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.
Stevie Patterson
I then did some research and found a apprenticeship a week later by the grace of God. My first shop wasn’t the best, but I am grateful for the opportunity. I eventually found an amazing shop “Total Immortal” where I worked with a lot of amazing artists, who I learned so much from. I am now at Green light tattoo & art gallery. I am surrounded by greatness. I am slowly learning very important lessons and working my way up. My parents, great grandparents, grandma Monika, aunt Jennie and my art teachers are the main people that gave me a space to grow & learn as a artist. I am very grateful and excited to see what the future has in store for me Read more>>
Shay Hill
We also built a retail café, not just as a space for families to gather, but as a way to support small businesses. I wanted to create opportunities for local makers to pop up and sell their products—especially for those who dream of a storefront but can’t yet afford a brick-and-mortar space. Just like someone once believed in me, I want to be that person for someone else. I found my niche is supporting woman owned businesses. We work together to host networking events and a support group for women in business to chat. Read more>>
James Hall
I have been in the fitness industry for 10 years. I started when I was training classmates, coworkers & teammates when I went to school in East Texas at Tyler Junior College. That constant growth turned into me moving to El Paso & continuing with my fitness career with the addition of getting into group training & much more. Read more>>
Zach Wycuff
I remember growing up, my mom wouldn’t let me watch “edgy” things like the Simpsons, but for some reason, every Saturday night we would gather around the TV to watch SNL. The sketches were always fun (hot take: SNL wasn’t better when you were a kid, sketches are always hits and misses but you don’t remember the misses from when you were in middle school), but I was always drawn towards Weekend Update. The focus wasn’t big wigs or prat falls through a breakaway table—just jokes. Words that when said in a certain order, make you laugh. Read more>>
Carli Dixon
In 2009, our town was named one of the top 10 dying cities in America by Forbes in response to multiple local corporations relocations, and as a local business owner, and wife of a known local metal sculptor, I felt compelled to make sure our town survived this monumental challenge. My husband Hamilton and I located some abandoned buildings in our downtown (3 buildings in total that were all combined into one plat), and found a way to acquire them, with the plan of activating them and helping to create the community in which we wanted to live. Read more>>
Chelle Sloan
I was a journalist for 15 years before leaving the industry in 2019 to get my Master’s degree because I wanted to get into teaching. However, those plans changed as in the midst of getting my Master’s, the pandemic hit. Now, also during this time, I started writing my debut novel. It was more of a thing to do say I did it, and maybe it might become a side hustle/hobby for me. Now, nearly five years later and 16 books, I’m now a full-time author. Needless to say, things changed. Read more>>
Dr. Caroline Lathrop
Growing up in Toledo, I always had this pull toward helping people—but I didn’t always know what that would look like. I studied neuroscience and psychology at George Washington University thinking maybe I’d go into medicine or mental health. But during college, I started working as a chiropractic assistant in a local office—and something just clicked for me. I saw how powerful it was to be able to help people feel better without drugs or surgery, just by supporting the body’s natural ability to heal. It was holistic, it was hands-on, and it made so much sense to me. Read more>>
Raven Celeste (Maria Christina) Queerly (Terry)
I was born in 1999 to a drug addicted, schizophrenic mother. Around 8 or 9 months later she went to the store and got on the bus forgetting where she was going or the fact that she had 3 kids at home or even where home was. Obviously she lost custody of us and we entered the foster care system. They found a home for us when I was 9 months home. My brother was 5 my sister was 3. 4 years we stayed in the same foster home. Read more>>
Nadia Yacoub
As I moved through college, I realized that traditional academics weren’t my strength. Instead of getting discouraged, I taught myself programming, took on small freelance projects, and started building practical skills that mattered in the real world. After graduation, I faced my share of setbacks—including layoffs from early jobs—but I used each one as a stepping stone. Read more>>
Angie Haering
When I travel, I always look to local content creators for ideas, and it can be frustrating when their pages are full of content from other places. I wanted to do the opposite with Cincinnati Foodies—keep it focused and useful for anyone trying to eat their way through the Queen City. It’s all about helping people find the hidden gems and must-try dishes that make Cincinnati such a great food town. Read more>>
Lindsay Hastings
Enjoying the outdoors was probably how I ended up here as an herbalist working with plants to serve my community. I was that kid swinging on vines and climbing trees and building forts. I found wild foraging fascinating and loved learning which flowers I could eat. My paternal grandmother was the last of the fire watchers (people who looked for forest fires in fire towers), so I have always felt the need to connect with nature. She always told me she worked for Smoky the Bear. Read more>>
Melanie Yocum
I became a 200hr RYT Hatha Yoga Teacher in 2007 in Winter Springs, FL and I remember thinking, wow…one day I want to own a yoga studio. The studio where I trained became like a second home, and. a place where I found a deeper sense of self. I wanted to create something like that to help people the way that studio helped me. I began teaching yoga alongside my professional job as a High School English Teacher in Florida. And the dream of a studio always lived inside me. Flashforward to a life experience that moved me to Ohio where I continued teaching high school and yoga. Read more>>
Emily Hwang
As you navigate through your business you will quickly learn how to communicate appropriately and effectively with customers but also not being afraid to stand your ground. When you choose to specialize in a skill set, you eventually become a master of your craft. Don’t be afraid to charge your worth because hard work does not go unnoticed. Read more>>
Maria Banks
At the time, I was working with a personal trainer who didn’t know how to properly modify workouts for pregnancy. It left me feeling unsupported and unsafe, and it lit a fire in me to learn more. I dove deep into the world of women’s health—specifically how to exercise safely during pregnancy and recover well postpartum. What I found was a massive gap in care. There simply weren’t enough professionals helping women through these transformative stages with both knowledge and empathy. Read more>>
McKenna Glorioso
One of my biggest priorities is providing fair work to my musicians: work that pays well, is in conditions where the music can thrive, and is rewarding. There was absolutely some trial and error over the past several years in learning to communicate with clients and audiences about how we can best make this happen. Most prominently, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic come to mind. Live music was put on hold completely and, seemingly, indefinitely. In a time where very few musicians had work to sustain them, I desperately wanted to provide work for musicians but didn’t know how. We found some workarounds during these days by putting on outdoor, masked porch concerts, participating in virtual collaborations, and making recordings. Read more>>
Aisha Taylor
My journey into personal finance began in the corporate world. For years, I navigated strategic finance initiatives, managed a $1 billion budget, and even developed turnaround strategies for divisions losing millions. Yet, despite my professional success, my personal finances were a mess. This disconnect prompted me to enroll in a personal financial planning certificate program, where I gained the tools to manage my own money effectively. As I applied these principles and saw real results, I started to share my knowledge with others with the hope they would be able to transform their own finances for the better. This led to a blog, a book, and ultimately, workshops and speaking engagements. Read more>>
Alison Hepner
I started my small business journey in College. I started my first Etsy shop, not long after Etsy itself was first introduced. That shop was called A. Nieman Crochet. This later transitioned into A. Nieman Design after I received my BA in Residential Design. As I was working in my career in Design, I felt the desire to try and create a more sustainable small business that encompassed my love for design, crochet, and my love for sustainable/eco-friendly living. In 2017, I started the Everyday Limes Etsy shop. It was mostly my handmade items and it was very much a work in progress. Read more>>
Gabrielle Lovelace
With a nudge from my husband, I took a leap a few short months after she was born to go out on my own. I juggled being a new mom along with self employment for a couple years until March of 2024. I had a great opportunity presented to me and all of the ducks kept falling right into place to where I was able to purchase and launch my own salon. May of 2024 I was able to officially launch + start my own salon. In this past year we have grown immensely. My staff has grown, along with the services we offer + the education we have experienced this year. Read more>>
Mike Gold
To further hone my skills, I did correspondence study with British master Gaynor Goffe. All this practice got me a job as a commercial lettering designer at American Greetings, which meant moving to Cleveland, Ohio. I worked for over a quarter-century at the company and continue to reside in Cleveland. I’ve written a book on contemporary calligraphy, written articles for Letter Arts Review and other publications, and been fortunate to teach contemporary calligraphy both online and in-person around the world. Read more>>
Lee ‘Dig’ East
Never smooth but how things go for you depends a lot on how you look at them. Sometimes the tests and struggles turn out to be the most memorable and valuable life moments. I could speak volumes on the adventures, shenanigans and experiences I’ve had, good and bad, but I’ll just rely on brevity and the words of Jimmy Buffett [yes, I’m a parrothead!]: “Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic. but, I’ve had a good life all the way…” Read more>>
Tacqua Davis
Tacqua Davis is a devoted mother, transformational leader, and the visionary behind My Sistah’s Keeper Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering women through education, support, and sisterhood. Founded originally in 2017 as a grassroots LLC and now officially transitioning into a 501(c)(3), the Foundation serves as a haven for women navigating trauma, instability, or life transitions. Read more>>
Kathy DiVincenzo
What began with a single donation drive on December 7th, 2024—one that filled four office spaces completely—has grown into a full-scale foster care closet. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’ve moved into a dedicated warehouse and office space where we now provide essential items like clothing, shoes, and hygiene products, as well as joy-filled extras like our Beeday Bundles, toys, and games—all completely free of charge. Read more>>
Maegan Kopachy
I’m a wedding and lifestyle photographer who’s all about capturing emotion with intention. I specialize in photographing weddings, families, and small brands in a way that feels real, nostalgic and a little bit editorial. My work is known for its warmth — not just in tone, but in feeling. I gravitate toward honest, unscripted moments: the forehead kisses that weren’t planned, the chaotic toddler giggles, the quiet glances that say everything. That’s where the story lives. Read more>>
Corey Kissel
I developed a passion from health and fitness at a very young age around the time I was becoming a teenager. I quickly reazlied after beginning athletics that I enjoyed training in and out of the weight room for the sports I was playing more than the actual sports themselves. My passion for getting stronger, building muscle, and seeing what I was physically capable of continued to grow stronger and stronger so i pursued a professional degree and graduated from the University of Findlay with my Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning and Associate of Arts in Personal Training. I decided that I wanted to help others in any way that I can imiprove their health and fitness by designing personalized training programs that would help them work toward reaching their goals. Read more>>
Brian Walsh
The challenges we faced were daunting, but they also taught us resilience and adaptability. When we first opened our doors, it felt like we were shouting into the void. We quickly realized we needed to engage with our community in meaningful ways. We held free trial classes, offered promotional discounts, and started hosting local events to introduce ourselves and our mission to the area. Slowly but surely, more people began to join us, and we started to build a loyal base of members who believed in what we were doing. Read more>>
Carrington Chatman
That hustler spirit carried me forward. While attending Walsh University, I earned an internship at Northwestern Mutual, where I was honored to receive the Top 100 Internship Award in the nation. The experience at Northwestern Mutual laid the foundation for my future in finance. In December 2017, I took the leap to go independent and founded Carrington Financials. Since then, I’ve been building a business rooted in integrity, client education, and financial empowerment. Read more>>
Beau J. Van Wechel D.C.
Getting through chiropractic school wasn’t easy — especially financially and emotionally — and I couldn’t have done it without my wife. I originally set out to practice in my hometown and gave that everything I had for two years. But eventually, I had to face the hard truth: it wasn’t working. That led us to take a leap of faith and move to a new town we had no personal connections in, after hearing about an opportunity to take over a retiring doctor’s practice. Read more>>
Courtney Laves-Mearini
When I retired I stayed in Cleveland and received my degrees in Anthropology and Communications from CSU. All the while I was teaching ballet for area schools including the University of Akron and Cleveland City Dance. In 2004, I became the owner of Cleveland City Dance when my friends, the previous owners, were going onto different career. In 2007 I moved the school to its current location at Shaker Square. In 2009 I created the non-profit pre-professional ballet company City Ballet of Cleveland to create more performance opportunities for students from Cleveland City Dance and other area dance schools. Read more>>
Tabetha Frazier
I’ve always loved having a cozy, good-smelling home—especially with a busy household of five kids, two cats, a dog, seven chickens, and two rabbits! When a large company discontinued my favorite scent, I was determined to recreate it on my own—but better. I wanted something that smelled amazing but was also clean, safe, and made with quality ingredients. What began as a personal challenge quickly turned into a full-blown passion project. Read more>>
Brie Freeman
It’s said that “the eyes are the windows to the soul”, and my work often centers around emphasizing the eyes while playing up the natural features of my client. I love creating looks that feel elevated while remaining authentic to the individual and the story their soul is expressing. Skin is also at the heart of my artistry. I believe that great makeup starts with great skin, so each look begins with personalized skincare prep. My goal is always for the final result to feel effortless, intentional, tailored to the person in my chair without ever sacrificing the glam. Read more>>
Angela Tempest
One of the biggest challenges we faced was transforming a traditional office space into a fully functional, boutique-style salon. The space required a complete overhaul—from installing proper plumbing and electrical systems to designing an open, welcoming layout that reflected the experience we wanted to offer our clients. Navigating city permits, building codes, and construction timelines as first-time salon owners was a steep learning curve, but we remained hands-on and solution-focused every step of the way. Read more>>
Michael Albino
My Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jenny Albino got into the restaurant business in 1958 and purchased a Pizzeria named “Guido’s” in Euclid. This pizzeria was 1 of 5 or 6 in the Cleveland area, all started by a man named Guido in the 1950’s. All the other “Guido’s Pizzerias” closed in the 1970’s, but my grandparents had a passion and a vision for their future in the restaurant business. The business did well for a few years and in 1961, my grandparents purchased a small strip mall in Chesterland and added on a store front and opened ‘Guido’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant” in 1962. They kept the same base recipe for the pizzas that was from the original Guido’s, but they added many family recipes of homemade sauces, pasta, Chicken cutlets, Eggplant, Veal cutlets, Meatballs etc. Read more>>
Claire Monda
Movement has always been a constant in my life. I’ve been a dancer for as long as I can remember and have spent over 20 years teaching dance-16 of those with Creative Movement Center, right here in the same plaza. After minoring in dance during college and earning a master’s degree in school counseling, I found myself blending my love of movement with my passion for helping others. Read more>>
Aizel, Xitlali Cabungcal, Moore
This year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary and are planning pop up performances around the city. Some highlights from this past year include our dancers receiving grant funds from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and being invited to showcase the Polynesian culture in the Cultural Connection Series at the McConnell Arts Center. We look forward in sharing our love of Polynesian dance and culture throughout central Ohio and beyond for many years. Read more>>
Making State
All creatives face challenges. Making State’s big challenge was the Covid-19 pandemic. Making State wondered if they would even be a band anymore coming out the other side. They wondered if people would even go to shows anymore, and also knew that they couldn’t just reappear and be the same exact band they were before. They needed a fresh coat of paint. The world had changed, and they needed to too. And that’s a scary thing to approach. Read more>>
Rhonda
Before founding Celia, we spent over 12 years working in top consulting firms, focused on solving complex problems and making things better for people and businesses. But outside of work, as self-proclaimed chocolate lovers and health-conscious eaters, we kept facing the same issue: we couldn’t find chocolate bars that were both clean and truly delicious Read more>>
Brittany Vink
I’ve only ever been interested in art and design so I knew from a very young age that my future would involve this in some type of form. My undergraduate years were spent drawing and painting which then led to fashion design and interiors in my professional life. I really believe all these steps guided me to where I am today and has abled me to see the full picture of a space. I currently work with clients across the U.S. to transform their interiors along with a lifestyle and home website dedicated to collected found pieces and limited release artwork. All of these interests have been with me for years and now can work together in a harmonious way. Read more>>
Vivian Brinkman
It all started when I began searching for natural solutions for our own family. I started by researching cleaning products for our home—and I was horrified by what I learned. We were being exposed to harmful toxins every single day without even realizing it. That led me down a rabbit hole into the world of personal care products and natural remedies. Because if what we’re breathing in is that harmful, what about what we’re putting on our skin every day? Read more>>
