Portraits of Ohio

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Ohio.

Shannon Cromer

In May of this year, I faced another turning point when I was laid off from my previous job. Rather than seeing it as a setback, I took it as an opportunity to fully commit to my passion for real estate. Since then, I’ve been working full-time in the industry, and it’s been an incredible experience. Each day presents new challenges, but I embrace them with the same strength and determination that have carried me through everything else. Read More>>

Mk Lebeaux

He made coins appear from behind my ears and from out of thin air! Although I can picture the moment, I’m not certain who that was. Some say it might have been Shawn Eric or Cellini. Either way, those events played a huge role in developing my interest in magic and the variety arts. My first magic book (which I still have) used to belong to Bill “The Amazing” Shaner, an escape artist and magician. His wife Sandy used to operate Abracadabra Costume and Magic Shop in Dayton. Read More>>

Marcie James

While raising 2 school aged children, working a full-time job, and running a small side business with my husband, going back to school for a second degree in Ceramics didn’t feel realistic. I attended a beginner’s class at a community studio, borrowed every book I could find from our local library, and took to the internet in search of workshops and training opportunities that fit into my hectic schedule. I am continually learning and practicing this incredible art form every free moment I have, while also selling my work at local art festivals on the weekends. Read More>>

Erin Raines

My journey started about nine years ago when I had bariatric surgery in October 2015 due to being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I became an advocate for Digestive Disease Awareness simply because I was misdiagnosed for years. I was initially told by a physician that “Celiac Disease isn’t common in African American/Hispanics, it’s a Euro-Anglican disease” to which I replied, “what if I’m more than just African American/Hispanic?” Knowing my ancestry: maternally being of Cuban, Seminal-Indian and Portuguese descent and Paternally being German, Cherokee and African descent, inspired me to become proactive and educate others, I authored two books: Read More>>

Meg And Ian Schwartz

When we moved to Somerset, OH in 2011, we were a small family of three with one on the way. We were lucky enough to find a 50 acre property with pasture, woods, a pond, a few barns and an old farm house. This place was rough, but held hopes and dreams for the homestead/farming life that Ian and I believed was the foundation for raising our kids. We had already been participating in local farmers markets, selling our stone ground flour from grains Ian grew on his childhood farm. Read More>>

Xavier Peterson

Being apart of the music industry ain’t easy especially when there’s millions of people tryna do the same thing. I take my music seriously so it pains me to see people joke about songs and downplay the culture and universal art that music brings. I’m typically a distance person so it takes a while to put my feelings out on the internet but one day I hope the world understands me for who I want to become and not who I am now. Read More>>

Whitney Parnell-Williams

I realized I could lean in to my son’s need for comfort at bedtime rather than trying to get him to sleep on his own. I chose to use those moments to bond with him, focusing on our connection, and not thinking about how quickly I could get him down so I could leave. This also led to a better understanding of co-regulation and how focusing on calming myself would transmit that calmness to him and help him go to sleep. Read More>>

Loren Armour

My interest in the makeup and beauty industry didn’t truly begin until I was in my twenties. Growing up, my mom was such a prissy girl in every aspect; hair, makeup, skincare and anything beauty related. She never left the house without mascara or lipstick, so that was also her motto to me when I became a teenager. At home, I would hear mom telling me to put some mascara on my long eyelashes, and at school I would the girls pack on the makeup- I wanted nothing to do with it! Read More>>

Rae Helmer

While I had other small business hustles going on the side (wedding cakes & challah bread), it wasn’t until after I got married and had my second kid that my entrepreneurial pursuits became a reality. PteraCo LLC became official in July 2024 and is currently focused on custom design, branding, and user-generated content for small businesses & brands, although I still do wedding-related things here and there. I especially like to work with ministries & other “mompreneurs” local to Cincinnati. Read More>>

Hassan Qureshi

From the earliest memories of my childhood in Pakistan, I’ve been captivated by the idea of capturing the world through art. My journey began with sketching the wildlife that surrounded me, and the encouragement from my family ignited my creative spirit. Over time, my exploration expanded beyond drawing, leading me to the realms of painting, murals, and now the historical and intricate art of Arabic calligraphy. Read More>>

Anna Young

Two years later, I pursued a Master of Fine Arts in Photography. I graduated from Cranbrook Academy of Art with my degree in 2018. Upon returning to Akron, Ohio, from Michigan, I met with McKenzie Beynon, my close friend and colleague, and we founded KINK Contemporary. KINK opened its doors in February 2019. Over the past five and a half years, we have worked tirelessly to promote emerging artists and diverse voices in our local arts community. As a business owner, museum professional, teacher, and studio artist, I feel incredibly grateful for my journey. Read More>>

Alex & Daria Palatnyi

The inspiration for Alpada Doors came during a visit to friends in Hilton Head Island, SC. We saw beautiful steel and glass partitions in their newly renovated home and instantly fell in love with the look and feel. When we couldn’t find anything similar in Columbus, we realized there was an opportunity to bring this unique style to our community. Read More>>

Peter Green

Are there any “smooth roads” in life? Lol.. This has definitely been a rough journey .. Trying to find time to work on your craft and promote yourself while having full-time life responsibilities as a father/ parent ./Husband…. Can definitely be challenging. Dealing with life in general can cause the road to be Rocky. Read More>>

Jason Caldwell

I grew up in Caldwell, Ohio, a small coal-mining town nestled in the scenic hills of Southeastern Ohio. Like many, I had big dreams—mine was to become an actor. But when the time came to choose a career, practicality won out. Inspired by my grandfather, a barber, I decided to give hair a try. Initially, I was skeptical and had no solid plan, but I had always been drawn to the world of beauty. The moment I stepped into Valley Beauty School in Zanesville, Ohio, everything clicked—I had found my true passion. Read More>>

Jennifer Loeb

At our Ronald McDonald House we work with families every single day who are struggling. They are worried about their children’s health and futures and also face significant financial stresses from mounting medical bills and relocating for treatment. Because of this, we have a trauma-informed care lens to everything we do. This includes recognizing guest families’ acute and chronic trauma as well as teaching staff how to best handle that and protect themselves from exhaustion and compassion fatigue. Read More>>

Hailey Park

I’m blessed that I got so many supports from my husband, clients, and neighbors. since I’ve started my own business. I’m still growing both inside and outside of myself everyday. I admire people that who are trying absolute their best. The positive energy spray to others and brings a lot of blessing into a life. I am inspired by every people that i met in my life journey, especially my husband is the most optimistic man who helped me reflect myself to grow up, I Thank you Read More>>

Caitlin & Donny Rambacher

That being said, we first had the idea to form some sort of locally-focused small business almost 10 years ago when we moved back to our home state of Ohio. We were rediscovering everything “The Heart of It All” had to offer and were looking for a creative outlet to share it. We initially met back in 2011, when we were both students in the Visual Communication Design program at the University of Dayton—so we’ve been collaborating creatively for quite some time. Read More>>

Roula Labbad

And from there we realized this could actually be a real business we could grow. I would say 8 months into starting DateColumbus we started expanding to other cities with Cleveland being our first sister city. We want to continue to grow this and be many more cities by the end of next year. Our mission to provide people with a safe and fun space to meet other local singles that are looking for a real connection and want to meet people in an organic way. Read More>>

Ashlea Piefer

My story is full of highs and lows, light and what some may call dark experiences. For as far back as I can remember, and I can go back far—back to the point of inception and then my birth—I remember what it felt like to navigate down that tunnel into the world of form. I’ve always worked in the realms of energy, frequency, and vibration. As a young child, I was incredibly sensitive to the energies and the subtle shifts within and around my environment. Read More>>

David Koch

So after careful consideration, I stepped away from my previous career on good terms and started to see what else was out there. Along that journey I was introduced to Assisted Living Locators, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of helping families find the right senior living. I bought the franchise for the east side of Cleveland and never looked back. It has proven to be a whole new industry to learn and grow in, and the interactions with families are rewarding in ways I’ve never experienced before. Read More>>

Danny Miller

I have a background in emergency room nursing as a registered nurse and have been practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2018. I started with a large non-profit in Tennessee seeing ages 5 and up from all walks of life. When the COVID pandemic hit, I began conducting telehealth visits and for the past 3 years have remained in that medium. My family relocated to northern Ohio and I discovered Cornerstone Behavioral Health and inquired about a position with the organization as I identified with their mission and was attracted to the variety of therapies they offer clients. Read more>>

Kameron Wynn

It started with Covid-19. The restaurant industry was taking a dangerous hit and as a growing chef, this was devastating. Later that year I utilized my skills & knowledge in the restaurant and hospitality industry and formed the business partnership, Queen City Lemonade which has satisfied thousands in the Tri-State area with fresh, bartending-style lemonade. I’ve since gotten back into food service & launched my Catering company, The Blue Ladle – Dedicating my services to elevating life’s experiences. Read more>>