Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Courtney Haynes | Licensed Esthetician and CEO of North Carolina’s Top Bridal Hair & Makeup Company Courtney K Beauty

I’m from Wilkesboro, North Carolina, where I grew up facing challenges that shaped my resilience and passion for helping others. Born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, I endured bullying and felt outcasted, which fueled my desire to uplift others. Becoming a single teen mom at 17 taught me perseverance and responsibility. My journey through hardships, faith, and rediscovering my confidence inspired me to build a business that empowers women to embrace their beauty, strength, and God-given worth. Read more>>

Danielle Pennington | State Farm Insurance Agent

I’m from Princeton, West Virginia, a small town at the southernmost point of the state. Growing up there, I was surrounded by some of the hardest-working, most loyal people you could ever meet—folks who would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.

That sense of community shaped me in so many ways. Hard work, reliability, and genuine care for others weren’t just values we talked about—they were part of everyday life. Those lessons have stayed with me and are a big part of who I am today. They guide me in both my personal & professional life. Read more>>

Jeremy Powell | CEO of Powell Productions – DJ Stacks

I’m from a small town outside of Graham, North Carolina named Saxapahaw. Back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s this is where not only my family but other families came together during the fourth of July for food laughs and the music, my uncle Junbug, was the our DJ! To see him setting up his equipment you just knew that it was about to be a good time, good vibes and a good night! Watching him transition from song to song, hearing the different melodies and tempo’s within the songs, and seeing the people so happy and dancing, laughing because a particular song has return a memory to them from their past. I knew in my early teens I wanted to be a DJ. Read more>>