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.
Alyssa Lostetter Cortez
Hello there! My name is Alyssa Lostetter Cortez, and I am an independent fashion designer, seamstress and alterations specialist. I come from a long line of talented seamstresses on my dad’s side, so you could say that this profession has always been in my blood! I studied Fashion Design in college and then immediately moved to New York City to start my career. While there, I worked for brands such as Ann Taylor/Loft, Walmart & Nike, all while doing alterations and custom designs for private clients on the side. Read More>>
Blair Sohl
I spent the first 5 years of my life between the small towns of Apline and Ozona TX where my parents were teachers and I had a relatively normal early childhood. We moved to San Antonio when I was 6 years old. My grandmother passed away when I was 9 years old and that sent my family into some turbulance. My parents seperated and I moved across town with my mom where she provided the most stable home she could. Read More>>
D’ante Benton
We specialize in everything tint. Commercial, Residential and automotive. What sets us apart is our reliablity. A lot of window tinters are known to be lazy so we strive to always be accessible and prompt. We try and help people as much as possible, even going above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction. Im most proud of the team and culture were building here. Something that clients will enjoy and most importantly or employess enjoy what they do. Film application is an art and every installer is an artist. its our job to make our clients feel that i have a piece of that art everywhere they go. Read More>>
Corey Larry Jr
When i Got to highschool at Douglas MacArthur Highschool on the cities North East Side is when Khari Was KHARI. I Stuck to my name and that’s officially what i was called and i was simply known for being a Artist. So much for the fact that i was asked to REMAKE the historically known school theme song in District history titled “ We Are Mac” which was even accompanied with a Music Video Shot ON school campus specifically during end of year testing to show the true colors of Mac. I am now 19 Getting ready to turn 20 On January 15th and getting ready to release my 10th full size Album in the 4 years ive been making music. Read More>>
Tony Maples
In high school, I moved from team sports to a skateboard. I wanted something that demanded my own blood and bruises, something where success or failure was all mine. That got me into photography, web design, I started working on cars, and eventually, running small businesses. By my twenties, I was deep into this “go with the flow” mentality. I was teaching photography workshops, managing creative projects, building custom cars, running a social media/marketing company that even had a print magazine I designed and printed seasonally, A LOT I know. All these random things that didn’t exactly spell ‘success,’ but felt like progress! Read More>>
Maria Castillo
My name is Maria Castillo, owner of the newly local photography business: Magik Pics. I started Magik Pics in March of 2024 with the pursuit of perfecting my photography skills, providing the highest quality pictures to my customers, as well as add all images to my Journalistic portfolio. Graduating from the University of Incarnate Word back in December of 2022 with a BA in Communication Arts and Concentration in Journalism, equipped me to confidently operate my business plus produce an excellent amount of content for everyone who gives Magik Pics a chance. Read More>>
Elizabeth Haegelin
But once I took the time to really dive in, practice, and experiment, everything started to click. Figuring out how to use light to enhance a scene and mastering editing techniques unlocked a new level of creativity for me. It allowed me to focus more on the storytelling aspect of photography and bring my ideas to life. Overcoming those hurdles has made the journey even more rewarding and has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Read More>>
Michael Coats
I then moved to Texas, working as a Juvenile Detention Officer, but my passion for helping others extended beyond the confines of my job. In 2009, I began teaching, motivated by a desire to inspire and encourage the next generation. Around this time, I reconnected with some of my Air Force friends who had found a shared love for photography. Their passion reignited a spark within me, but financial constraints meant I could only admire from afar, occasionally borrowing their cameras and soaking in their conversations. Read More>>
Manny Vega
I moved from Odessa, Texas to San Antonio nearly 20 years ago, always feeling a deep connection to the world of art. It seemed only natural to embrace the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in the realms of drag performance and male entertainment. Along the way, I discovered a passion for photography. It all started in 2015 when a friend gifted me a camera, and I instantly saw the creative potential it offered. I began taking photos of my partner and friends, and soon my approach evolved. I experimented with dramatic lighting and dedicated more time to perfecting my photo editing. Read More>>
Casey Stratton
My journey into photography started when I was younger. I’d spend time with my friends taking photos using disposable cameras, picking outfits, and exploring new locations. Photography was always something I enjoyed, even though my husband used to tease me about constantly stopping to take pictures. But over time, as we looked back on memories—whether it was our adventures together or how much our children had grown—he came to appreciate those moments I captured. In fact, he’s now my biggest cheerleader. Read More>>
Victoria Cortez
I’ve always had a passion for self-care and helping others, which inspired me to pursue a career as an esthetician after moving to San Antonio. In late October of this year, I proudly opened my own practice, specializing in women’s health and wellness. As a luxury esthetician, I create personalized treatment plans and customized skincare routines, ensuring every client’s experience is uniquely tailored and infused with a personal touch. Read More>>
Martha Rose Lim
My love for baking truly blossomed when I learned how to make the notorious French macarons. I’ve been baking them for almost 10 years and they still give me a hard time. I started baking macarons when I was a junior in high school. I was curious about them and I thought they were so cute. I learned by walking YouTube videos and taught myself through trial and error. My friends encouraged me to start selling macarons in school and they sort of became a staple midday snack. Fast forward to after I graduated college, June 2020, I started attending pop up markets. I sold over a thousand macarons in less than 5 hours at my first market. Then, I started dabbling with making vegan versions of all the things I bake. By doing that, I’ve met so many amazing people. Read More>>
Uzair Iqbal
The name Indus comes from the Indus Valley in Pakistan and we wanted to bring that cultural heritage and knowledge to couples in San Antonio. Since then, we have done furniture rentals, mehndi, nikkah, wedding, valima, birthday, baby shower, banquet decorations across Texas. Since our sofa rental in 2023, we have become a one-stop for all wedding services including: halal catering, DJ, venue search, make-up artists, henna artists and more. Our understanding of Pakistani and Indian culture along with a wide array of services offered is what separates us from other decorators and event planners in Central Texas. Indus Occasions began in 2023, but our family has been based in San Antonio since 2005 and we hope to serve our neighbors and fellow Texans for many years to come. Read More>>
Brent Johnson
From a young age, I realized my family was different. My parents and older sister struggled with significant health challenges—my dad relying on handfuls of medications every morning, my sister taking Ritalin at an early age, and my mom on antidepressants. Despite the love we shared, there was an absence of goals or a unified vision for our future. Even as a little boy, I felt something wasn’t right. I made a promise to myself then: I would choose a different path. I would find a way to help others live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Read More>>
Armando Camina
The Non-Profit is fiercely competitive. To stand out, you must not only have a compelling mission but the vision to connect the dots. Read More>>
Mariah Porras
Hey y’all! My name is Mariah. I’m a small-town girl living in the big city of San Antonio. Originally, I was born and raised in a town called Chamberino in the state of New Mexico. Chamberino has a population of 687 citizens as of this year. So, when I say small town…I mean it! My upbringing and culture have deeply influenced me as a person. Chamberino is a little town with not much going on, but the people you find there is what make the town full of heart. I am one-third Native American Comanche Indian and proud. The culture of Native Americans has always intrigued me; the colors in their clothing and lifestyle have had an influence on photography editing style. Read More>>
Christine Brinkman
My journey to where I am today has been anything but linear—it’s been a winding road full of pivots, lessons, and unexpected joys. I always knew I wanted to create something that allowed me to build meaningful connections and build community.
It all started when I owned Kienbee Boutique, a sweet business where I was sewing keepsakes. through that business I began connecting with other handmade women owned businesses.
Eventually, life shifted, and I found myself craving something deeper—something that combined my love for connection with my desire to empower others. That’s how Babes Support Babes was born. It started as a small market in 2018, where women entrepreneurs could showcase their talents, connect with others, and grow their businesses. From there, it evolved into a full-fledged women’s entrepreneur community, becoming a safe and inspiring space where women could feel supported, inspired, and seen. Read More>>
