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San Antonio’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Alma Torres

Hi my name is Alma Torres, I’m a Certified Makeup Artist. I started my makeup journey in 2020 I believe when COVID-19 hit, at that time I didn’t have any passion, til my cousin told me to do makeup lives & content. I didn’t know anything about makeup, didn’t know how to blend my eyeshadow or put lashes til I practice and practice, I kept going & love what I was doing entertaining my views on my live by doing makeup. I had gotten better with my makeup techniques, the next step i wanted was to work on clients better my work more. I went to school in 2024 got Certified for Makeup Artist, I learned a lot when I was in the beauty school from sanitation, to technique & business. I honestly came along way & just love what I do. Read More>>

Pedro Lujan

Once I decided to return to the training world, I knew I would do things a little differently. I wanted to present a lot of the behind-the-scenes to the public. I wanted my clients to see how their dogs were adjusting, performing, and progressing. I believe this approach made for a personable experience. Potential clients, upon our first meeting, would ask about my dogs or dogs currently enrolled in training since they were able to track their experience with us. By the end of the first year, we moved into our first training facility. Wag-A-Holics was able to expand its reach, helping more dogs than ever. We won Best of Dog Training in the City of Seguin and Top 3 Best Dog Boarding in New Braunfels. Read More>>

Ed Huerta

Thankfully, not many! Learning how to DJ is exponentially easier now than it was a few decades ago when we weren’t living in the current age of technology. I had a couple of colleagues teach me the basics of DJing and I availed myself of tutorials from reputable DJ schools. Thankfully, I learned fast and I became a proficient DJ rather quickly. The most important piece, however, is practice. Without practice, there is no progress. I’ve invested many hours honing my DJ, MC & audio management skills. Nonetheless, the learning process never ends as technology is continually advancing. Read More>>

Mitzi Villalobos

I’ve always been a pretty big nerd, and surprise! I ended up majoring in BIOMEDIAL ENGINEERING at University of Texas at Austin as a pre-med. I genuinely thought I was going to go to medical school one day, but after my freshman year, I realized that I hated all my classes (and my life!) and needed to pursue something else. So, I majored in Business & Merchandising. I grew up in the Southside of San Antonio and my parents tried to support me as best they could, but I still had to work a part-time job while attending school full time, so I bounced around with jobs at CVS and then a pretty cool startup. But the thought always lingered of what I was going to do after graduation, so I decided to look for a job that could maybe introduce me to something more “lifelong”. Read More>>

Xavier Layton

The biggest struggle has been the clothing itself. Yes, the research is difficult and time consuming, and the content is hard to keep up with, but finding good historical reproductions or high quality antiques has definitely been (and largely still is) one of the biggest struggles for me. This interest is so niche that most costumers make their own clothing, but I’ve tried my hand at it and I’ve found that tailoring is not at all something I’m passionate about doing myself. Read More>>

Marla Hamann

Our first baby was only 5 weeks when we lost him or her. That pregnancy ended in me losing a fallopian tube because of an ectopic pregnancy. When I went to the doctor for a follow up to make sure everything was ok so we could try again, the doctor found a cyst that was life threatening. I was told I was going to need emergency surgery because if that cyst burst, I could die immediately. So that same day, I had surgery to clean out the toxins that were already inside my body and the blood that was a sign that I could go at any minute. The doctors told me that I had an angel watching down on me because I was a ticking time bomb. Read More>>

Female Executives

Founded in 2018 by our leader Morgan Taplin, Female Executives of Texas began as a vision to create a space where Black and Brown women in business could feel supported, empowered, and celebrated. Morgan saw a gap in the resources and sisterhood available to women of color pursuing entrepreneurship and leadership, and she was determined to fill it. Over time, her vision grew into a thriving community built on our shared mantra: empower, educate, celebrate, and collaborate. Read More>>

Sergio Guerra

I decided to leave Texas State University’s Music Education program to pursue FX Makeup full time. I read as many books as I could and bought videos on the subject but found that most artists didn’t want to reveal all of the secrets to their illusions, so I made trial and error my teacher. Eventually, I was able to fill in the gaps that were missing in the information I could find with the real-life results from the experiments and trials I was undertaking and began working as an FX Makeup Artist professionally. First, in Haunted Houses and eventually in Film, Tv, and stage. Read More>>

Gabriel Highland

In 2018 I started Heart Productions as a primarily birth (and newborn) photography and videography company and secured contracts with a couple hospital systems here and in Austin. At the same time I also purchased a photo studio company that would compliment our services after the families left the hospital. The goal would be to become a one-stop-shop for all the needs of a growing family that would want to capture their moments. We hired a staff of experienced photographers to help us capture the needs of every new (or returning) mom that wanted to capture these moments Read More>>

Sean & Samantha Penner

After we finally opened our doors, we realized from day one that we would not be able to run the place by ourselves, and had to quickly start looking for help. It took us about a month to find someone to alleviate some of the pressure from us, as the community had shown up in a much bigger way than we had ever dreamed, and we had a line out the door almost as soon as we opened, which we were incredibly grateful for, and also shocked by. Read More>>

Amy Bierstedt

After a decade as a veterinary technician, and then a decade as a children’s portrait photographer, making fell into my lap as I wanted to make changes to my family’s health. We had moved onto acreage, started a garden, began raising hens, even started catching rainwater. And I switched to cooking and baking from-scratch. That ended up becoming the gateway to ALL the research, recipes, testing and trying, and family and friends’ feedback, to start making my own products. Read More>>

Emily Ballard

My husband & I moved down here in 2013 for his job & I left all that I ever knew back home near Chicago, IL. Since then we’ve been blessed with two boys, who are about 5 years apart to the day. I now photograph on-location for families, but I also am blessed to have a studio and a greenhouse space on our property. Those extra spaces are great for being able to photograph family, maternity, newborn & milestone sessions. Read More>>

Lambo Warren

Fast forward to 2016, he releases his first mixtape aimed towards his female fans titled “Thongs, Boyshorts, & G-Strings”. 2018 arrives and Lambo releases his best project yet titled “Higgs Boson” this album is sentimental to him because this was the album that he actually received the fruits of his labor and seen his hard-work, expertise, dedication and patience pay off, he received “Best Album Release” from Insanely Gifted Radio in Austin, TX, a few months later in the same year he receives the “Best Independent Hip Hop Artist” award at the Independent Music Awards in Topeka, KS. He’s currently in the studio working on new material while looking forward to the future. Read More>>

Devon Mathews

I’ve done everything from stock theatre at San Pedro Playhouse (A Christmas Carol, DreamGirls, and The Full Monty) as well as Gospel and church stage plays. I mean there isn’t too much about performing arts that I haven’t tried. I can now add filmmaker, producer, casting director, location scout, and dramaturg to the list of credits. And if that isn’t enough, I’m the owner and lead baker of Soul Butter Bakery Co. a licensed home bakery here in San Antonio. I’m a Southern scratch baker and cook; and no matter the medium, whether stage, music, film, or food, I like to make people smile. Read More>>

Kristan Hibron

My first professional experience was in high school when I was introduced to booking live music performances at the cafe where I worked. Before long I branched out to other venues around town coordinating everything involving talent, sound, lighting, promotion, admission, and more. It gave me valuable insight into how business works and what it takes to be successful on your own. It takes a lot and at the time I deemed it to be too demanding. I decided that getting a business degree and securing a comfortable 9 to 5 was the way to go. Read More>>

Ted Kelly

Then, the worldwide pandemic in 2020 changed everything. Restaurants shut down, and I found myself out of a job and unsure what steps to take next. I was very concerned about the empty grocery shelves, the disruptions to the supply lines, as well as wanting to prioritize my health. I had always been a proponent of using fresh and local ingredients, and had enjoyed gardening, but something clicked that year and I really started putting in work to figure out how i can grow as many of my own ingredients as possible. Read More>>

Valerie Velez

Beyond getting sober, I felt a powerful call to do something more. I didn’t want others to feel like they had to sacrifice connection, enjoyment, or fulfillment. So, I set out to explore and curate a non-alcoholic drink shop. We are offering people choices that align with their values, whether they’re sober curious, in recovery, or simply seeking a healthier lifestyle. Our menu goes beyond just being non-alcoholic but we take ingredients seriously. We chose beverages that are free of artificial dyes, flavorings, low sugars, and carcinogenic preservatives. I’m passionate about educating others on how to redefine socializing and drinking culture, one purposeful drink at a time. Read More>>

Amber Veliz

for the most part smooth I have felt connecting with people and clients comes quite natural for me however starting out in the business can be intimidating. I spent a-lot of time in the salon taking any clients I could, staying late coming in early or my days of to really hustle to be able to build the clientele I have now. also moving cities can always be a set back. however i still have clients from san Diego and Austin I see regularly. Read More>>

Amber Nemer-Garcia

Definitely not! Like any journey worth taking, there have been plenty of challenges along the way. Starting NEMERS BOUTIQUE while still navigating the demands of a corporate career has been no small feat. Juggling my roles as a business owner, realtor, mom, and corporate professional has pushed me to the limit at times, but it’s also taught me how strong and capable I can be Read More>>

Claudia Saunders

I am the proud owner of The Beauty Lounge hair salon. This is where I also serve my clientele. My team and I specialize in hair extensions, natural hair care, and braids. A few things set us apart like the fact that we are considered a black hair salon but we serve ALL hair types. We have clients from all races and we are honored to be trusted by all. Many salons tend to target one specific clientele. Read More>>

Crystal Perez-Jimenez

I’m a cosmetologist, hairstylist and business owner. I love helping people achieve a hair style or color they have found and my most favorite thing is being given the opportunity to use my creativity and surprise someone with a style or color they would not normally pick and they end up LOVING! Read More>>

Michael Avila Christman

I started out taking pictures of still life subjects or animals, but found myself quickly drawn back to one of my long-time loves – taking pictures of amazing faces. I started walking around downtown doing street photography, taking pictures of interesting people, and interesting things going happening on the street. At first, it was a little nerve wracking – for no reason at all, honestly – dealing with “Imposter syndrome.” I felt weird walking around with a camera like I was some kind of photographer. I felt self conscious just walking around with a camera out. But pushing through it, I really began to love taking real life in the moment shots, “documentary” style. Read More>>

Joe Smarro

In 2020, I decided to leave law enforcement and take what I had learned to a broader audience. I founded SolutionPoint+, a company dedicated to training first responders, public safety workers, and others in the fields of de-escalation, wellness, and resiliency. Our mission is to bridge the gap between public safety and behavioral health, and our programs have impacted thousands of individuals across the country. Read More>>

George Swarner

The challenges have been the frustration of seeing needs and no seeing the people of San Antonio responding. Texas Ramp Project builds over 170 ramps each year but we need to build four times that amount to meet the area’s needs. Our homeless and poverty levels are horrendous and we do not see the response necessary to alleviate the situation. Where I find peace is knowing that I am doing what I can to help. I can not fix all the problems or help all the people but I can fix one issue and help one person. Read More>>

Shelby Hayward

I started Shelby’s Dae-ly Meals in 2016 as a way to help my mom, she had been personal training for about 5 years already and was having such a hard time with her diet. I started reading books and articles and attending online seminars to learn more about health and nutrition. It quickly became apparent to me that this was always the path that was meant for me. Read More>>

Jesselyn Gordon

I don’t think any road is smooth! However going through struggles with the artists and friends around me has made everything feel much more normal and less overwhelming. I think once I realized that everyone else is just as confused as I am made it seem a lot less daunting. Asking for guidance through understanding peoples’ unique stories and experiences has only propelled me into what I am doing. Community is everything to me, and we can only achieve things together. So not a smooth path, but it’s like I am running a tough-mudder or something and there are people giving me water and snacks along the way. Read More>>

Selene Abad

I have practiced yoga my entire adult life. In 2020 I took the plunge into teacher training. It was a magical experience The opportunity to break out of “quarantine” and be in community with a group of women was truly a gift in hard times. I began teaching immediately after graduating the training program, and have been teaching and continuing my education since. Currently I teach at several Crunch Fitness Locations, Studio 108 Yoga and Healing Center, Flores Street Yoga, as well as offering private lessons at my own MoonVine Yoga Studio in King William. Read More>>

Sebastian Linke

Shortly after arriving, I turned my passion for endurance sports into a career, racing triathlons professionally for 10 years. Competing in Ironman races not only pushed my physical and mental boundaries but also instilled in me a deep appreciation for resilience, discipline, and the importance of health as the foundation for achieving greatness. Read More>>

Jose Roberto Alaniz, Jr.

My name is Jose Roberto Alaniz, Jr. and I grew up in San Antonio close to Edison High School. I remember sitting at the table as a young man watching my dad read the paper and drink his percolator Folgers coffee. After my enlistment in the Navy, we settled near Mom and Dad’s house, and I would go by in the mornings before work and drink coffee and read the Express News Newspaper with Dad. Dad worked at the Express News for over 30 years and was an Air Force veteran. Read More>>

Cecilio Martinez

Then, everything changed when my close cousin was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. We were the same age, with similar life paths—both married and starting families. A year later, he passed away, and it shook me to my core. He was always the strong one, the one I thought would get through anything. His death made me rethink everything. I considered leaving my job at the USGS to return to school and pursue a degree in Multimedia Graphic Arts. It was a terrifying decision, and I wasn’t sure if it was the right one. But my wife supported me wholeheartedly and encouraged me to go for it. So I did. Read More>>

Lisa Carrington Firmin

I write from a place of both pain and joy, I am a storyteller helping to educate others. Although my journey included sexual assault, sexual harassment and discrimination, it also included some outstanding experiences with colleagues and those few who eventually became my mentors or sponsors. Their support and guidance meant everything to me and allowed me to enter spaces that someone like me could never get into. I am the leader across varied ecosystems because of their early intervention and my own doggedness, never give up attitude. Read More>>

Shelby Criswell

I find it funny when people ask me when I started making art because I’m one of those kids who started drawing but never stopped. I knew I wanted to be an artist all my life– I wasn’t sure what kind but I knew I’d end up with a creative career. My family always fostered my imagination and pushed me to pursue art, and I’m happy to say that I’m living out my dreams. I’ve been a full-time artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and comic artist for nearly ten years. Read More>>

Yitzchak Pierson

From there, I’ve continued to grow personally and professionally. I’ve earned numerous designations and certifications, completing over 750 hours of advanced training, which places me in the top 2% of REALTORS® in Texas. I’ve also embraced leadership roles, serving as the Chairperson for the Four Rivers Association of REALTORS® NextGen Committee and being involved with The New Braunfels Jaycees, on the Philanthropy Committee and the Professional Standards Committee for Texas REALTORS® as well as the Board of Directors at The Four Rivers Association or REALTORS® and I was Voted Best Real Estate Agent in New Braunfels Texas in 2024 by the New Braunfels Herald Zeitung. Read More>>

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