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.
Abigail Hasberry
Because of the gap in therapy options for members of the adoption constellation, I also train other therapists on adoption informed therapy best practices. I am also an author and speaker. My memoir, Adopting Privilege: A Memoir of Reinventing My Adoptee Narrative, highlights my experiences as a transracial adoptee, a Black infant adopted by a white family, and as a teenager who relinquished a baby under coercion. However, it is also a story of identity development and healing. Read more>>
Karissa Odom
One year when I was 20 years old celebrating Christmas with my family and future husband, My dad presented me with an envelope containing the formation of a company he created using the name Karissa’s Creations. I was currently a manager at Jasons’s deli in San Antonio and creating a company was nowhere on my radar. Having gone to Texas State University for a degree in Marine Biology and miserably failing Chemistry, I was back home working trying to figure out what to do with my life. Read more>>
Ashley Langham
I started my career in investment banking in compliance in the UK and Australia. On paper, I was following a “successful path.” But over time, I felt increasingly disconnected, internally drained, craving meaning and alignment. The culture in Investment Banking was also disingenuous, and I experienced a lot of microaggressions. Read more>>
Jesse Hernandez Jr
We started Living Word Apostolic Center over 21 years ago on June 6, 2004. We started with a vision of not just opening another church but a church that was more interested in experiencing the God of the bible and not the religious practices we see so much of today. Read more>>
Sam Platts
I grew up in southern Wyoming and learned to play guitar from my dad. My dad is a luthier and also a musician. Started touring and playing professionally in my early 20’s. I worked with a group called Wylie and the Wild West in my early twenties and was able to tour Russia, China, Australia, and France with them. Read more>>
Karen Mostello
A Floresville native, my passion for animals shaped both my life and my career from an early age. I spent my childhood with a huge passion for anything with fur or feathers. I always felt extremely connected to the animals and truly enjoyed training and showing them. I competed with my horses almost every weekend throughout my youth. Read more>>
Leslie Bellieu
At 19 years old, I moved from El Paso, TX to San Diego, CA to finish school. I was pre-med and lifeguarding to make ends meet. I was hired on at a non-profit in El Cajon called, ‘St. Madeline’s Sophie Center,’ and it changed my life. Read more>>
Ada Watt
I am a local to South Texas, born and raised. My family has deep roots here. I married my childhood sweetheart and have been married for almost 30 years. I was a school teacher till I left teaching to take care of my parents. After their passing, I wanted to work at Nest Feathers part time because I loved people and /I loved our community. Read more>>
Michael Eisenhauer
Growing up as the youngest child, I had the opportunity to witness my father build his business from the ground up in the United States with my immagrante mother. As I entered my preteen years, around 8-10 years old, I began accompanying him on weekends to distribute flyers on rollerblades with my friends, contributing to the growth of his business. Read more>>
New World Spanish Laura Chavez
When I joined New World Spanish, the school had already started its journey, but I felt a deep calling to take it in a new direction-one that reflected connection, culture and heart. I wanted to create something that went beyond teaching grammar or vocabulary, something that allowed people to truly experience the richness of the Spanish language and the warmth of Latin culture. Read more>>
Maria Rosario
My journey, like many parents, started at home, prioritizing my kids. But I’ve always had a creative itch and a desire to contribute financially—nothing crazy, just something to help us out. That led me down a few fun paths over the years. I tried selling intricate 3D paper crafts, making face masks back in 2020, and crafting beautiful polymer clay jewelry and woven cushion covers. Read more>>
Andrea Robertson
I began practicing massage therapy 19 years ago, driven by a deep fascination with human anatomy and a holistic approach to healing the mind and body. Throughout my career, I have faced challenges related to a visual impairment diagnosis, yet I remained determined to overcome every obstacle placed in my path. Read more>>
Donna Roybal
My road to becoming a doctor was never straightforward – more like a scenic detour with a few costume changes. Medicine may be my second career, but it was always my first love. I still remember making a doctor’s kit out of cardboard when I was five. Read more>>
Stacie Schlogel
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) is a non-profit organization that stands on the following virtues: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. We were founded in 1867 and were known as the Jolly Corks, The founding members were all actors and entertainers. As the membership grew, some were more community-focused. Read more>>
Andrea Griffiths
I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, surrounded by hardworking people who didn’t just talk about resilience, they lived it. Those early years shaped the way I began to see the world: you don’t wait for opportunity, you build it, piece by piece, even when no one is watching. My career didn’t begin with a grand plan. Read more>>
Katrina Stacy
My floral preservation journey began pretty unexpectedly. When my best friend got married, I tucked a few blooms from her bouquet and put them into a tiny keepsake frame. I had no idea what I was doing — only a handful of flowers survived that first press — but even with imperfect results, something in me lit up. Read more>>
Emily and Adriana Terrazas
Our story starts back in 2020, right before the start of the pandemic. Both of us had planned Adriana’s sweet 16 on our own, found a love for the party industry, and thought about creating our own party business. Read more>>
Junki Hong
I started Taekwondo when I was six years old. At that time, I was very shy, lacked confidence, and was often picked on. My father encouraged me to try Taekwondo to help me become stronger, so I began training. Over the years, Taekwondo completely changed my life. I gained confidence, discipline, and a deep passion for the art. Read more>>
Scott Myers
I got the idea of going into real estate because my mother took me to the career center at SMU when I was about 16 years old in order to get some idea of what type of career would be a good fit for me. Read more>>
Jessica Maldonado
I started selling real estate 11 years ago to provide some additional income for our family and quickly feel in love with helping people and learning all aspects of the profession. Read more>>
Hailey Stevens
It actually all started with a few peacock chairs. I fell in love with how beautiful and timeless they looked in photos, so I bought a couple to rent out for small gatherings and before I knew it, people started reaching out nonstop to use them for weddings, baby showers, and photo shoots. That little idea quickly turned into something much bigger. Read more>>
Rene Sanchez
I was hired on as a walk-in shop hand with no experience at a local billboard company in the late 90’s. After wroking my way up through that business and teaching myself, salse design, and installation I realized a greater potential for my self as an enmtrpenuer. Read more>>
Faith Perez
I would say the why of what I do started when I joined the United Stated Army. I served over 14 years with three combat tours, twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. I was trained as a combat medic where I learned, saw, and endured much throughout my time as a soldier and as a leader. Read more>>
Kewaine Smith
I grew up in an environment that emphasized responsibility early on, not out of hardship, but out of expectation. From a young age, I was encouraged to take my education seriously, think independently, and aim beyond what was considered average. Confidence was never something I had to develop — it was consistently reinforced through structure, support, and belief. Read more>>
Jennifer Oliver
I am a proud mom of 2 young adults and I celebrated my 20 year wedding anniversary this year with my husband. I am a naturally organized person that needs structure to function. I have a medical background of 20 years where 15 of those years I worked in the Operating Room as a Certified Surgical Technologist. Read more>>
Nicholas Lewis
I began working with the Lewis Group as a sophomore in college while at UTSA. With some encouragement from my mother to get into the family business and after avoiding working in this ‘boring career field’, I joined and have never looked back. I became fully licensed in my senior year of college and hit the group running. Read more>>
Shelly Marquette
Old 300 BBQ was created to fill a real need in our small Texas Hill Country town, a place for great Texas BBQ served with genuine, welcoming hospitality. From the very beginning, our owners envisioned a family-run restaurant where locals and visitors alike could gather, slow down, and enjoy high-quality food made the right way. Read more>>
Cai Valdez
Purely Caiya started from a place of healing and rediscovery. I’m an Army veteran and a former teacher– after spending four years as a high school teacher I decided to step away from the classroom in order to focus on my mental health and recovery from PTSD. Read more>>
Jennifer Kok
My entrepreneurial journey started in a way that doesn’t make sense on paper but made perfect sense in my heart. I left a comfortable corporate job, complete with benefits, a company car, and a clear career path to buy a bakery franchise called Cookies by Design because I craved freedom and flexibility for me and my family. Two days later, I delivered my second daughter. Read more>>
Monica Valadez
I’ve always believed that our paths are shaped by the places and people we love most, and for me, that place has always been San Antonio. I’m originally from here and have spent my entire life rooted in this community. Read more>>
Tom & Eva Betsill
I got my Real Estate license in the beginning of 2019 and have worked full time in Real Estate since then. I got my Broker’s License at the end of 2023 and started a team with my wife, Eva, in 2024. I have been with Texas Edge Realty since 2021 and found a brokerage that truly feels like home. Read more>>
Stefanie Doran
My journey into ABA actually began through my own daughter. I was studying psychology when my youngest started struggling with speech, and her therapist suggested that she might benefit from ABA. At the time, I had no idea what ABA was, but once I started researching, I completely fell in love with the science. Read more>>
Johnny Murphy
Johnny Murphy grew up in Auburn, Alabama, where music was always present even though he didn’t pick up a guitar until after his 11th birthday. It wasn’t until much later that he began taking the instrument seriously. He first came to San Antonio in 2005 for Air Force basic training. Read more>>
John Atwood
I began my career as a corporate accountant for a large rental car company. This experience enhanced my skills with respect to financial analysis. My employment duties included overseeing the financial management of the corporation’s airport locations. Read more>>
Elissa Barker
My story really starts when I made the hard decision to drop out of UT Austin after my sister and brother were in a bad car accident. My heart was back home in Blanco, not in a classroom, so I came home to help my family. Read more>>
Mike Milan
I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming “Cash Flow Mike.” In fact, my career started in a completely different world — as a Missouri State Trooper. That experience taught me more about communication, human behavior, and staying calm in chaotic situations than any business school could. Read more>>
Kristin Tenery
Kristin Tenery Owner & Operator | SALT Wellness & Sports Recovery Kristin Tenery is the owner and operator of SALT Wellness & Sports Recovery, a holistic wellness center in Kerrville, Texas, dedicated to helping individuals restore balance in mind, body, and spirit. Read more>>
Margaret Hosseini Browder
Elite Tax has been part of my life for 22 years, but the real story started long before the firm existed. I grew up watching people I cared about struggle with money not because they were irresponsible but because they didn’t have anyone to guide them. Read more>>
Mollie Engelhart
“I was a lifelong vegetarian and built my career as a vegan chef in Los Angeles, opening several Sage Vegan Bistro restaurants and even starting a farm in California to deal with my restaurants’ food waste. Read more>>
Pili Gonzalez
My name is Pili González, and my journey began in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Since I was a little girl, my dream was to be a singer. I was always surrounded by music and would pretend to be a radio host—and guess what? I grew up carrying that same calling: to sing, to be close to music, and to communicate. Read more>>
Natalia Ilyasova
Hi, my name is Natalia, and I’m the founder of the boutique fitness studio “Wild & the Barre” in Redwood City, where we specialize in barre — a fun, full-body workout inspired by ballet but designed for everyone. The idea to create a Barre studio came to me about 6-7 years ago, but my story starts way before and further away from that. Read more>>
Jennifer Kopchak
My work with the Dolores Cannon technique, QHHT past life regressions along with Reiki and energy guidance, began as a personal search for deeper meaning. I’ve always been drawn to understanding why we feel, think, and act the way we do. Read more>>
Frank Tooker
My name is Frank Tooker, I currently live in New Braunfels and am the owner / operator of Frank Tooker Firearms Training. I am originally from Long Island NY where I grew up and worked until 2018. I was a Police Detective with the NYPD and later retired as a Police Officer with the Suffolk County Police Department in NY after 25 years of service. Read more>>
Carlos Rodriguez
Frosty Brothers started in 2018 as a simple side job. My kids encouraged me to try something of my own, and we thought an ice cream truck would be a fun way to bring in extra income while doing work I could actually enjoy. We began selling raspas and snacks in the San Antonio heat, and little by little, the business grew. Read more>>
