Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.
Emmie Nostitz
Not saying ‘yes’. Starting Tivity was one huge exercise in saying yes. And it has proven to be the greatest thing I have done professionally. We are changing the way people eat, adding another option to the mix: eat in / order in / go to a restaurant / and now have the restaurant and Chef come to you. Read more>>
Sunita Soni
I do not have any regrets in life because as a child I have learnt to appreciate what I have in life and to be content. I have been blessed and fortunate to have a good family: my parents, siblings and my wonderful soulmate my husband. There is nothing more I can ask for and I am super grateful for that. Read more>>
Tiffany Walker
I try to live with less regress as possible, knowing that every situation that I have been through over and under has shaped and molded the woman I am today. It’s giving me more drive and determination to live in my truth. There are only regrets if I allow them to be and I plan on never letting that be. Read more>>
annette davey
i would regret not pursuing other aspects of film, like writing or directing or producing. Esp if i did not pursue them. because i was just always too busy editing. its important to find time to do other things, and not be complaining when you are old that you should’ve done it!! Read more>>
Brent Harrell
That’s the thing – I would regret not doing any opportunity that is presented to me, even if it’s out of my comfort zone. We only have one life and I don’t want to live it thinking ‘I wish I would have done that’ Read more>>
Ki Settles
Nothing because I plan on using every gift God has given me. So i’m going to do everything i want to do. Read more>>
Faith Constantine
As cliché is, this may sound I used to believe that my worth was in engagement on social media. Whenever I would post photos that I was proud of and the engagement was not what I thought it should be I would start to question my own talents. Read more>>
Julia Johnson
A cultural value I protect at all costs is the honoring of elders and the sacred responsibility to care for family**—not just out of duty, but out of spiritual alignment. As the first Reiki Headmaster in my family, I understand that my path is not only about healing, but about restoring balance to the bloodline. Read more>>
Merrilee Challiss
A cultural value I hold is that that artists, creators and dreamers, as visionaries and meaning makers, must be protected, respected and valued. Artists invite us to imagine possible futures, allow us to experience other realms of being, and manifest joy, wonder and magic – all things that make life worth living. Read more>>
Luis Arroyo
I think people have lost their sense of tact — we’ve underestimated the importance of having real, face-to-face conversations. Over time, I’ve tried to stay as close as possible to genuine human interaction. I still use texting, but mainly as a bridge to what really matters — meeting people in person, looking them in the eye, and sharing time that feels real. Read more>>
Irina Whitmer
The freedom to be yourself and to make your own choices, as long as they don’t harm others. I believe everyone deserves the space to express their truth without judgment or pressure to conform. For me, inclusion means not only accepting differences but celebrating them. Read more>>
Jaelan Mitchell
The cultural value anyone should protect is being true to yourself. We’ve all had or still have people in our lives that we don’t grow or benefit from. It should never be a one side of the coin only thing. You have to cut off dead branches for your tree to grow. Read more>>
Will Jackson
That it’s not about the mistakes you make, it’s about the action that follows. I remember playing a gig in my early 20’s, drumming with an originals band on an important EP launch gig. The gig started well, then I made quite a bad mistake halfway into the first song. I capitulated after that. Read more>>
Amy Lin
The most surprising thing I’ve learned about my customers is how often we settle. We wish, hope, and dream about living our ideal life—but we rarely go after it. We settle for the job, the relationship, the income, or the city we live in. Not because we don’t want more, but because we can’t see how it’s possible. Read more>>
Caleb Davis
I started with Soundly Speaking with little awareness about the adults with IDD population. I have learned so much since I started, but the most interesting thing to me has been their motivations. So many people discount our clients and what they are capable of. Read more>>
Barbara Evers
My customers, of course, are readers, but I’ve been amazed at the wide age range of my fans. I wrote THE WATCHERS OF MONIAH trilogy for an audience of women in their twenties and thirties and expected it might easily crossover to older YA and New Adult readers. Read more>>
Masha Titova
I used to see New York Fashion Week as the ultimate marker of success. I thought that once I was on the official calendar, everything would fall into place. But after experiencing it firsthand and talking to other designers, I’ve realized it’s more hype than impact. Read more>>
Marie Buquicchio
Something I changed my mind about fairly recently in life is voting. Yes, I mean voting for our elected officials. I never really voted when I was younger ~ but as I get older I am beginning to see the power in it. Honestly, I am not entirely sure humans will ever get things right ~ greed of power and money rule us. Read more>>
Sylvia Larrass
I always believed that it was imperative to stay on top of the news in order to be current, cultivated and intelligent. But lately, with all the volatility and chaos I’ve decided much of the news causes more inner turmoil than anything else. I therefore curate my news sources very carefully, and sometimes I avoid it altogether. Read more>>
Maricela Ramirez Loaeza
I remember I had turned five years old and my town had started registering first-grade elementary school students. Since there were no kindergarten classes, I didn’t qualify for elementary school. Eager to go to school, I asked my mother to register me. My mother calmly told me that I wouldn’t have to attend school until the following year, when I would turn six. Read more>>
IMAN
The moment I felt most loved was the first time I held my son. Until then, love had often felt uncertain or conditional. But in that instant, I felt a pure, unwavering love that reached parts of me I didn’t even know were waiting. That love reflected my worth back to me. Read more>>
Symiah Saulsberry
I’d say the last time I felt true joy was about a week ago. A bride came in after having her dress altered at another shop in Atlanta, where unfortunately, the seamstress had done a not so good job. With just two weeks left before her wedding, she reached out to me in a panic, hoping I could fix it. Read more>>
Randall Kenneth Jones
Almost 30 years ago, my then 66-year-old father, newly retired, called me with some essential advice. Knowing that I’m happiest when I’m involved in a project — when I’m ‘creating’ something — he warned me, ‘This retirement thing is NOT going to work for you.’ Of course, I knew he was right. Read more>>
Courtney Buchanan
You know, the last time I felt that kind of pure, deep-down joy—the kind that just makes you sit back and go, “Wow, this is it”—was actually on this totally spontaneous adventure I took with my son. We were supposed to just slip away for two days, just a little reset, nothing major. Read more>>
Mary Hrbacek
When I was able to relocate my downstairs studio in my building, back to a studio similar to the one I lost due to toxic fumes 12 years ago. Read more>>
Emily M. Gould
Oof. These questions are going straight for my heart haha. I have a lot of very happy memories as a child. I also have a lot of really hard and heavy memories of being sad and being scared but not wanting to tell anyone. There was abuse in my home growing up. Read more>>
Kimberly Brandon
When I was sad or scared as a child, prayer was always my comfort. Even when I didn’t fully understand everything, I knew that talking to God brought me peace. It helped calm my fears and reminded me that I wasn’t alone, no matter what I was facing. Read more>>
Rachel Ruff
I have a great imagination and the gift of creativity which became evident to my parents from as early as a two year old. Friends and family used to laugh that I always brought along my imaginary friend. Yet now as an adult, I realize my “friend” was actually my guardian angel who I still make sure to talk to. Read more>>
Adara Meyers
The notion that human creativity’s highest purpose is to serve technological automation. I can’t overstate how much I disagree with this! Mechanical processes should support — not control, not direct — our ability to think, feel, question, and create for any and all reasons we dream of. Read more>>
Duquesa D Dean
I think smart people today are getting a few really important things wrong. We’ve become so focused on culture’s expectations that we’ve started to measure our worth by achievement instead of alignment. Too many believe that climbing the corporate ladder matters more than nurturing family, or that success means constant motion even if it costs your peace. Read more>>
Wendy Schonfeld, DC
If you spend just one day with us at RideAbility, the answer to “Who am I learning from?” becomes very clear. At RideAbility, our mission is to serve children and young adults with diverse disabilities — including Autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others. Read more>>
Harry Guest
As you hone your voice in the filmmaking space it’s really crucial to find inspiration. I’ve been watching and learning from some of the filmmakers that inspire me, both on and off set. Read more>>
Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ifediba
I really admire Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece — not because of his power, but because of his character. Luffy leads with heart. He’s fearless, loyal, and has this unshakable belief in his friends and his dreams. What makes him special isn’t his strength — it’s his ability to make others believe in themselves. Read more>>
Anthony Campney
This will sound like I’m trying to score brownie points at home, but that would be my wife. She maintains a calm serenity most days that helps me work through my anxieties and hang-ups before she’s even said a word. And that’s not something she had to do deliberately, it’s just the way she is. Read more>>
Pamela Patrick White
My circle of friends and artists are mostly historically minded such as myself. I have found these people who are focused on history are some of the most grounded good to be around folks I know. Our focus on history comes first and we help each other learn what is needed to complete our individual artistic creations. Read more>>
Ray Keys
I would keep doing exactly what I am today: building a community. If you’ve ever been that person who didn’t get invited to something, or felt like they didn’t belong, community is important. Read more>>
Shaudy Prince
A lot has misunderstood how much it’s grown, and how much success it has brought me which isn’t just monetary. There are people I haven’t talked to in decades who see my material and think they can message me who feel we can just pick up from where we left off yet I am in a whole other frequency & a whole other mindset now! Read more>>
greg capozzi
My wife has always been my biggest cheerleader and believes in me more than I believe in myself to this day. She has instilled confidence in me, since that is something I struggle with. Read more>>
Jenni Porter
My relationship with my dad shaped so much of who I am. He passed a few years ago, but his voice still shows up in the quiet moments reminding me who I am and what matters. He was the one who taught me that integrity and effort are everything and that no one can take away how hard you work or how you show up. Read more>>
Benedictar Sibanda
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is my relationship with God. It’s the foundation of my identity and the source of my strength. Before I truly embraced that connection, I often felt the pressure to be someone else or to fit into certain expectations. Read more>>
Alana
I’ve learned that everything happens in divine timing, even when it doesn’t make sense in the moment. I believe that kindness, consistency, and authenticity will always open doors that force alone can’t. I also hold tight to the truth that what’s meant for me will always find me, as long as I keep showing up and doing the work. Read more>>
Friederike Ablang
I think peace is the most important cultural value, it needs to be upheld the most. “Without peace everything is nothing.” Said Willy Brandt and I agree 100 per cent. Read more>>
Hannah Josselyn
So back in February 2025 we opened a second location. It wasnt the best location but our landlords offered us a really good deal we felt like we couldn’t pass on. It was 1500 square feet so coming from a 500 square foot space to that was huge. Read more>>
LASAUNIA THOMPSON
At this very moment, in this very season. Back in April, I made the executive decision to quit my job, and by May, I decided to sell my house and move to an entirely new state. It was a bold move, but by far the best decision I’ve made in a very long time. Read more>>
Scott Mason
The idea that the entirety of human experience, and the value of individual humans, can or should be measured by arbitrary metrics — things like KPIs, productivity stats, actuarial tables, or spreadsheets … or, just as insidiously (and evil), by academic frameworks and other dissertation-style constructs. Numbers and intellectual scaffoldings have their place. But they are also totally reductive. Read more>>
Carlos Kareem Windham
On the morning that we learned that Assata Shakur has returned to the cosmos, I have to say her. I mean, you asked about giving up. She was hunted, shot and shackled by this government. Read more>>
Makina Winters, REALTOR, PMP, CSM
Absolutely! I’d hire me in a heartbeat and not just because I believe in myself, but because I run a business, not a hobby. I bring a powerful mix of professionalism, passion, and purpose to everything I do. I don’t just chase transactions; I create transformations. Read more>>
