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.
Nicki Mitcham
I started my business Nicki M Travel after we took our kids to Disney World for the first time. Our two boys at the time were two years old and almost 1 year old. I grew up going to Disneyland every year with my family, but there was something really special about watching our kids experience meeting Mickey for the first time and seeing the theme parks through their eyes that clicked something in me. I learned more about how to plan Disney World vacations so I could help other families make memories and now we’ve been going to the parks three times a year as well as adding some Universal resort trips too. Read more>>
Andi Rothfeld
In the early days, we shared our pieces solely through Instagram, connecting with customers one-on-one. About two years in, we launched our website to keep up with growing demand. During the pandemic, we found our community—other small businesses, loyal customers, and new friends—who supported and championed us through it all. Our business has been built entirely through word of mouth, and we’re so proud of the genuine connections we’ve made along the way. Read more>>
Henry Cary-Williams
In a cycle of fresh unfamiliarity, I am always a guest in other people’s lives and routines, forever on the outside looking in. I have no neighborhood that remembers me with substance, no coffee shop that knows my name, or room that holds my past. I exist only in my mind, and take it all with me. Read more>>
Ben Copperwheat
After leaving school, I reluctantly joined my father in engineering. Despite always wanting to attend art college, I spent two years working in a factory, which led to depression. At 18, I finally came out as gay. This marked a turning point—my parents encouraged me to pursue what I truly loved. I applied to the local community college where I completed a two-year National Diploma in ceramics and surface pattern design. Read more>>
Adrienne Berkland
I was always an artistic person but following college I felt having a secure job needed to take a priority, Coaching became the focus of my life as the nature of the job required lots of travel and practice on nights and weekends which limited my time for making art. Art became a hobby and that never sat well with me. I knew art needed to play a bigger role in my life but it was scary to give up the security of a full time job. I tried teaching art but found all my creative energy being poured into the classroom so while my life was suddenly surrounded by art, it wasn’t my art. It was a big leap of faith to leave job security but I have no regrets! Read more>>
Chloe Davis
never intended to pursue art as a career. I have always been school-driven and pushed myself to excel in everything academic. However, at the end of high school, I realized that pursuing a career in math or science would only depress me. This was during the pandemic, so the future was always on my mind. When COVID hit and the world shut down, art and music were the things I kept coming back to. I don’t think there is time for me to invest my energy elsewhere. I decided to pursue animation because it was a combination of all the things I loved: storytelling, illustration, and music Read more>>
Hailey Rihn
From there on out when people asked me “What do you want to do when you grow up” I would say “work at Disney”. This dream was my sole motivation and drive. It is was kept me going. Theme parks were such a passion of mine, never before that did I consider it as a place for a career. It wasn’t until middle school that I realized that people actually have to design these places. That’s when I learned what a Walt Disney Imagineer was. My anxiety told me that “I would never be good enough”, but I still put it on the dream list anyway. It made me realize that there is so much more out there and maybe a creative role could be part of my dream career at Disney. Read more>>
Marti LeMaire-Tomlin
Starting my career a couple of years before the market crashed was challenging, I had to get creative with helping homeowners not have a foreclosure on their credit as well as provide for my family and support my family. Needless to say, those years taught me how to overcome any situation that is thrown at me. Read more>>
Shirlonda Shepard
I had always thought about opening my own private practice, but honestly, I was content working for the Department of the Army. However, an opportunity presented itself that made private practice a real possibility. After a lot of prayer, conversations with my husband, and even more prayer, I decided to step out on faith and open True North & Associates LLC in Savannah, GA. My goal was to create a space where clients could feel seen, supported, and empowered to heal and grow. Read more>>
Kendalynn Thomas
I Remember being the first person at my school to start a clothing brand and YouTube and I had always had a love for clothes since I was younger and would sketch clothes and doodle throughout my notebooks. I then did customs and Art on and off again since 2020 until I decided to change my major to fashion design and merchandise in 2022 , today I recently graduated from Houston Community College with my Associates degree in Fashion Merchandising , and I am starting over custom collections and drops only in a effort to eventually open my own store . Read more>>
Montana West
I noticed that so much of my art reflected just that, music & nature. I had a deep desire to capture it and bring it to life on a canvas or with any type of 3d art piece. Once I was aware of that I then intentionally focused it. I love creating pieces for a home/individual that evokes that feeling of peace, beauty, and magic that we feel when we hear our favorite songs, a live band for the first or 50th time, feel the perfect breeze, gaze at freshly bloomed flowers, or walk amongst our favorite trails. I truly hope to bring joy & a range of feel good emotions to anyone who supports my business by finding their perfect piece. Read more>>
Tyrone Smith
I use to do hosting at a bar in 2018/2019 called Flaujae’s and did great with that. During that time I connected with a well known popular DJ named DJ Kidd. We got together and I started learning the business and I took an interest and even deeper love for the the industry and truly found my passion in entertainment. I currently DJ at Deb’s Bar which is the place to be every weekend if you are from Savannah and that has allowed me to connect to other DJ’s or music artist in the industry. I’m currently working on launching an full entertainment and production company along side some of my friends and family and I can’t wait for y ‘all to see what we have in store. Read more>>
Clark DeBenedetto
My father Gilford DeBenedetto known as “Kevin Kantrell” has been a professional wrestler my entire life. I fell in love with the Sport and wanted to be apart of it at a young age. At 14 I started training at Continental Championship Wresltings Top Rope Wrestling academy. I then honed my crafts at United Pro Training with my father. Just a year ago I refereed my first match in Panama City Fl and now have grown to work on my craft and referee multiple times a weekend for companies across GA and FL. I know work for a Strong Independent Wrestling Company – Costal Empire Wrestling who runs shows every fourth Saturday in Savannah Georgia. Read more>>
Luke Pawsey
I’m a Cinematographer/Director of Photography. I have always loved being the guiding hands of the camera. I mainly work on narratives, but also do fashion films, commercials, music videos, etc… I love storytelling. So much more goes into a shot than people think. How does the lighting make the scene feel? Will this composition compliment the character in this moment? Does this camera movement align with what’s needed in the story? I’m constantly researching and practicing my craft so that I can deliver the most beautiful shots that serve the story at its root. Read more>>
Dana Danielson
Oh wow! Is following one’s own path ever a smoothly paved road?! I made choices along the way that took me farther and farther away from a secure and predictable career (income) path. I left a comfy corporate photography job to get into art education, because I knew that was getting me closer to “something” authentic. Then I left the teaching job to pursue my own massage career, teach movement classes and lead community wellness endeavors. Read more>>
Shaye Garrigan
Over time, I realized I needed a divorce. That relationship had run its course. Internally I was screaming, I’m an illustrator, an embroidery artist, a painter! It really hit me when I went on a few dates with a guy who only wanted to talk about photography, and all it made me want to do was run. That wasn’t who I was anymore. I felt pigeonholed, like I had to keep showing up as someone I no longer was. So I stepped away from creating for a little while. Read more>>
Cindy Daugherty-McCumbers
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science from Indiana University Southeast. For nine years I worked for a clinical reference lab as a clinical laboratory scientist. For the last nine years, I have worked for an in vitro diagnostics company, the company that made our testing equipment in the lab. I am a Technical Support Specialist for one of our product lines. While with this company I earned my Master’s in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. Read more>>
Ashanae Flannings
Of course there were some struggles, deciding to become an entrepreneur on its own is a big step . There were some things I had to figure out , you know the basics , how to start a business, where to start , vendors etc… and not to mention funding your own business out of pocket, and there’s personal problems like struggling with consistency and impostor syndrome. Read more>>
Amber Casselbury
In 2018 when my husband and I made our move down to GA, I knew I wanted to branch further into aesthetics, but felt that I was ready to shift more toward facial aesthetics and away from dental. This led me to decide that, along with moving across the country, I would also start an entirely new career and go to nursing school. I spent my first 3 years down here working through school doing microblading and lashes. I rented a small studio and built my brand and my business around achieving the most transformative results to common aesthetic concerns, while maintaining the most natural look. Read more>>
Brian Walters
I had to self finance finish out on my current location, with hard money loans.that had a daily payback that was brutal. To make sure my staff always had their paycheck meant everything and there was so much juggling with money going on, often times moving personal credit into the bussiness to keep things a float. Read more>>
Brenna Gallagher Myers
The blog was a passion project and a place to get all my thoughts out into the world. Then I found copywriting. I took a course called Write Your Way to Freedom that taught anyone how to turn a love of writing into a full-time job. Copywriting is writing with a specific goal in mind. To sell a product. To promote a business. And the beauty of writing copy, you ask? You learn the skills, and then you can use them however you want. I didn’t have to be a scammy salesperson and write to promote products I didn’t believe in. It could be whatever I wanted it to be. Read more>>
Elisa Vandzura
God has been faithful every step of the way, and He’s also blessed me with the most amazing support system. My mentor, Tara Scott-Johnson—esthetician and owner of Suite Life Spa—has poured so much wisdom, encouragement, and real talk into me. I wouldn’t be where I am without her guidance. Christen Martin of Hostess City Travels and Photography has been another huge gift—she captures the heart of my brand so beautifully and is always there to let me bounce ideas around when I feel stuck. Sam Howarth from The Way She Was Made has saved me more times than I can count when it comes to Instagram. I always joke that I’m a useless millennial—but she helps me show up in a way that feels true to who I am. Read more>>
Jezmin Daniels
Little Jez wanted to be a writer, sometimes a performer, and eventually I figured out how to be both. My mom wasted no time letting me know I could not sing and rapping was chucked out the window when I couldn’t catch the beat. But my pen never stopped. I wrote short stories and fan-fiction. I chronicled my childhood with deep introspection, questions I had about the world around me, and my conversations with God, which led me to believe I was a poet. I can’t put a date on it, but I stumbled upon Jackie Hill and Def Poetry Jam on YouTube and instantly fell in love. From there I called myself ‘Poet-fo-eva’ and my daddy gave me a pulpit and a mic. I was around 13 when I started spittin’ at my daddy’s church and and even a couple others. Read more>>
Rodrigo Herrera
The road has been smooth because there has been 7 years behind it. Although I never studied or had in mind to be a videographer / photographer, I always enjoy learning new ways and techniques to make my personal content better. Those 7 years I also spend time learning about running a business (marketing in specific) and that has helped me brand myself through most social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube. Read more>>
Dana Damewood
I grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska, where I attended a one room schoolhouse. One of my earliest memories was being fascinated by the light in my grandmother’s home. Eventually, we left our small town and moved to Omaha. I was never exposed to much art or culture. I realized I had a desire early on to find an outlet for my creativity. I was fortunate to discover an unusually advanced photography program in high school. Read more>>
Belle Alolong
There were days I questioned everything—when we didn’t have enough staff, when equipment broke down mid-service, when I was doing payroll at midnight and scrubbing floors the next morning. Financially, it was tight. We didn’t have backup funds or a big safety net, so every decision mattered. And emotionally, it was a lot. Running a restaurant is already hard—but building one from scratch, with limited resources and high expectations, is something else. Read more>
Laura Robinson
Southern Grace Stays was born from a shared passion for hospitality, home design, and the charming city of Savannah. After years of traveling the world and staying in unique rentals, we realized what a difference thoughtful touches, beautiful design, and warm service can make in a guest’s experience. With Laura’s background in interior design and Andy’s love for restoring homes, we began transforming properties into welcoming spaces where guests could truly relax and feel at home. Read more>>
Molly Bird, Merrill Burke, Briden Anderson
We all three were previously working in the aesthetic field together and were longing for opportunities to get involved in our community. These opportunities were not available to us at our previous job, and was a huge priority for us. This is when we decided to take a leap and open a business of our own so we could give back to our beloved community of Statesboro and even surrounding communities. Read more>>
Becca Robinson
My story begins with my birth, October 25th 1999 where my young parents (22 and 27) were told their daughter would be born early and without a brain stem. I was born early, a 31 week preemie, but I did have my brain stem. It was actually my lungs and my limbs that didn’t work the way they were supposed to. Growing up disabled wasn’t always easy, but for the most part I never really knew I had a disability. Not being able to run as fast and play as hard like the other kids did was just something I had accepted. It wasn’t until I was much older that I started to realize what having a disability meant Read more>>
Christopher Kelson
For the next * 8 years I would undergo artist development. That gave me the foundation to become the dope MC/lyricist I am today. My independent mindset drove me to become a life insurance agent and work for myself to have more time and money to do music at a high level. I began to study the music business and I would then start my own label Hungry Boy Records LLC with the money from my insurance business. My journey has still been thriving till this day with me building my fan base and performing in various cities and states. I now use my skillset and experience to develop and coach other artist, teach them the music business, and write songs for others. Read more>>
Jonilea Riley And Michele Roberts
The Nurse Honor Guard has been around Nationally for approximately 20 years. My co-founder, Michele Roberts and I, JJ, went to the National Convention in Erlanger, Kentucy that was held by the National Nurse Honor Guard Coalition. This is the National Organization that assists each state with all the information to start and manage a Chapter. While there, we met our Georgia State Coordinator, Jennifer Heyer, RN and she assisted us in starting a Chapter in Savannah, GA. On August 23, 2025, the Coastal Georgia Nurse Honor Guard was established- Me, JJ Riley, RN at President and Michele Roberts, RN as Vice-President. Read more>>
Alessia Piccoliori
Looking into college opportunities in the U.S. felt like a natural choice to be able to pursue both my passions. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with tennis, but I’m incredibly grateful that it led me to Savannah, where I have the chance to study at one of the best design universities worldwide, and connect with amazing creatives who inspire me daily. Design is something I’ve always paid close attention to, and being able to study it at a high level, while growing as both a designer and a person, is exactly what my younger self would have hoped for. I am about to complete my BFA in Graphic Design, and I could not be more excited (and a little nervous) about my future!! Read more>>
Fatima Sultan
My name is Fatima Sultan, and I grew up on the tiny island of Bahrain before moving to the United States for university. From a young age, I felt drawn to the idea of studying abroad. I was always inspired by the stories my older brothers and cousins told about their experiences in the USA and UK. Those stories stuck with me, they made the world feel so much bigger. I had all these ambitions, and little me wanted to see if I could actually do it, live alone and study far from home. I thought, “If I can make it on my own in another country, then I can do anything.” Read more>>
Jared Seff
By my teenage years, I experienced a breakthrough in my career as a professional portrait artist. I painted a portrait of Sir Paul McCartney that was considered as a potential album cover. Though the album was never released, his charitable organization, Adopt-A-Minefield, requested to use the portrait for their annual fundraiser. Sir Paul personally signed the painting, which ultimately sold for $11,000. That moment opened doors to national press coverage and a series of opportunities that brought me to California, where I had the privilege of meeting and painting notable figures such as Tony Bennett, Jay Leno, Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, and more. I even had the honor of meeting former President Bill Clinton and presenting him with a portrait that now hangs in his presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Read more>>
Kristen Hebert
My transition into travel advising has been quite smooth, thanks to the comprehensive training provided by the host company I’ve partnered with. I’ve also had the privilege of collaborating with a wonderful group of fellow agents who empower and encourage each other. As far as licensing and insurance, the host company allows me to utilize their credentials, which has simplified the process significantly. I did face some initial challenges when starting since I had no business background. With the support from both company resources and my fellow agents, I was able to overcome these obstacles and continue to grow. Read more>>
Chris Bertha
After graduation, I moved to Texas to begin my administrative career. I was fortunate to meet my wife three years later while working in San Antonio. I continued my leadership journey in independent schools in Dallas and Houston until I accepted an opportunity to lead a K-12 charter school in the Tampa Bay area. When my wife and I found out that we were expecting a child, we started searching for a school community where I could work and be a parent. The search led me to Hancock Day School, where I am currently serving as the head of school. Read more>>
Nicole Newton
I enjoy making people feel comfortable enough to draw out their emotions and body language. I went from being a studio life of fixed backgrounds, controlled lighting and where everything was in place, to where every location is a new playground and my truck is my new gear room. I get a chance to say yes to projects that vibe with me. No more click-in, clock-out. I shoot now because I choose to. Every project reminds me why I picked up the camera in the first place. Read more>>
Janet Pan
I do photography and while in college, I am currently still exploring all the options as to what I can focus on specifically. I have recently been really into architecture and travel photography. I like to walk around for hours at a time with my camera looking for interesting things and compositions to photograph. I originally got into photography through portraiture so I find it funny that I did a whole 180 and went from photographing only people to photographing no people. I do love all types photography so it has been hard for me to stick to one focus. However, I believe that has provided me with a lot of versatility. Read more>>
Nancy McGregor
Life, however, had other plans. A divorce left me a single mother to a disabled child, demanding flexibility a 9-to-5 couldn’t offer. I pivoted to freelance makeup artistry, where I also styled, lit, and transformed sets — only to watch photographers earn the big bucks for a single shutter click. That sparked a change. With a delightfully unpolished portfolio, I applied to the Creative Circus in Atlanta and, to my astonishment, was accepted. There, brilliant professors and peers revealed my “different” vision wasn’t a flaw — it was my signature. Read more>>
Alexandra Backlund
Professionally, I’ve held leadership roles with brands such as Lancôme and Bobbi Brown, where I managed teams, elevated client experiences, and exceeded sales goals through tailored beauty services and visual merchandising. Now, as the Southeast Regional Makeup Artist for Estée Lauder Companies, I travel across locations to lead product education, in-store event execution, and team development blending technical expertise with artistry and human connection. Read more>>
Martina Kolovich
What began as a single room in my living room has now transformed into three offices with nearly 20 staff members. We are also excited to announce the opening of our first franchise location in Pooler this year. I attribute much of my drive and determination to the rigorous education I received at Georgia Tech, which instilled in me a “figure it out” attitude and pushed me to strive for excellence. This experience has not only shaped my career but has also empowered me to embrace challenges and pursue my passion. Read more>>
