicine heals. The truth is that medicine harms in many cases. People need to realize that medicine is meant for acute illness such as an emergency situation, something life threatening. Medicine is not meant to be used to day to day management or health. Read more>>
Mina Dulce
For photography and film, my work is centered around fashion, artistic expression, nature, and dance/movement. Recently, I’ve been drawn to pyro and fire photography/videography. Working with dance, movement, and fire has become a creative release for me—it’s fun, freeing, and allows me to let go and not take things too seriously. Read more>>
Mary Brown
It’s not that I’m suddenly fearless. I still wrestle with nerves and uncertainty—but I choose to move forward with what I believe in and pray is right for both my business and myself. Over the years, I’ve made bold moves, hard decisions, and taken risks that stretched me in ways I never expected. And now, I find myself in another season of change. Read more>>
Jozie Jennings
First, a moment to say bravo to these powerful, though-provoking questions! I am a big advocate for mental health and wellness, and love the challenge. Though I consider myself pretty good at making small-talk, I would much rather talk about all the deep things in life that could sometimes make people uncomfortable. I love conversations that really make people do some soul searching. Read more>>
Nancy Hielscher
I’m fortunate to have a studio in my home, so during the first hour or so, I enjoy my coffee while reviewing emails, briefly glancing at the news, and critiquing the work on my easel. Then, I paint. Read more>>
Luxcisen Midyette
“Your journey of healing, heals worlds.”. This statement is what helps me stay focus on my goals when I started to research on how to cure my high blood pressure without medication. It was the first step to healing my body and mind. Read more>>
Terra Tominelli
One of the defining challenges in my life has been living with dyslexia. For a long time, I saw it as something that held me back — I struggled with feeling different and sometimes doubted my abilities because I didn’t think or learn the same way as others. Read more>>
Jonathan Dublin
I lose track of time when I am creating, whether its music or a music video or just content for my socials. I lose track of time become I am having fun. Read more>>
Ilona Blake
Being in the water always gives me joy and helps me find my inner peace. It makes me forget life’s turmoil and helps me ground myself again. I enjoy sharing this passion, as well as teaching about ocean conservation and being safe in the water with a mermaid tail. Read more>>
Schuylerq Arakawa
I have always wanted to make a big impact on the world and the world gave me a very comical way of making that happen. Now I have discovered a new purpose in the wheelchair I never even thought possible. So although the steps have changed, the overall outcome is the same. Read more>>
Jeff Macolino
Not to get crazy philosophical, but I think I’ve used ‘self-hatred’ as a motivating factor in my life. The belief that no one else believes in me, or that I’m not good enough to accomplish a goal motivates me to prove myself and everyone else wrong. Read more>>
Kyle Wallack
A moment that really shaped how I see the world didn’t happen in a single day or month—it unfolded over the course of a year. While I was sick and recovering from cancer in my apartment on 7th Street in New York, I would often look out my window at a single tree. Read more>>
Chaimae Oualid
Painting and being at the beach. When I paint, I can go for hours and completely disconnect from everything else. It feels like I’m in my own little world. I put on my AirPods, turn on music, and just move with it. Some DJs I love like Folamour, Dixon, Bedouin and Vander make me dance through the canvas. Read more>>
Mallary Denson
My parents saw me clearly before I could see myself. They always recognized my creative side and encouraged me to follow it, even when I wasn’t sure where it would lead. Their belief in my talent gave me the confidence to keep going, to take risks, and to build something of my own. Read more>>
Sarah Frank
My dad taught me the most about what work looks like: the effort you put in, the relationships you build, the energy you bring to a space. Work isn’t just what happens between when you clock in and clock out– it’s the experience you bring to the table, the kindness with which you treat coworkers, and how you handle problems as they arise. Read more>>
Lydia Duerr
I definitely learned how to work hard from my dad. He was an entrepreneur and built his own business as a carpet installer, so I grew up seeing firsthand what it takes to run something of your own. He was always up early, working long hours, and taking pride in what he did. Watching that taught me that success doesn’t just happen. Read more>>
Barbara Baez Robinson
Absolutely! I’m still dancing! One of the things I’ve always dreamed of is traveling and seeing the world, and starting my own business has made that dream a reality. Being my own boss has opened up doors I always dreamed of, especially through my photography. Read more>>
Julie Radlauer-Doerfler
In the past few years I have been researching how our public mental health systems impact the people receiving support within them. This topic is not particularly popular with those in power or operating those systems. Sharing this research with those well-meaning workers within the system opens their eyes about how to better advocate for, and with, those receiving services and support. Read more>>
Kimberly Michele
Fads move feelings, but foundational shifts move futures. Over the years, I’ve learned that fads are loud, but foundational shifts are lasting. Fads often come wrapped in urgency—they pressure you to move fast, to keep up, to imitate. Foundational shifts, on the other hand, invite you to pause, discern, and evolve. They’re birthed from awareness, not anxiety. Read more>>
LIUDMYLA NIKOHOSIAN
If I laid down my name, my role, and everything I’ve built, what would remain is a person who wants to become better every day. A person who believes in kindness, love, and honesty. Someone who still dares to dream — and keeps following those dreams, no matter how long the road is. Read more>>
Matthew Johnson
I think that might be my annual Haunted Collection that goes out every September. It’s been going for 16 years and is always a really fun release to do. The good news is that even if I retire I’ll likely keep making things! Read more>>
Dmytro Ushakov
I’m not chasing anything in particular. I simply live fully in the present, savoring every moment. I enjoy the life I have here in the USA—the people, the weather, the nature—and I especially cherish sharing it all with my wife. I believe that everything happens in its own time, and rushing only brings stress and drains energy. Read more>>
Nate Denson
The battle I’m avoiding is niching down. I’ve always had a wide range of interests and ideas, and it’s hard for me to focus on just one thing. I know that specializing could make growth easier and more predictable, but I enjoy creating across different industries and seeing how ideas connect. Read more>>
Lance Moseley
I think one of the things that really strains relationships the most, is that we have this compelling need to always be right, about everything. You see it in marriage relationships all the time, but it plays out in other relationships too. Read more>>
Effie Santos
I believe love never ends. I cannot prove it, but I live it every day. When Madi passed, I never wanted to lose my relationship with her, and I refused to believe that death was the end of our connection. So, she and I had to find a different way. Our relationship simply changed form. Read more>>
Sandra Astacio
Daughters in Christ Ministries, Inc. is often underestimated—perhaps because we do not fit the traditional mold. While many expect ministries to operate under the leadership or umbrella of a local church, our organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded and led by a licensed Minister and Ordained Pastor. Read more>>
Scarla Mims
Sometimes misunderstandings occur when some see the crystals and stones that adorn our candles. They assume the candles represent something that is not of God. But on the contrary, our inspiration to begin this business came when we began to seek God’s guidance. Read more>>
Taylor Peters
I agree and I appreciate what this platforms does to give people the space to share their stories. One of the biggest misconceptions about what we do at 330 Trading Co. is that we’re “just a sourcing company”, In reality, we’re deeply involved in every part of the product development and manufacturing process. From initial design and prototyping to production oversight, quality control, and logistics. Read more>>
Shanta Horlander
You don’t have to prove yourself to have value. Your very beingness has value. Read more>>
Jaimee Ponce
Joy! I have been holding back living fully and joyfully trying to be perfect, feeling guilty for joy itself. It is my mission to understand joy is a gift God gives us in Him and I don’t have to wait. I can live everyday fully now Read more>>
Deme Thomas
The light I’ve been dimming is my own joy. Somewhere between caring for others, working long hours, and trying to keep everything together, I stopped allowing myself to simply *be happy* without a reason or responsibility attached to it. I’ve been so focused on pouring into everyone else—my clients, my patients, my community—that I forgot my own glow deserves attention too. Read more>>
Evelyn Almodovar
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was in 5th grade. I learned that our school didn’t have a graduation for 5th graders, apparently, moving on to middle school wasn’t “significant enough” to merit all the celebration. I thought that was unfair, so I spoke up to my Spanish language teacher. Read more>>
Katelyn Curran
Failing hard completely reframed how I see growth. Every major “failure” in my life—whether in motherhood, business, or relationships—ended up being the turning point that pushed me toward alignment. I used to equate failure with falling short, but now I understand it’s the forge where clarity and resilience are built. It’s not the opposite of success; it’s the foundation of it. Read more>>
