The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.
Rosetta “DJ Zetta” Jackson
Being a woman in the DJ world comes with its own set of challenges. I’ve had to prove myself in rooms where people didn’t take me seriously at first, like I had to really show up and let the music speak louder than the doubt. On top of that, building a creative career while juggling life, bills, and healing from personal things? That’s a balancing act nobody prepares you for. Read more>>
Anthony Turner
It was a small investment with a great ROI. Fast forward two years, my mother transitioned to the other side and left an inheritance. She believed in my vision for business. With that being said, I invested all of my inheritance on printing equipment needed to begin my graphics design business and grew from there. I purchased a large format printer and a large format vinyl cutter. I was advised not to pay cash for them, but I did and I do not regret it at all. If I would have listened to people that did not share my vision, I would not have grown to where I am now. Believe in yourself and you will not fail. Read more>>
Arturo Leighton
At 15 I got my first job in the industry at a Boston Market working the register and taking out the trash. I got fired quickly. Then I went to bus tables at a local italian joint called Sal’s Pizza. When I was 18 I moved to Tallahassee where I went to college and got seasoned in kitchens. I worked on the line until my first big jump to Sous Chef at Paisley Cafe. Shortly after I got my first executive chef position at 23 years old. I held that for sometime and decided to leave Tallahassee to see what the world could offer my cooking. Read more>>
Austin Speck
We specialize in skill development for athletes who are chasing their personal best, whether that means making the varsity roster, landing a college scholarship, or dominating on the travel circuit. We are known for combining grit and technology. Our facility features cutting-edge tools like HitTrax, Rapsodo, and Proteus Motion to give athletes precise data and measurable results on their hitting, pitching, strength, and movement patterns. But what sets BEAST ATHLETICS apart isn’t just the technology — it’s our 24/7 access membership model and structured scheduling system. Athletes get more reps, no wait times, and focused work whenever they need it. Read more>>
Junior Auxiliary
In recent years, our chapter has experienced significant changes. The impact of COVID-19 deeply affected both our community and the way we operate. While the need for our services grew, we had to navigate the challenges of safety regulations and restrictions designed to protect those we serve. These circumstances also made it difficult to maintain membership levels and continue fundraising efforts essential to supporting our mission. Despite these obstacles, we’ve remained committed to rebuilding—strengthening our membership and re-establishing our presence in the community so we can continue meeting the needs of others. Read more>>
Jada Ross
I’ve taken losses, been doubted, ignored, and nervous. There has been so much I’ve had to do and learn pretty much on my own. We could focus an entirely separate article on articulating the tests and challenges I’ve navigated, but I make the conscious choice to re-frame each experience and allow them to grow me, not slow me. Psalm 27:13-14 states, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.” Read more>>
Ashley Benham
Weddings came to a screeching halt. In the blink of an eye, my entire calendar cleared out. Clients were heartbroken, confused, and scrambling to reschedule. I wasn’t just losing work — I was having some of the most emotional phone calls of my life, trying to help couples navigate something none of us had ever experienced before. I felt like part wedding vendor, part therapist. Read more>>
Genn Franks
I thought all I needed was talent & guts. To be a go-getter. As time went on, and professionalism had to outweigh my desire to just be creative—as well as my naturally introverted personality—things became increasingly bumpier. My clientele grew, and what started as a personal outlet for creative expression across different mediums slowly turned into a business that demanded serious investment—financial, social, physical, and sometimes even spiritual. And the more that happened, the more I had to learn. Grow. Adapt. Pray. Read more>>
Dante Taylor
Treat making was more than extra money, it became another job. It was my motivation to go into entrepreneurship. As I get older, my family continues to grow, and the world is not what I once knew, I realized this is what I want. This is the lifestyle I’ve been longing for. I am a wife, mother, and full-time paraprofessional. As you can see my life is pretty full with different titles and responsibilities, but I’m making time to do what I love.. What I offer is a luxury. I provide a calming atmosphere to communicate your needs, an effective turn around time, and a genuine loving customer service that makes you want more. Read more>>
Carol Williams
The property that would eventually become Bea’s Bungalow went up for sale only two days after my brother’s unexpected death in December 2015. I decided to buy the property anyway and formulate end use plans after the renovation was complete. Faced with doing it alone, there was no immediate incentive to begin work. Slowly I began in the spring of 2016 doing it as time and budget would allow. I set small goals and started a basic room-by-room renovation. Read more>>
Jacob Huffman
I am a Blues harmonica player, I have played since I was 5 years old. I have been lucky enough to perform all around the world, and I’ve been very blessed in the people I have met along the way to help guide me. I try to create my own sound while also trying to blend my greatest influences such as Little Walter, James Cotton, John Lee Williamson, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy and Junior wells. I am very proud of the fact that no matter what is going on in my life I always try to put my music in the forefront. I think that being in the service while also pursuing music sets me apart from others. Read more>>
Heather Howle
My work focuses on the relationship between pattern and color. While being light and airy, I try to maintain a quality of mystery. My primary medium of choice is acrylic on canvas or paper, with elements of collage. I am maybe most known for my mixed media paterned butterflies ,and the interaction of color in my work tends to set me apart from other artists. I am most proud I stuck with it. Read more>>
Stephanie Sacco
I wanted to become a lawyer to try to help others, and I quickly realized that by being a kindergarten teacher, I can do what I always wanted and even more. Not only do I have students and families I can support throughout the year and beyond, but I found a calling that is exciting, demanding, and so rewarding. Kindergarteners love school and love their teacher, and I love being a part of their joy in learning each day. I taught first grade for a year-and-a-half during the pandemic, and I enjoyed it. But, I missed my favorite grade; I could not wait to get back to kindergarten. Now that I have been back in kindergarten for a few years, I feel lucky to do what I love every day. Read more>>
Jacob Klaven
When events slowly started coming back, I had to rebuild the business almost from scratch — reworking our services to be more flexible, focusing even more on private events, and re-earning customer trust in a new environment. It was a tough period, but it also taught me a lot about resilience, adaptability, and focusing on what really matters: delivering a meaningful, personal experience for our clients. Read more>>
Michael Treacy
As a lifelong hockey enthusiast, I recognized a gap in the market and founded Official’s Equipment, LLC in 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee—where no retail store specialized in hockey gear, let alone equipment for officials. What started as a vision quickly became a family-run business (thanks to my wife Malerie) dedicated to providing high-quality products tailored specifically to the needs of various officials. Read more>>
Kimberly Lightfoot
Tucked away in the scenic backroads of Millington, Tennessee, our vibrant countryside market has grown into a beloved destination. Whether you’re picking up fresh produce, farm-raised meats, creamy dairy, or handcrafted treasures, you’ll find something special around every corner. From day one, we’ve poured our hearts into every detail—from the incredible vendors we partner with to the one-of-a-kind events we host right here on the farm. Read more>>
Samantha Wyrick
So, I bought a point-and-shoot digital camera and shot her wedding. I had no clue what I was doing but I loved it. I spent about two years playing with my camera and editing. In 2013, I started taking more photos and learning more about photography. Samantha Wyrick Photography became a business in 2017. I’ve photographed weddings all over Tennessee and Kentucky and once in Pennsylvania. I offer services for weddings and portrait sessions. Memphis is one of my favorite places to work. I can remember vividly the day I knew I was in love with Memphis. So, I come down and shoot there every chance I get. Read more>>
Blair Ball
I’m self taught, and so there have been many struggles along the way. To learning my cameras, settings, composition, lighting and the technical. Then I discovered once I had the image, now what? Read more>>
Seville McKinnon
I was a part of the team for nine and a half years. With the support of my husband, in September 2015, I opened my baby, Textures Studio in Cordova, TN. Textures is more than a salon. It is a vibe. It is a home. There’s so much love that spreads through the salon. I wanted to build a business on not only skill, but passion, faith, education, and love. Relationships have started and thrived. Confidence is regained. The salon culture has been redefined. We want our guests to receive an experience with their service. A place you run to for relaxation and a good time. We value continued education and goal setting for our service providers. We value continued education and goal setting for our service providers. Read more>>
Stephanie Woods
During this challenging time, a close friend of mine, who owned a local Pump It Up franchise, was looking to sell her business. Although the idea of shifting careers felt daunting, I couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the possibility. The opportunity to step into a new chapter in my life, one that involved joy, laughter, and positive energy—especially after such a profound loss—was incredibly appealing. I saw it as a chance to build something new, to channel my grief into something positive, and to create a space where children and families could experience happiness and fun. Read more>>
Brittany Dewitt
In 2024, I completed a solo thru-hike of the 290-mile Benton MacKaye Trail spanning from Georgia to North Carolina. During my three-week solo journey, I contemplated our future, our family, and how we could contribute to the community. After returning from my hike, we left our previous employer of 10 years, officially opened Executive Wheel Repair, and thanks to our loyal customers, we have successfully operated for a year, celebrating our anniversary this June. Read more>>
Doug Patrick
And we pray for all of our Suite Holders and also partner with World Overcomers Church (our neighbor just down the street) to send in their prayer team to come in about once a month and pray not only for our Suite Holders, but for any of their clients who may be walking through a difficult season in their lives! And finally, we do require that each individual Suite Holder obtain a City/County business license and although we cannot say this for certain, we believe that our location there on Winchester Road has helped create an environment in Memphis of having one of the country’s fastest growing female and minority owned business models out there, and that is something that we are very proud of! Read more>>
Gregory Price
Beyond business, G. Price is deeply committed to social impact. Alongside his wife, Kimberly Price, he co-founded the GKPRICE Foundation in 2016. Under their leadership, the foundation has become a beacon of hope in Memphis, organizing initiatives like the Annual Hat, Gloves & Scarves Drive for the Homeless and spearheading innovative mentorship programs such as Men of Whitehaven (M.O.W.) Thus program focus on guiding young Black men through high school and into adulthood with wisdom, structure, and community support. Read more>>
Michael Thorn
The thing you need to know is that we buy our inventory from individuals who want to earn cash from their closets. So when we opened it was only to buy inventory but not sell yet. We had 100’s of peoples items to go through over 8 weeks to stock the store for opening. Our buy process is the key to our success. We are not a consignment shop to where the customer does not get paid until the item sells. We pay cash up front and take on the financial risk of the items selling. Read more>>
Randall K
An independent act born from a bedroom in Memphis, 47StillStanding has carved out their own lane with over 50 songs released and more than 11 million streams across all platforms. Built on raw emotion, relentless DIY spirit, and a commitment to storytelling, their music captures the highs, lows, and everything in between. From the quiet of late-night recording sessions to resonating with fans around the world, 47StillStanding proves you don’t need a label to leave a lasting impact — just heart, vision, and a willingness to stay standing. Read more>>
Will Tucker
As a mechanic, I’ve enjoyed working on things my entire life. I’ve restored a few classic cars and turned a wrench on anything I could get my hands on. Naturally, as I fell in love with cycling, I also fell in love with the bicycle itself – especially building and repairing. Over the years, I took every opportunity I could to gain experience working on bikes. Working out of my backyard shed, I would help friends with repairs, and even started doing custom paint jobs. This is where I half-jokingly coined the name “Latting Speed Shop” – carrying the namesake of my home street in Eads, TN. Read more>>
