Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Suzanne Tarry

I have always loved flowers. As a child I was constantly picking blooms to give to my mother and grandmothers, or anyone else I had contact with. As a college freshman though I pursued a pre-med track thinking I would help the world through medicine. Read More>>

Kamilah Peebles Brathwaite

I got into real estate because I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself—something that could change lives for the better. I didn’t want to be just another salesperson. Read More>>

Sam Rae Edmiston

Well, I have been an artist all of my life. Creating things out of anything I could get my hands on and people were responding to it and wanting to buy it so ultimately it only made sense for me to start selling what I was creating. Read More>>

Joaquin Juatai

I enjoy woodturning, and progressing my art. I decided to sell my work to support my tool buying habit. New techniques, new skills, new styles of turning all require tools, and my collection wasn’t paying for itself. Read More>>

Jennifer Barbour

Justin and I had stepped away from our busy working lives to reclaim time with our boys. The idea was to take a brief sabbatical on a sailboat to recharge and connect with one another. Months later, COVID was in full swing and we were faced with what to do next during uncertain times. Read More>>

Angela Clayton

As a teacher, I’ve always believed that every child deserves to learn in a way that fits their unique needs. I loved incorporating music and movement into my lessons because it brought joy and energy into the classroom—and most importantly, it helped kids learn in a fun and meaningful way. Read More>>

Liscah Isaboke

Starting my own law firm was driven by a desire to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and accessible, strategic legal counsel. I saw too many small business owners making avoidable legal mistakes due to a lack of guidance, and I wanted to change that. Read More>>

Alexa Carlin

I’ve always believed that if I could make a difference in just one person’s life a day, I’d be living with purpose. That belief has guided everything I’ve done—and entrepreneurship became my vehicle to bring that mission to life. Read More>>