Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.

Heather McCormick

I most definitely am doing what I was born to do. Sharing art with children and the general public is what I was born to do. I’ve always worked with children, but there is a completely different peace we find together when we’re all into a project. Read more>>

Rachel DesRochers

I feel very called to do what I am doing. I feel the work in every fiber of my being. I see it expanded, I have the team to make it happen. Empowering women, building community, normalizing normal things, and building from gratitude are things that are intrinsic to who I am as a person. Read more>>

Alexa Burton

Honestly, my cats make me laugh every single day. They’re pure chaos in fur form. But lately, I’ve also felt really proud of myself for how far I’ve come creatively. There was a time when I second guessed everything I posted, and now I’m finally trusting my instincts and having fun with it again. It feels good to create from joy instead of pressure. Read more>>

Dean Taylor

I’m Dean Taylor (she/her). I’m a filmmaker, cinematographer, the owner of Evening Film, a production company that caters to intentional filmmaking and film education and I share my skills as the Multimedia Videographer at Capital University. Im interested in creating narrative, branded and documentary films. My work is rooted in care, intention, and a commitment to holding space for underrepresented voices in film, and mentoring those willing to learn and grow without any experience in the film industry. Read more>>

MaryEllen Reider

I think the public version of me is a variant of the real me, for sure! I do not show when I wake up at 2 AM in the morning from stress dreams or making a bottle for my child. I also do not shy away from showing those moments or discussing them. Read more>>

Shawnte Jackson

This is such a tough question on so many levels, but a necessary question to be answered. Success is wonderful. It gives you this high that makes you feel untouchable. You are always able to see the positives without questioning them. Being able to see the fruit of your labors AND enjoy them will drive you to want more. Read more>>

Larry Lemuel

The struggles taught me that joy is still present in the midst of pain. Even when life felt heavy and suffering seemed endless, I learned that God can turn trials into testimonies and struggles into strength. Joy doesn’t come from avoiding hardship but from trusting Him through it. Read more>>

Louis Key

That my ‘true’ purpose was elsewhere other than the music. Once I got older and started to ‘find myself’, a lot of things started to fall in and out of place for me. Through it all though, art and music has also been near and dear to me, no matter how far I tried to run. Read more>>

Caitlin M

I used to believe I was TOO MUCH, too sensitive and not made for this world. It took me a LONG time to see these things as gifts, and maybe more importantly not care what others thought of me. I still feel not quite made for this world but use that to help change what is conditioned/expected. Read more>>

Prophocey

One of the most disheartening times of my career. Was when I wanted something more than my clients wanted for themselves. The work load that comes with being your on boss, or entrepreneur can be extreme. To promote, book, rehearse, create the flyer, perform, and to ultimately raise above the standard can be outright scary. Read more>>

Morgan Shattuck

As much as I love photography and my clients, I have a beautiful family and a passion for horses that bring me so much joy! I have been barrel racing for almost 10 years and I absolutely love it! Roxanne is my current mare that I run but she takes a backseat during the fall as photography is the busiest for me. Read more>>

Kathy DeFrancisco

I am a runner! Outside of work, I spend my time logging miles in the running community I live in. I completed my first full marathon in May of this year and will be running The Columbus Half Marathon next week. Read more>>

Angie Gadson

I want to be remembered for my kindness and how I made people feel. More than anything, I hope the photos I’ve taken continue to be shared long after I’m gone. Read more>>

Stephen C Stephens

I hope the story people tell is that I made them feel something — seen, heard, maybe even inspired. That I showed up with humor, with heart, and with a spark that lingered. I’ve worn many hats in my life — dancer, model, mentor, poet — but the throughline has always been connection. I didn’t just pass through rooms; I tried to light them up. Read more>>

Deonna Sor

I feel most at peace after a big order is finally finished and the customer absolutely loves it. It makes my day to know people love my work. I can always enjoy time at home, but it makes it extremely rewarding when I’ve finally finished something I didn’t think I could, or raised the bar for myself. Read more>>

Libby Goetz

My mom! She was always so positive and proud of me, even when I felt like I was barely doing anything. My mom passed away 10 months ago after being sick for several years, and that loss really changed the way I think about things. Read more>>

Sara Rico

This one is easy. My mother, hands down! My mother is the hardest working person I have ever met, and she always did it with grace. Read more>>

Stacey Papp

Recently, I found a picture of myself when I was about 3 years old. I was at Sea World (if you know, you know) with my parents and was sitting next to my dad with my mom behind the camera. I had on a little red terrycloth short set and pigtails with white ribbons tied in them. Read more>>

Nick Galbincea

I think I’m chasing fulfillment at this time in my life. I believe that being fulfilled leads to being happy, so ultimately, I’m chasing happiness. Read more>>

Lily Kunning

Evil, to me, is disconnection. When people become disconnected from one another and from nature, they are capable of horrible things. My job as an herbalist is to serve and heal. I do this by listening to my clients, restoring their faith in connection, and linking them to the plants that will help them in their condition. Read more>>

Thomas Bellezza

If we’re talking about being an author, that success is more than writing a book, watching it hit maybe 100 sales in a year, then writing another book, thinking it’ll all change: rinse and repeat. When in reality, being an author, comedian, actor, or donut shop owner is all the same: you have to run it like a business. Read more>>

Dennis Boseman

Thank you for this opportunity I really enjoy these interviews. What I think is most misunderstood about my business is the heart behind Tribal Temple’s community outreach. Many people see tattooing as just body art, but for us it’s a form of healing and connection. Read more>>

Ashleigh Clark

One of the most misunderstood aspects of our business is that interior design is purely about aesthetics. In reality, our work is deeply strategic—every decision is made to enhance how people live, work, and connect within a space while ensuring beauty and functionality exist in perfect balance. Read more>>

Monica Renee

I was around four years old when I saw Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker and Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation for the first time — and that moment changed everything for me. I remember being completely mesmerized by how music and visuals could move people without saying a word. The choreography, the emotion, the storytelling — it felt like magic. Read more>>

Troy Reaves

Religion, nothing more, nothing less. Religion made us believe when in return it deceives. Read more>>

Ananda Prioleau

Being community oriented can be mystifying at times. Access to so many stories, lifetimes, and cultures blurs the line between presence and pressure. The weight of flesh inside and out, the me in we. Shifting back into an independent experience of loving, creating and experiencing self fully. We went outside and had fun, played in the grass, partied until the sun joined us then rested. Read more>>

Brandon Gates

Right now, I’m learning from the next generation of podcasters, the ones just starting out. As an experienced podcaster and executive producer, it’s easy to get caught up in structure, systems, and strategy. But new creators remind me of the why behind it all, the passion, raw creativity, and willingness to experiment without fear of failure. Read more>>

Clara Overmier

My husband, Scott. I deeply admire him for his character and his strength. He has an incredible gift for staying calm, even in the most infuriating or high-pressure moments. No matter what challenges arise—whether at work or within our family—he approaches them with patience, clarity, and composure. His ability to remain level-headed inspires me to pause, breathe, and see things through a steadier lens. Read more>>

KC Loesener

My husband has become my greatest sounding board—an unexpected creative partner who challenges and inspires me. Like me, he has an extraordinary imagination, and when we talk about my stories, it’s as if we’re stepping into those worlds together. He doesn’t just read my work; he dissects it, questions motives, and points out the small details that bring characters to life. Read more>>