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.

Cynthia Smalls

Cynthia Smalls is a breast cancer survivor, author, and advocate dedicated to empowering Black women navigating breast cancer. Diagnosed in May 2016 with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy, leading to a cancer-free outcome. She is the Founder/Owner of Melanin & Pink Ribbons Wellness Company, LLC, which exists to empower Black women facing breast cancer and to strengthen all women through truth-telling, education, and uplifting storytelling. The company provides supportive wellness resources, self-help and motivational books, and fiction that restores hope, builds resilience, and champions the courage of women in every season of life. Read more>>

Daniel Brisuda

I’ve been interested in Chiropractic since I first experienced this care in my early teens. I always felt so much better afterward. A competitive swimmer through Middle and High School, I swam my way through college undergrad before attending Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. Along the way, chiropractic care and a balanced, holistic, lifestyle have and continue to energize me. I LOVE being able to help others. My goal is to empower those who come to see me both with information via the Gonstead method of chiropractic and a customized care plan; so they can make their best next steps health decision. Read more>>

Brandon Townsel

It’s funny how Brilliant Touch got its start—because at the time, I didn’t realize I was building a business at all. I just knew I had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to create. Back in high school in Flint, Michigan, I was simply trying to make a little extra lunch money, selling CDs here and there. What I didn’t know then was that those small hustles were the earliest signs of a much bigger journey. Read more>>

Monica Anderson

I became a Licensed Full Specialist and joined Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa, where I quickly found that skincare was not just technical work—it was relational, restorative, and deeply personal. Within a year, I stepped into the role of Lead Esthetician at a struggling location and led a complete turnaround of the esthetics department through intentional leadership, elevated standards, and client-centered care. Read more>>

Rick Farmer

Went into the Navy out of high school for electronics. Hurt my ankle while in and got discharged after less than 2 years. Worked in computers and network support for about 5 or 6 years before moving into a sales training position in the office equipment world. Read more>>

Pallavi Cherukupally

I am a Physician in Sports and Spine medicine that branched into Stem cell and Regenerative medicine about 12 years ago. Through Regenerative Medicine I was exposed to longevity medicine and treatments. Read more>>

Alex Blankenship

Back in 2020, I was riddled with anxiety as a newly pregnant wife hoping to advance my career in water quality. By early 2021, my husband and I had developed a ‘gameplan’ to develop a career that put motherhood first. I’m forever grateful to him for that. He suggested cosmetology, a path his mother started 34 years ago. Read more>>

Suzanne Pickett

I spent a portion of my childhood in Eastside , I always carried a deep connection to the community that shaped me. But when I returned home to my family’s house, I was struck by a painful reality — despite the years that had passed, the neighborhood looked much the same as I had left it. The same disinvestment. The same unmet potential. Read more>>

Shane Grindle

I didn’t create Palm Health because Jacksonville needed another clinic. I created it because I got tired of watching the healthcare system crash like a Windows 95 computer trying to run modern software—and taking both patients and providers down with it. From Mayo Clinic Excellence to System Frustration My journey started in the most prestigious corners of medicine. Read more>>

Suzanna Pavelle

I grew up in Massachusetts and earned a B.A. from the University of Oregon, where I studied anthropology, archaeology, and history, with graduate coursework in underwater archaeology at ECU. My work took me to field projects in Delaware, Oregon, Hawaiʻi, North Carolina, and Bermuda. What drew me to that work, and still drives me, is understanding how communities function and what shapes people’s choices. Read more>>

Sarah Adams

I’ve always known I wanted to be a physician, but I didn’t initially realize I would also become an entrepreneur. I trained in Family Medicine because I loved the idea of caring for the whole person — from pediatrics to adults, prevention to chronic disease, and everything in between. Read more>>

Nemiah Rutledge

I was born on September 29, 1987 and spent my childhood on the northside of Jacksonville, mostly in the Brentwood area, except for a brief time when my father’s military career took our family to California. I’ve always loved to exercise. My dad, Nemiah Rutledge, Sr., taught me to exercise when I could barely walk. Read more>>

Cristy Bartley

I started my company as the very first cleaner. There was no team, no systems, no brand recognition, just me, a vision, and a willingness to work harder than anyone else. I knocked on doors, made cold calls, cleaned homes myself, handled customer service, and learned every part of the business from the ground up. Read more>>

Bart Andrews

My story really starts with art and community. My wife Pepper and I opened Unify Tattoo Co. in St. Augustine back in 2014 with a simple goal — to create something different from the typical tattoo shop. We didn’t want flash on the walls and a traditional vibe. Read more>>

Nicole Zauke

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and family has always been important to me. I have two supportive parents who showed me the value of hard work, along with an older brother and a younger sister. I attended The Bolles School and later graduated from the University of North Florida with my undergraduate degree. Read more>>

Mark Baughman

We opened up our first office in June of 2014. We wanted to create a PT company that was part of it’s community where people felt known and cared for, and a place that gives back to its community. Read more>>

Roman Strazhko

In April of 2015, I became a partner of a repair shop/used car dealership in Bunnell. In September of 2015, I bought out the partnership and opened a new corporation called Flagler Auto Center. Originally our main focus was auto repair, however, over the years we have shifted our efforts into more vehicle sales. Read more>>

Martin Holloway

My story starts in a small town called Rolla, Missouri. My older brother and I were born and raised there to a Filipino mother and Black father. Like most kids, I loved to make art. I would spend countless hours reading animal encyclopedias and drawing them. I would paint random creatures, give them names and my parents would collect them. Read more>>

Nathan Siva

From Hustle to Health: Why I Built Jax Juice Bar Most businesses start with a strategy. Mine started with a lifetime of watching people connect over food. I grew up in a family where the restaurant wasn’t just a workplace—it was part of who we were. From a young age, I saw firsthand that serving people is never just about what’s on the plate. Read more>>

Brian Triplett

Photography first became serious for me in 1997 in a high school classroom in Arizona. I was learning on 35mm film, printing in the darkroom for school projects and the newspaper. I loved the craft, but when I went to college, I chose to study marketing and business management. Read more>>

Tony Munoz

My name is Tony Munoz. I’m a resident of Jacksonville, Florida, and a licensed general contractor and roofing contractor. My career started about 20 years ago doing value-add construction on many of the once-beautiful, now neglected homes across Jacksonville. Along that journey, I really wanted to professionalize what we were doing. Read more>>

Iryna Malook

My name is Iryna Malook. I am 51 years old, originally from Ukraine, and I am the founder of a window design business that I rebuilt from the ground up in the United States. In Ukraine, I spent 22 years developing a successful curtain and window design salon. Read more>>

Katelyn Vu

Hi, my name is Katelyn. I’m a mother of three young children. I developed a passion for baking after my first child was born. My initial goal was simply to bake for their birthday parties and family get-togethers. I come from a big family, so we always get together at least once a week. Read more>>

Shantal Powers

My name is Shantal Powers, owner of MooVille Bakery & More. MooVille began with a simple love for baking and making people smile. What started as baking for family and friends slowly grew through word of mouth and support from my community into what MooVille is becoming today. One of my greatest inspirations is my late grandmother, Carlene Spencer. Read more>>

Daniel Clark

Growing up in the city of Jacksonville, I did not see many people from where I come from go on to become successful. At the same time, I was able to see the more affluent parts of Jacksonville and the opportunities that existed there. Read more>>

Alex Hernandez

My name is Alex Hernandez, and my journey in the barbering industry began in Belmopan City at Pro Style Barbershop, where I was mentored by my role model, Jay Mkfadezean. He introduced me to the craft and taught me the fundamentals of the business, discipline, and professionalism that continue to guide me today. Read more>>

Sherila Perez

As a child, writing was my way of exploring creativity. It was my emotional outlet—my way of processing—shifting from the reality of what I saw into a realm I could control. Writing opened doors in my mind, but more importantly, it gave me a place to be honest without outside interference or interruption. Read more>>

Timothy Taylor

I’ve been in the HVAC industry since 2001. I started as a helper in my dad’s company right out of high school and learned everything on the job — installs, service calls, troubleshooting, customer service — truly from the ground up. Through years of hard work and growth, I became part owner of the business. Read more>>

Quiana Malone

My journey started from a very personal place — lived experience. I’ve always been someone people naturally came to for guidance, encouragement, and clarity, but it wasn’t until I began doing my own healing work that I realized my purpose was rooted in helping others navigate theirs. Read more>>

Cedar Bridge Foundation

Cedar Bridge Foundation began from a very personal place. As a mother of an adult daughter with autism, I experienced firsthand the uncertainty that comes when a child transitions into adulthood. The structure and support that existed during childhood suddenly became limited, and I saw how easy it was for adults with developmental disabilities to become isolated. Read more>>

Markeishya & Martavia Freeman

It’s so funny, being a twin you’re always coupled together your entire life and Tavia and I did everything we could to get away from each other, but we always kept coming back to each other. Read more>>

Gretchen Rodriguez

My path into this industry began in a completely different world ,serving in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Laboratory Technician. The military shaped the way I understand structure, discipline and accountability. Operating in an environment where precision is non-negotiable taught me to think in systems to see how organization, standards and execution create results at scale. Read more>>

Kristin McClanathan

My story starts with a camera, sitting in a box. For years. I had been taking college classes online and needed a superlative class, so I decided to finally use that camera in my closet. Of course I knew how to set it in auto and snap a semi-decent photo, but I had no idea, the extent and capabilities of a camera. Read more>>

Debra Brundage

My story is a God story because it has only been by the Grace of God that I am able to do what I do and have the place where I can bake today!! 25 years ago I had a pretty bad accident and landed in a wheelchair for 8 years. I was told I would never walk again!! Read more>>

Heather Crawford

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a journalist. As I was preparing to graduate from college, I sent resume tapes (remember VHS tapes?!) all over the country. I only landed one interview, and it was with a tv station in Montgomery, AL. I was hired as the morning reporter. Every day my alarm would go off at 2:30am! Read more>>

Brittany Lovett

At five years old, my grandmother would take me to watch Benny Hinn healing services. I didn’t fully understand everything I was witnessing, but I knew one thing for certain, that I was destined to heal. Watching faith restore people planted a seed in me that would shape my entire life. That seed allow me to blossom to love, serve, and heal others. Read more>>

Mark Coffman

Early Life and Family I began my life in Michigan, where I experienced many significant milestones, including marriage and raising my family. My family now consists of my daughters Melanie and Alicia, both of whom are married to men named Joshua, and my daughter Mikayla. I also have two sons, Aaron and Joshua. Read more>>

Matthew Hunter

Hunter Marketing Collective was built from three decades of real-world marketing experience. After spending 30 years as a marketing director for several large companies, I saw firsthand what works, what wastes money, and what truly drives growth. Over the years, I built strong relationships, developed proven strategies, and led campaigns that delivered measurable results. Read more>>

Michael Pastorello

When I arrived as a human service worker in Jacksonville, Florida in 1993, saw the frail, elderly and disabled were paying $80.00 per month for a medical alarm to get help. This meant only the very affluent or very poor could afford to get help when they needed it. Community Emergency Alert Response Services was created to correct that. Read more>>

Sydney Roessling

Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was the little girl, I was constantly taking photos mostly of nature. (Hints that’s where my style today come in.) Bold, colorful and storytelling. This is where it really began. In 2017, that childhood passion turned into a business. Read more>>

Alexandre Makonnen-Roger

My partner Corey and I started this business in September of 2022, 4 years ago. He was the owner of Jacksonville Hauling and Junk Removal and I owned Main and Edge Investment Group (real estate wholesaling). We identified a gap in our services in the form of customers/clients asking if we would clean the space as well or if we knew of anyone who could. Read more>>

Nancy Kelley

Being a St Augustine native I grew up in a wonderful family that was filled with faith and love. Our community was tight knit and our lives revolved around family, friends, and our church community. Growing up with a house full of sisters in the family we always had lots of fun and adventures! Read more>>

Tim Ellis

In 2022 the Ellis family decided to move to the sunshine state and we thought it would be great to have a small business to keep us busy and give our three boys in the family a great opportunity and responsibility. We created ‘First Coast Foam Party’ that we thought would be perfect for this climate and the amount of kids in North Florida. Read more>>

JORGE VAZQUEZ

I started my career in finance as a licensed financial advisor. I loved numbers, strategy, and helping people plan their futures. But after watching what happened during the 2008 crash, I realized something important. A lot of people were trusting the stock market with their retirement, and they had very little control. That’s when I went all in on real estate. Read more>>

Gloria Stella

Fixie Cellphone Repair opened in 2021. Like any entrepreneurial journey, it has come with its share of ups and downs. There were moments that tested me, especially this past year, but I kept going. I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about avoiding hard seasons. it’s about standing tall through them. I’m proud of myself for pushing through, even when things felt uncertain. Read more>>

Sarita Wheeler

I’ve lived a pretty adventurous life and dance to the beat of my own drum. I think people have ideas of what lawyers are like based on television and their own (often negative) experiences. Read more>>

Aileen Hale

My story starts with my father, who always encouraged me to be an explorer and adventurer. Being raised in Cleveland, Ohio during the Great Depression, my father received a full scholarship to attend Colombia University in N.Y. to study medicine. He became a leading cardiologist and started the first cardiology department of Summit Hospital in Oakland, CA, where I was born and raised. Read more>>

Nalani Manyak

Ever since I was little, I have always paid attention to the small things that make daily life a bit more special. There is an art to communication, whether it be through a commercial, a song, a painting, a cinematic experience, or even a single written word. Read more>>

Scarlett Hernandez

With a little effort, you can achieve it. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible either. Trust in yourself, and with the help of God and your loved ones, you will succeed. But always, always trust your self and your capabilities. Don’t set limits for yourself, and you will overcome any obstacle. Read more>>

Altin Kosova

There were also early hurdles in understanding customer preferences and establishing consistent foot traffic. However, those challenges pushed me to adapt quickly, refine my vision, and focus on creating a welcoming, customer-focused experience. Each obstacle has ultimately strengthened the foundation of the business and shaped the store into what it is today. Read more>>