Highlighting Local Gems

Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.

Leah Steiner

At 26 I can happily said that I am doing exactly what I am born to do and that’s be an artists. There are some people that do art and there are others that are artists. Read more>>

Mici Canales

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is one of the most daunting questions we ask children. I took it seriously—maybe too seriously. I felt an internal pressure to know, to decide early, and to commit. Read more>>

Christopher Noel

Trust the pivot.’ I’d tell him to stop worrying about being ‘too much.’ That loudness and ‘extra’ energy people complained about? That’s exactly what’s going to make him stand out. I’d tell him to keep that theatrical spark alive because, one day, he’ll be the one building the stage. Read more>>

Marcia Credle

If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be that it is okay to make mistakes and that mistakes are tools for growth. Read more>>

Jes Smith-Presley

Absolutely. What you see is what you get because I genuinely do not know how to be anyone other than ‘JES ME’. I’m a sensitive soul with a deep yearning for growth, joy, and peace, and I decided a long time ago that pretending was above my pay grade. Some people are masters at code switching. Read more>>

Amber

One belief I am committed to, no matter how long it takes, is helping women feel beautiful inside and out. That commitment grew from my own healing. There was a time when I stayed in a relationship that was hurting me. Leaving felt overwhelming, and I was carrying more sadness than I knew how to express. Read more>>

Evalye Alexander

The loss of my seven-year-old son reshaped everything about how I see the world. That season forced me to slow down in ways I never had before and to go deeper into my faith, not out of obligation, but out of necessity. I began to understand that strength and vulnerability are not opposites. Read more>>

Jessica Fields

I’m an ex-corporate marketing project manager. Working at both global companies and start-ups, I had to collaborate closely with executives and leadership teams. One thing quickly became clear: no one has all the answers, and most of us are just figuring it out as we go. Read more>>

E. J. Brad

We feel they are equally important, because intelligence helps you to analyze things more accurately. Positive Energy helps you manifest things in life and this builds integrity. Read more>>

Tyler Smith

Integrity is the most important to me. Intelligence and energy are valuable—they help you solve problems and get things done—but without integrity, those gifts can be misused or wasted. Integrity shapes character, builds trust, and ensures that everything you accomplish is done the right way. In the long run, it’s integrity that sustains relationships, leadership, and legacy. Read more>>

Hannah Patterson

I spent years masking my struggles, like many with ADHD and differently wired brains do. I carried a vast inner world I couldn’t quite articulate. Art became a channel to calm my anxiety and translate what words couldn’t yet express. Through a daily practice of creating, supporting, and listening to myself, I transmuted this pain into authentic expression. Read more>>

Andrew Snorton

The time I’m most at peace is in the morning. When I wake up, I take time to pray and meditate. There’s times I’ll read the passage of the day from the Bible app, or I may look at the notes from the sermon and revisit a few things. Read more>>

Teresa Crowder

I am most at peace when I’m in my studio with an uninterrupted chunk of time when I can turn off the screens and the phone and just paint. It’s what makes me the happiest and truly gives me a sense of peace and fulfillment that nothing else does. Read more>>

Anderson Smith

My late fiance’ Oksana saw me clearly before I saw myself. She is the one who encouraged me to go for it! After she passed 11 years ago this month is when it hit me that what I have always been was an artist. None of this would be possible without her. Read more>>

Whitney Stansell

If you know me well, you know that everything I do I try to do quickly. Maybe that is because my to do list feels like it is a mile long. It also could be that I struggle with patience, and that is something I am working on. In my art work however, I cannot do any of it quickly. Read more>>

Ameerah Jihad

My character. Without my name, role or possessions I would still be who I am at the end of the day and every morning I wake up. None of those things define who I am as a person or can change my character. Read more>>

Harvey Middleton

Honestly, I don’t avoid battles. Any challenge that comes my way, I face it head-on. I’ve learned that every battle carries a lesson, not a failure, and those lessons are what help me grow. If I want to be successful, I have to go through those tough moments so I can understand where I need to improve and how strong and capable I really am. Read more>>

Tiahna M. Rose

I think people may misunderstand the intention behind my work. From the outside, it can look like content or aesthetics, but at its core, everything I build is about ownership, sustainability, and creating long-term stability. The visuals are just the entry point. Read more>>

Emily Wynne

A normal day for me starts with a cup of coffee, a history podcast and painting. I spend a few hours getting my creativity warmed up before I head into work for the day. Read more>>

Brooke M Williams

If you had asked me this a decade ago, I would have said my days were filled with anxiety. This makes me incredibly grateful for the peace and privacy in my life now. Today, a typical day for me is all about finding balance between a busy schedule and enjoying my time at home. Read more>>

Nayeli

Thank you so much for having me. Right now a normal day is preparing for the release of my upcoming single and preparing for my live show in April 2026. So lots of music playing, working out and multiple meetings with my team to get prepared to have a successful concert. Read more>>

YC Neko

I was in a long relationship with a person she was really brilliant , college girl and all but also very domestic and uneasy most of times . Outside of that She played a major part in my early success and didn’t mind going half on anything when it came to my dreams . Read more>>

Deovani Jean

Something I think we’ll all regret not doing is taking the chance. Talking to that boy at the coffee shop because you thought he was cute. Starting your New Year’s resolution of going to the gym. Setting up the business you’ve been talking about for years. Allowing yourself to be a beginner and learn. Read more>>

Dawn Hull

I used to think in terms of black and white—good and bad, or strict opposites of positive and negative. I’ve since realized that we actually live in a spectrum. There is a lot of ‘gray’ out there, and I’ve learned to embrace the fact that many things in life can’t be easily categorized, understood, or explained. Read more>>

Debora Noletto

A cultural value I protect at all costs is community recognition. I strongly believe that people and communities thrive when their efforts, stories, and contributions are seen and valued. For immigrants especially, recognition is not about ego — it is about dignity, belonging, and legacy. Read more>>

Dan Kabanko

Yes — and not because of ego, but because of experience and accountability. If I were a homeowner or property manager in Atlanta, I’d want an appliance repair company that values honesty, clear communication, and real diagnostics. That’s exactly how Atlanta City Appliance Repair was built. I started this company as a founder, not an investor. Read more>>

Shakkearra Sykes

Without hesitation—yes, I would hire me. I’ve built my career on the ability to not only imagine what’s possible, but to execute with intention, emotion, and precision. I lead with empathy, design with purpose, and think like a strategist. What sets me apart is that I don’t approach design as a luxury reserved for a few; I approach it as a form of emotional care. Read more>>