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<\/p>\nThe heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we\u2019ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can\u2019t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.<\/p>\n
Jadyn Shea<\/p>\n
I started my photography business when I was 18 after realizing the career path I originally planned wasn\u2019t going to work with my college schedule. I was studying marine biology, but I had always loved photography, so I decided to take a chance and turn it into something real. I honestly never expected it to grow the way it has. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Joseph George My journey into arbitration and mediation has been built on a foundation of negotiation, problem-solving, and a genuine desire to help people resolve disputes efficiently and fairly. Before entering the ADR profession, I gained extensive experience in business negotiations, human resources, construction project management, and conflict resolution. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Katie Arroyo I have wanted to be a writer and have loved comedy since I knew what either of those things was. What I did NOT know was how to do those things in any sort of professional capacity, so I became a consumer of both. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Samantha Fairlie In 2004, I relocated to St. Augustine, Florida, where I opened a retail location at the St. Augustine Premium Outlets. As the business continued to grow, I later moved into a storefront in the Historic District of St. Augustine while continuing to expand my mobile event route throughout the Southeast and beyond. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Rebecca Bwete Photography has been part of my life for over a decade, but my business truly found its purpose after becoming a mom. I began photographing portraits and weddings in 2015, but once I welcomed my first baby, I realized just how quickly the little moments disappear. That experience completely changed the way I viewed photos. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Kirri Alexander I started with a simple love for cooking and making people feel special through food. What began as cooking for family and friends quickly turned into people asking me to cater birthdays, weddings, and other events. Every opportunity led to another, and I continued investing in my craft, learning, growing, and putting my whole heart into every event. Over time, that passion became my business. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Carlai Pender I\u2019m a first-generation entrepreneur from a small country town who learned early that if I wanted a different life, I would have to build it myself. My entrepreneurial journey actually started in the beauty industry. I owned a successful beauty business for several years, but after COVID changed that industry, I knew I needed to pivot. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Maritza Spero Growing up in Chile, where wine is part of the culture and everyday life, my brother and I developed a deep appreciation for great wine and the way it brings people together. Over the years, my brother, my former sister-in-law, and I traveled throughout Europe, spending countless evenings discovering neighborhood wine bars filled with character, live music, and a welcoming sense of community. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Martha Ferguson For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the creative process. I was incredibly fortunate to have an early art teacher who encouraged me to experiment with diverse mediums. During high school, I studied watercolor at a local college, learning to paint wet-on-wet in an expressive, fluid manner. Inspired by the historical beauty of St. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Briana Johnson Briana Johnson is a dedicated real estate agent and investor with a passion for helping families build generational wealth through real estate. After spending her entire career in the nonprofit sector, she made the transition to real estate in 2022, inspired by her father\u2019s firsthand example of how real estate can create lasting financial stability. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Casey and Codey (Twin Partners) Yingling We grew up very competitive in academics and sports. We always strived to be the best at everything we did. For a long time our dream was to become professional baseball players, with myself as the catcher and Casey as the pitcher. This was the case all the way through college. The Lord and injuries halted that dream. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Susan Rogers Like many people who enter college, it took me a while to land on a career that seemed to match my interests and gifts. I eventually landed on Occupational Therapy and worked in that field for 9 years after graduating from the University of Florida. I loved being part of the healing journey of my patients. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Sabrina Cupellini My husband and I entered the restaurant business in Italy in 1995, when we opened our first caf\u00e9-cr\u00eaperie on the island of Elba, in Tuscany. Our business was seasonal\u2014open from Easter to Christmas\u2014so we were closed for the rest of the year. We used that \u2018free .time\u2019 to travel, something we had always loved doing. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Trey Bradley I am a husband, dad, student pastor, and itinerant speaker. I married my wife Melissa for 21 years, and we have 4 children. Their names are Jaxson (19) Paitlyn (16), Judah (11), and Jubilee (5). Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Katie Lee Shortly after I graduated college, I got a job in the coffee industry and fell in love with it. The art and community that surrounds it is truly amazing. Not long after, an opportunity was presented to me to open and operate my own shop. I knew that it was a passion and opportunity that I couldn\u2019t pass up. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Chandy Madsen Hi! My name is Chandy and I am an entrepreneur and business owner. I am a hairstylist, full time mommy, wife and love to come up with new side hustles. Ive been a hairstylist for 10+ years now. I love everything about it! I specialize in color and extensions. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n DJ Chris Cross My journey started in Memphis, Tennessee, where I fell in love with music and DJing at an early age. While attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, I continued building my craft as a campus DJ, which eventually led to opportunities in radio. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Deshonna Buchanan My creative journey began long before I understood the power art could have in someone\u2019s life. As a child and young adult, creativity was simply a part of who I was. But at 17, after experiencing a traumatic event, I lost that part of myself. For years, I created less and spent much of my life simply trying to survive. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Justin Thomas I grew up in Palatka, Florida, in a close-knit family. Although my parents divorced when I was young, my grandparents and extended family played a huge role in giving my sister and me a stable, loving upbringing. The man I consider my dad came into my life when I was about eleven and has been there ever since. My early twenties were anything but focused. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Dian Williamson I love all things fashion and beauty. From a little girl I loved collecting fashion magazines that my grandmother would bring home. I dreamt of being like the fancy ladies I saw in the photos. When you walk into my store I want you to feel the vibes of old Hollywood glamour girl. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Sherell Edwards My story doesn\u2019t start with a clean beginning, and I think that\u2019s exactly why it matters. I was raised by my maternal grandfather and his second wife \u2014 my biological grandmother had already passed before I was born. My mother became a parent as a teenager, and I repeated that same chapter myself. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Aileen Acevedo I started crafting Hair Growth\/Hydrating Oil in 2019 when my second granddaughter was born. I never really used it til after November 2025 when I was hospitalized and lost almost all my Hair. It works! Now, I also infuse herbs, spices, & fruits into not only RUIZ Hair Growth\/Hydrating Oil but also into my soap and body butter which have so many organic benefits. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Desiree Simmons I\u2019m a creative entrepreneur from Callahan, Florida, with a passion for turning ideas into something meaningful. My journey started with makeup artistry, where I discovered my love for fashion, creativity, and producing photoshoots. I would organize shoots with my family and friends just for fun, and that eventually sparked my interest in photography. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Mehdy Ghannad I\u2019m an Iranian-American, first-generation son of immigrants, and my journey has never followed a straight line. Growing up, I was fortunate to be exposed to different cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking, which sparked a lifelong curiosity about people, places, and personal growth. Professionally, I built a career in technology, cybersecurity, and risk management, eventually becoming an Associate Director of Risk Management. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Vivian Harris I\u2019ve spent my professional career working in federal contracting and acquisition, but outside of work I was simply someone who loved my dogs and started sharing our everyday adventures online. What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Avi Grunwald I started Fair Capital in 2017 with a very simple idea: businesses should not have to feel helpless when someone owes them money. Over the years, I kept seeing the same problem. Good businesses would provide a service, deliver a product, or do their part honestly, and then they would be forced to chase payment for months. Sometimes the debtor had excuses. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Anna Kelley I started my career as a Master Cosmetologist about four years ago in South Georgia. At the time, I was in college during the pandemic, taking virtual classes and realizing I wasn\u2019t sure about what career path I wanted to take. I knew I wanted a career where I could be creative, connect with people, and make a difference in their lives. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Randi Beesing With my background in business development and startups, specifically in the diagnostic space, and my husband\u2019s experience in the healthcare operations, finding Any Lab Test Now was an obvious choice as we looked at starting our own business. We knew there was a market for healthcare solutions for uninsured and underinsured people in Jacksonville. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Jacqui Rivera ABOUT RIVERA PROMOTIONS Rivera Promotions is a premier events promotions platform founded by a local female promoter in northeast Florida. Our platform aims to increase awareness for various events, including concerts, comedy shows, nightclubs, festivals, conferences, and more. We target a professional audience aged 25-65 and more and focus on driving website traffic for event discovery and ticket purchases. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Sheryl Johnson Hearts 4 Minds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming mental health care by breaking down stigma, raising awareness, and connecting individuals to critical resources. Guided by the belief that every mind matters, Hearts 4 Minds empowers individuals and families through advocacy, education, and support to ensure mental health care is accessible, stigma free, and effective. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Travis Williams Before i started Djing I played the drums growing up in church and also played in the band during my years of high school. I started Djing when I was 16 years old. I wanted to create mashups and overlap songs that went together. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n (Hush Hush Headphones) Cory & David McCracken Hush Hush Headphones was born out of a dream in 2015 when David was booking performers and bands for live shows at various venues in Athens, GA. To amplify and benefit live performing artists, David acquired silent disco headphones to create an underground, pop-up performance venue unlike anything seen before. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Rodrigo Demarco Rodrigo Resende Demarco: Building a Legacy Through Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, and Real Food Born in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, on July 3, 1975, Rodrigo Resende Demarco\u2019s journey is a story of entrepreneurship, resilience, family legacy, and an unwavering passion for hospitality. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Ashley Mantz There\u2019s a moment when you realize you\u2019re not just \u201ctrying something\u201d\u2014you\u2019re building something real. For me, that moment didn\u2019t come with perfect timing or ideal circumstances. It came in the middle of healing, uncertainty, and learning how to keep going anyway. My journey into baking and building Sweets & Treats By Ashley didn\u2019t start from a place of perfection\u2014it started from resilience. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Ivory Rakell My passion for working with children comes from both my personal and caregiving experiences. As a mother of two, I understand the importance of providing a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where children can grow, learn, and feel valued. Being a parent has taught me patience, responsibility, communication, and the ability to meet the unique needs of each child. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Jacqui Farnsworth Coffee has always been part of my story. Growing up in Washington State, I worked in several drive-thru coffee stands and fell in love with both great coffee and the fast-paced customer service that came with it. After moving to Texas and eventually Florida, I realized just how much I missed that Pacific Northwest coffee culture. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Gira Patel I am a Board Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and the founder of First Coast Ayurveda in Jacksonville, Florida. My work brings together the depth of traditional Ayurvedic medicine and the clarity of modern science, offering a grounded, integrative approach to holistic health. My connection to Ayurveda began long before I ever studied it formally. Read More>><\/a><\/p>\n Adam Corfee<\/p>\n I\u2019m a Jacksonville native, born and raised, and everything I\u2019ve built has been right here in my own backyard. Back in 2014, I opened my first spa as a franchise of Massage Green Spa. I was young, hungry, and convinced this city deserved a wellness experience that actually delivered. So I put my head down and went to work. Read More>><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. 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