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.

Eric Rogers

Chef Eric Rogers was born and raised in inner city Cleveland, Ohio. Chef Eric learned at an early age the art of cooking from the soul. Starting at age of 8 years old, Chef Eric worked in his family’s restaurant cooking recipes with unmatched passion. That passion now transcends into every dish he prepares. Read more>>

Ben Cena

My journey really centers on a passion for building immersive worlds. For the last four years, I’ve been running my first podcast, which really helped me find my voice as a creator and connect with a dedicated audience. Moving into next year, I’m taking everything I’ve learned and launching a second show. Read more>>

Angela Cordero

I started with something simple: balloons. What began as a creative outlet quickly turned into something people started noticing and asking for. I would help decorate small celebrations for family and friends, and little by little, word of mouth started growing. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just “doing balloons,” I was creating experiences, moments that made people feel special. Read more>>

Kristal Kent

I am a disabled Army Veteran living with Fibromyalgia and served with the 256th Combat Support Hospital (256th CSH). I worked within the Personnel (HR) department, then after September 11th, 2001, I was re-assigned to the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) of the 256th CSH. Read more>>

Suhaylah Hamzah

I’ve always been a creative at heart, but my journey as an artist wasn’t a straight line. Like many people, I spent years balancing work, family, education, and life’s responsibilities while continuing to create whenever I could. Art became more than a hobby—it became a tool for self-discovery, healing, storytelling, and community connection. Read more>>

Scott Filipiak

I’ve always been interested in the intersection of art and design. I studied fine art, but my career took me into graphic design and eventually creative direction, where I’ve spent nearly three decades creating branded environments and experiences for clients around the world. Throughout that time, painting was never something I left behind, it was always there, evolving alongside my professional career. Read more>>

Paige Soller

I’ve always been a creative person at heart. When I was a kid, I could spend hours in my room drawing, painting, writing, or trying to learn different instruments. Those were the moments where I felt the most like myself. As I got older, though, I gradually started shrinking and hiding those parts of myself. Read more>>

Nicole Diorr

It’s funny because I thought I was gone be a nail tech first I use to do nails in high school I stopped doing it because my back started hurting then I started doing me and an old friend of mine hair in high school. Read more>>

Shawn Ziegler

I’ve never taken the traditional path, and I think that’s what has shaped me the most. I started my career in the mechanical piping and construction industry, where I worked my way up through the trades by showing up every day, learning from experienced craftsmen, and taking pride in doing quality work. Read more>>

Dave Pando

From the moment I had my first birthday party at a paintball field in Cleveland when I was 12 years old, I knew I wanted to open my own park on day. At 14 I started a ‘paintball business’ out of my garage, hosting kids from my middle school to play paintball in the woods behind my house. Read more>>

Shawn Reinert

I started in the industry as a busboy at a country club at 15. I went on to work several different positions in restaurants, diners, and nightclubs, and eventually fell in love with fine dining at an upscale restaurant in downtown Fort Myers, Florida. Read more>>

Catie Smith

I started my foodie Instagram back in 2017. At the time, it was actually called ‘A Dash of Passion,’ which tied into a food and cooking blog that I had launched. I quickly realized that while I loved food, I didn’t necessarily love blogging. Read more>>

Alli Chapman

My name is Alli Chapman, and I’m the owner and creator of Alli Cat Creative Co., a handcrafted candle company that I founded in 2020. What started as a creative outlet during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a business entering its sixth year. Read more>>

Christian Hemminger

The last eight years I spent working in a corporate sales environment. This environment was highly charged and high performance was a requirement. I had a lot of success and even worked my way through several leadership positions. The more success the further I started to get from fulfilling, what I believed, was my purpose in life. Read more>>

Jaime Madison

I started beauty school after three years in the medical field. I realized that my heart and creativity could be used in other ways. I have found being apart of the medical field has helped me so much behind the chair. Read more>>

Regina Huffman

For more than 30 years, I’ve built a career in the beauty industry not only as a hairstylist, but also as an educator, salon owner, published author, and entrepreneur. My passion has never been just doing hair. It’s been helping people build confidence, create opportunities, and build successful careers. Read more>>

Ari Schneider

It started when I started gaining weight during COVID and I was not feeling very good about myself. I used my channel as an outlet to start showing off my body to not only help myself but others as well. Read more>>

Alexa Medlock

Before we got married I tried so many different businesses,eps system,acn,it works then finally dropshipping and reselling took off for me in 2018 I was pregnant with my 2nd child and finally cracked the code.From there I was able to build more businesses bounce house,event centers,rental company tables,chairs,360 photobooth & photobooth and more.Some businesses I now let other businesses run.I am so thankful god let me experience what I did to bring me to where I need to be. Read more>>

Chelsea Kayse

I never intentionally sought out work in farmers markets or non-profits. I was 10 months post-partum and desperately looking to reconnect with community. I was finishing my undergrad at the time, as I was pivoting away from account management work. I am so incredibly grateful that the trajectory of my life up to that point led me to my role managing the Worthington Farmers Market. Read more>>

Adalia Powell-Boehne

I got started in music by singing karaoke, then school, and church choir, then my own bands of original music in high school. Read more>>

Yerubi Ali

Hello beautiful person reading this, I’ve always wanted to do one of these so this is so exciting omg!!! My story I’d say is still writing itself, but my name is Yerubi Ali Ferrer, I was born right in the Bronx. I’m a NYC girl at heart, with Midwest roots! Read more>>

Lindsey Harris

I started my journey in high school, attending cosmetology classes half day at Choffin Career & Technical Center. At the time, I never imagined I would eventually specialize exclusively in makeup. Cosmetology school focused primarily on hair, with only a few days dedicated to makeup, but those few days sparked something in me. Read more>>

Terry Beauford II

Let’s Party Rental Services, LLC was established in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, I noticed a significant loss of social connection among people. As we practiced social distancing and limited face-to-face interactions, many of us began to lose the sense of community and personal connection that brings people together. Read more>>

Jevaughn Bogard

My mom put me in classical piano lessons around 5 years old.bi continued piano to about 11 or so. That’s when I picked up the saxophone and took lessons on both. While I was in elementary school my summer music program teacher offered me a chance to apply for Cleveland School of the Arts in Cleveland,OH. Read more>>

Purna Devi

My path into this work began long before I ever received a certification or opened a business. I grew up in an environment that was deeply challenging and, at times, traumatic. Like many people, I spent years carrying the effects of those early experiences without fully understanding how much they shaped my relationships, my sense of self, and the choices I made. Read more>>

SauceDaGod

SauceDaGod is an emerging artist bringing a unique blend of confidence, energy, and real-life experiences to the music scene. Coming from Columbus , he represents his city with a sound built around catchy hooks, bold delivery, and undeniable presence. Read more>>

Christopher Cropper

I’m basically self taught with some formal training. I come from a graffiti/street art background and it heavily influences my work. I’ve been at it almost 30 years now. Read more>>

January Hill

I’ve started doing hair because I would ask for a style or to get my hair done in a way that the market and demographic wasn’t ready for , so I did it myself ,,I’ve gotten to where I’m
At based off god and faith in myself , I pushed and shoved and broke down barriers for me Read more>>

Stephanie Dishno

I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. I believe my interest in art, craft, and process came from my father, who ran a neon tube bending business out of a workshop in the backyard. I was always fascinated by watching him create. That curiosity led me to take art classes in high school. Read more>>

Kelly A. Hanning

Art has really always been a part of my life! As a kid, I had a really overactive imagination. There was so much time that I was sort of just in my own little world, telling myself stories to pass the time. I would make up these worlds to live in, whether it was mermaids in a grotto or mysteries in old mansions. Read more>>

Jazmen Pace

When people ask how I became an entrepreneur, I always laugh a little because it wasn’t part of my plan. At the beginning of 2020, I was working in corporate after leaving the nonprofit sector. I had been praying for work that felt more purpose-driven and hoping for greater financial opportunity. Then, just a few months into a new role, the pandemic changed everything. Read more>>

Bonnie Veleba

My journey began during my senior year of high school when I had the opportunity to coach Special Olympics swimming. That experience was a true turning point; it was exactly when I realized I wanted to pursue a career in Therapeutic Recreation. I went on to attend Ohio University, where I gained experience working at a home for at-risk youth during my college years. Read more>>

Kacie Champion

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Even as a kid, I was driven, competitive, and constantly looking for ways to create something bigger than myself. Looking back, that drive showed up in everything I did, from athletics to business. Sports taught me discipline at an early age. Read more>>

Anna Shields

I was first introduced to the dairy industry at the age of 16 when I met my former employer and lifelong mentor, Stacy Hall. The day after I got my driver’s license, I hooked a horse trailer to my parents’ 15-passenger van and drove myself and my horse to a trail ride. Read more>>

Cassidy Rivers

I’ve always been drawn to the creative side of things. In high school, I studied Graphic Design and was fortunate to earn a scholarship to continue my education in college, where I went on to earn my degree in the field. After graduating, I realized photography and graphic design shared many of the same foundations! Storytelling, composition, light, and emotion. Read more>>

Jaleshia ‘Jay’ Brown

I spent 11 years in foster care and aged out of the system as a teenager. Like many young people navigating public systems, I entered adulthood without a clear transition plan and faced significant challenges early on. Those experiences ultimately shaped my determination to build a different future for myself and my son. Read more>>

Dr. Lawanne’ S. Grant

My journey has been shaped by both ministry and the marketplace. In 2017, I founded Leadership Develop ME, LLC, where I serve as Chief Consulting Officer. The ‘ME’ stands for Mind and Execution because our focus is on providing leadership theory and strategy that transforms how people think and how they execute. Read more>>

Patricia Andrews-Keenan

I grew up understanding that stories matter — that the act of telling them, preserving them, and amplifying them is one of the most powerful things a person can do. That instinct led me to Grambling State University, where I earned my BA in Journalism, and into a career in corporate communications, public relations, and community affairs that spanned years and industries. Read more>>

ANGELA THOMAS SMITH

Angela Thomas Smith’s journey began with a passion to give voice to the voiceless and create opportunities for authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs to be seen and heard. Read more>>

Sarah Hudson

Storytelling has always been at the heart of who I am. For more than 20 years, I was a professional musician and songwriter. At just 11 years old, I had the opportunity to open for Willie Nelson and perform for President Bill Clinton. I studied music in college and spent my twenties performing with bands and writing songs. Read more>>

Sulbha Midha

My journey in dentistry has been a combination of love, learning, and self-discovery. When I began my career, I knew I wanted to do more than just fix teeth. I wanted to bring healing and comfort to every person who sat on my chair. Over time, I realized that true dental care goes beyond the mouth; it touches the mind, emotions, and spirit. Read more>>

Chungkeun Lee

I immigrated to the United States at the age of forty-five — not a young age, but with a heart full of determination and faith to begin a new journey. In Korea, my family and I lived a comfortable middle-class life, so leaving everything behind and starting over in a new country was not an easy decision. Read more>>