Inspiring Stories from East Atlanta

Stevo Parker

I started this business originally under another name ‘TACA’ with another business partner who was a friend. We started with zero clientele and little capital. To get by during this time, I used to sleep in the gym and made a living space in an upstairs office. We weren’t really able to pay ourselves until the end of year 2. I continued to live in the gym for two years before being able to make enough money to be able to move out into a different living space. Read more>>

Leisha Ortiz

My grandfather, Dutch Lopp, was instrumental is forming my love of the outdoors, arts, and music. From very little I remember him playing violin to me and teaching me how to draw and paint. Because of his influence, I knew from little on what I wanted to be an artist when I grew up! I spent my after school hours in high school volunteering for a local graphic designer in my hometown. He was a freelance designer and noticed my work from a talent show in high school. Read more>>

Tara Pesta

I have always been inspired by beautiful homes, interiors, design and architecture. When I moved to Atlanta 7 years ago, from California, I quickly fell in love with how eclectic all the different neighborhoods are. I decided to take my sales skill set and knowledge from the fashion world and apply that focus and energy into real estate. NO! I started a new career at 41 years old just after having a baby a couple of years prior. But what this has taught me and hopefully will teach my son is that you can do anything you put your mind to. Read more>>

Cassady Fulbright

Cassady Fulbright is an abstract artist with a Bachelor of Arts degree, concentrating on studio art and painting. Her artistic inspiration comes from travel and is rendered through a pixilated abstraction of photographs. She has a keen eye for color combinations and interactions between shapes and patterns. She believes she is only beginning her playfully responsive path and is excited to dedicate extensive time and research to these discoveries. Read more>>

Jessica Howell-Edwards

Jessica Howell-Edwards is a lifelong Georgian, a DeKalb County resident, and mom of four (including a set of twins). Jessica first visited Georgia’s southernmost barrier island more than 25 years ago on a high school field trip. She’s been going back as often as possible ever since and says she understands how our relationships with a place can deepen, and evolve, over time. That’s actually how she came to be the Executive Director of Wild Cumberland, a grassroots nonprofit that’s focused on the protection of Cumberland Island. Read more>>

Tricia Salmon Anderson

I am currently a Family Nurse Practitioner operating a Primary Care Clinic that also provides house call visits for the disabled and home-bound patients. I immigrated to the United States at age 18 and started off as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) and a Patient Care Technician (PCT). I attended Georgia Perimeter College for my prerequisite courses and subsequently obtained my Associate’s (2007) and Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Macon State College. I started off working as a Critical Care Nurse at Grady Memorial Hospital. Read more>>

Mimi (Marie) Sutphin

Growing up, I was in awe with my mom. She is just the most gorgeous woman. I used to watch her get ready to go out and she’d do her hair and her makeup to perfection. I would just think, “I can’t wait until she lets me play in this stuff”. When I got to middle school, I used to babysit and she would let me spend my earnings however I wanted. I spent it on makeup and notebooks. I would do my makeup and plan out this beauty salon that I would own one day. Read more>>

Kat Johnson

I spent a good few years as a young adult wondering about what “career” would suit me. In my teens, I felt a pressure to know… something, which I realize is a privilege unto its own. I was ambivalent. Follow a path that brings me joy based on my talents and interests or follow the practical path that would lead to a successful career and a 401k. During a seven years on again, off again relationship with college, I worked in the restaurant industry, the soap industry, the move management industry, and had more odd jobs than I can remember. Read more>>

Ali Hall

I was in a pre-professional ballet company growing up, and found Pilates as a form of rehab for some lower back/ hip injuries I had been struggling with for years. My pain was gone within a month of doing Pilates and I fell in love with the method of movement and the way my body felt after sessions. Flash forward a couple of years and I ended up in Athens at UGA to study exercise science. There weren’t any Pilates studios here at the time, and I missed it dearly. Read more>>

Cheyenne Cooper

I came up with ATL Big Kids 4 years ago when I realized at the time that adults didn’t have much of their own . Most things (then and now) are catered to kids and if not catered we have to share any and almost everything. I thought the name fit my business because alcohol is only for adults and also because I wanted adults to remember that we’re still kids at heart and can still have fun , despite us having responsibilities now. No it has not ,and that’s ok because it never is honestly. Read more>>

Curstin Andrews

It started out as me as Walmart employee. I was the greeter checking receipts. I happen to see this nice Bentley pull up in the handicap spot of the parking lot. So the guy that walked up from out of that vehicle I stopped and asked him what did he do for living? He said I’m a producer, songwriter, and artist. I said oh really!?! I asked him so u work on movies and stuff like that. He said yes I do? I said could I be on your next movie you are working on? He said yes lock me in and we will talk business. I said great I will. Read more>>