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.
Jess Olfson
My name is Jess Olfson, and I’ve been a hair stylist for over 15 years, specializing in men’s cuts and beards. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, George, and we have two girls Zoey and Daphne. I’ve had my own salon since 2018. Every day behind the chair still feels exciting to me, because I get to blend technical precision with real connection. Read more>>
Craig Lenard
I grew up in Kerrville, Texas, where some of my earliest memories are picking up nails on job sites and riding with my dad as he checked on homes. My journey eventually led me to Tarleton State University, where I earned a degree in agriculture education. I spent nearly ten years in education, ultimately serving as an agriculture teacher at Boerne High School. Read more>>
Tera Williams
Tera Williams — Founder. Healer. Survivor. My name is Tera Williams, known in my community as Teravive Aesthetics, and I am the Founder and Owner of The Hive Spa & Beauty Studio. At my core, I am a healer. Read more>>
Kenne Woods
As a lifelong learner and fitness advocate, I’ve always sought to better myself and those around me. Exploring various modalities which lead to health and longevity, I’ve enjoyed teaching and sharing such knowledge. After over a year of deliberating and consulting with other experts about training and technology related to ARX Robots, Strong in 15 (S15) was brought to life in December of 2019. Read more>>
Elizabeth Ramirez
I started cosmetology at 16 attended during high school. Growing up in the inner city of Chicago my parents were overprotective and I had nothing to do so I literally went to sign up to school all by myself thinking well at least I can get out of the house and use this trade to go to college. Read more>>
Monica Nino
I am the co-owner of The Board Couple. We started in 2018 creating beautiful, edible art with our charcuterie boards and turned it into a full-time business. Since then, we have immersed ourselves in wine education, wine studies and wine travel to create our wine program and opened two cafes. We are the first of our kind in San Antonio. Read more>>
Denise McDonald
We are a mother and Son small business located in the heart of Castroville that specializes in making Healthy Homemade Organic dog treats and birthday cakes from our home-based bakery. We opened our hearts to the idea in late 2021. Read more>>
Moeun Wiggins
My journey began in 1975, when my family and I fled Cambodia and found refuge in a camp in Thailand. In 1981, our lives changed forever when American parents sponsored my entire family and brought us to the United States. I am the sixth of ten children, and like many refugees, we arrived with little more than hope and determination. Read more>>
Jenna Annas
My journey to founding Happy Hope Wellness has been a lifelong adventure in growth, curiosity, and learning what it truly means to live well. From a young age, I was drawn to understanding people and how we communicate, how we heal, and how we move through challenge and change. Read more>>
Rogelio Cirilo
I didn’t come up through a traditional path, just a long stretch of curiosity, trial and error, and a quiet obsession with learning how stories actually work. I started by teaching myself everything I could—through YouTube, podcasts, books, and long nights experimenting with a camera. Read more>>
Srishti Viyulie
Two college classes were the beginning of my business, senior year of college and passion took it forward! Read more>>
Nina Gorman
Nina Gorman: From International Stages to the Heart of Schulenburg For Nina Gorman, dance has always been more than movement—it has been a lifelong language, spoken across countries, cultures, and communities. Born and raised in Russia, Nina began her formal dance education at the prestigious Perm Institute of Culture, a region known for its deep classical ballet tradition. Read more>>
Velida Mesinovic
I come from Bosnia, where my life was shaped by war, loss, and resilience. Coming to the United States meant starting over from nothing—new language, new culture, and many uncertainties. What carried me forward was my work ethic, faith, and the belief that honest work has dignity. Sewing became more than a skill; it became a way to rebuild my life and create stability. Read more>>
Megan Garcia
Atascosa Counseling & Consultation Services (ACCS) was founded in 2022, but the story really began much earlier. I grew up right here in Pleasanton, and as a teenager, I was deeply impacted by my high school counselor, Mrs. Sandra Poth. Read more>>
Chaplain/pastor Ron Leonard
In 1975, five men working at a mission located at the corner of South Alamo and Adams St. decided that there was a need for a true Gospel Rescue Mission in San Antonio. They each donated $100 for operating expenses and a short time later, purchased our property at 907 East Quincy. Read more>>
Jeremiah LaPlante
“A New Chapter in My Life” I wanted to share a big life update with my friends, family, and colleagues. Over the past year, I’ve been working toward a whole new direction for my life — one that’s closer to my heart and true to who I am. Read more>>
Gilbert Costello
I attended Texas A&M University and earned a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I became a Registered Nurse for two reasons, a passion to serve others through improving their health, and a flexible and strong career. My nursing career has taken me from the hospital bedside to corporate boardrooms. I found a deep interest in finance and went on to obtain my MBA as well. Read more>>
Ellie Maxwell
I am one of 6 children and was always the ‘teacher’ of the group. My version of play was playing school. My siblings and the neighborhood kids were always the students and I was always the teacher. I went to Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) in San Marcos, Texas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Read more>>
