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.
Tim Echols
Meanwhile, off I went to the University of Georgia getting very involved with the Baptist Student Union and further honing my leadership skills. Shortly after graduating from UGA, Tim and his wife Windy founded TeenPact, a training experience for conservative high school students. The program began at the Georgia Capitol and now operates in all 50 states, having trained 105,000 students. Read more>>
Kevon Cooper
I’m a rapper/singer and I’m just different authentic. Got my own sound and not too many you can compare my sound too. I’m Gutta but I’m Smoove wit it. Read more>>
Lisa Scarbrough
In my young adult days, I rescued animals on my own, but I only had so many friends and friends of friends who were willing to adopt. One day, my vet, Dr. Pam Fandrich, told me I should start a rescue so I could take donations to help pay for care. I was 23, thought it couldn’t be that hard, and six months later, I had a non-profit on my 24th birthday. I did not think I would still be running it two decades later. Read more>>
Cimaya McCreary
By age ten, we traded Maryland for Georgia – loud for quiet, initially unsettling but ultimately nice. Our way in? My mother marrying a serviceman stationed in Savannah. I anchored myself in school, eventually landing at Woodville Tompkins High School. While there, I sought opportunities to flex my experience and uplift others. This manifested in the Bank of America: Student Leadership Program, where I led a School Supply Drive for Gadsden Elementary School. This taste of public service informed my college interests. Read more>>
Sara Bruce
I started off as a production assistant in the film industry world 15 years ago, I still always worked in the service industry in between shows. I later joined the IATSE Film Union where I did props and craft service, later on I started acquiring shows on my own and bought trailers and built my brand. Fast forward a few years later the film industry world went on strike for almost a year so I took SJB Limited LLC on a different route and started doing events, festivals, and commercials focusing on mobile coffee bars and set ups. Read more>>
Mark Thomas
The journey was fairly free from many hardships. I would say that my life has been characterized as a consistent sine wave with the highs and lows. In my childhood my father was significantly older than most fathers. He was in his eighties when I was in my teens and due to the loss of my parent’s lively hood in my late teen’s factors led to a dynamic of me essentially becoming “the man of the house”. After getting through those adverse 3-5 years, I ended up becoming who I am today. In my adulthood, like many others, I just find it difficult to navigate the path of balance between marriage, a family with four kids, five and under and work. Read more>>
Jeanne Atkins
At Athena’s Go Travel, our mission is to create unforgettable travel experiences tailored to each client’s unique dreams and desires. We specialize in customized itineraries, including cruises, tours, and all-inclusive vacations, ensuring seamless and stress-free journeys. With a passion for history, culture, and exploration, we strive to inspire adventure while delivering exceptional service, expert guidance, and personalized touches. Whether you seek relaxation, discovery, or a once-in-a-lifetime getaway, Athena’s Go Travel is here to make your travel dreams a reality. Read more>>
Christin Lee
I have always been a lover of photography, but having my three daughters really inspired me to pursue it as a business. When my middle daughter was 4, my wife bought me a Nikon d3400 for my birthday and I never put it down. I made a post on Facebook on a whim thinking it wouldn’t go anywhere and 5 years later it is a thriving business. I still love it as much today as I did at 16 when I got my first camera. Families are my favorite to capture. I love capturing the moments that matter. The details of your child’s face, the smiles on the mother’s face as their kids race towards them. I love saying and fully believe that it won’t be posed smiling faces that we want to remember, it’s the laughter that I capture as they dance around with their littles that will be what we miss the most. Read more>>
Haggis Johnson
I come from a talented neighborhood in Savannah Georgia full of rappers and producers, full of talent I’m a product of my environment the good the bad beautiful and ugly. I just believed in myself and went after every dream and goal always listening always learning being a student of Inffa Red (SIP) and Ryu The Chosen One (SIP) and being groomed coached trained by pioneers who paved the way to make it possible for me to be here with you today. I’m about to be a Multi Millionaire if not a Billionaire. Read more>>
Stephanie Andrews
In September 2002, we opened Halo in Atlanta, Georgia. While working in Atlanta, we were hearing the buzz about the revised GA Entertainment Incentive Act. There were a ton of model and talent agencies in Atlanta but there were none in Savannah. In 2007, we opened a second office on Bull Street in downtown Savannah. Between the tax incentives and the beauty of our city, we’ve had many movie productions set up camp in our town but we’ve also had a ton of national print and tv commercial campaigns come to Savannah, too. From national campaigns to local work, we’ve been booking models and actors in Savannah for more than 15 years. Some of our national clients include Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren Polo, Fruit of the Loom, Kohl’s, Belk, Huffy Bikes, Gulfstream, Westin Hotels, Montage Resorts, JC Penney, Marriott and more! Read more>>
Rashid Williams
No it hasn’t been a smooth road. It has been an up hill and down hill battle. Having a team that didn’t have the same drive as I did, losing my own drive at times, hunting for opportunities, constantly hearing broken promises, wasting money, grieving family loss, and feeling like I had no support from those closest to me, were all struggles I went through and at times still go through. Music is just like life. When it rains it pours but when the sun decides to shine there are no clouds in my way. Read more>>
Rebecca & Jamie Gawley & Pleta
Finches has a rich history of collaboration. Much of what makes showing up every day so meaningful are the connections we make. So much of our creativity is sparked by saying yes to an idea. When we are approached by a chef, or bartender, a painter or musician, anyone who wants to be a part of what we’re doing, the answer is always yes. Read more>>
Kelly Temple
Without any business background, I opened my day spa in 2020 as the sole provider. As my client list grew, I slowly expanded my team, realizing that my caretaking extended beyond clients to creating a comfortable workplace surrounded by likeminded professionals. Inside and out, we maintain our commitment to being a space for repose, inclusion, authentic representation, nurtured practices, and boundless self-worth. Read more>>
Stella MacQueen
I originally was majoring in Film and Television as I loved the high school class, and I knew I wanted to tell stories. In my last quarter of my freshman year, I took my first screenwriting class with Professor Sandra Daley. Little did I know that this class would completely change my perspective on filmmaking. Professor Daley opened my eyes to the world of writing for film, and I fell head over heels. I changed my major to Dramatic Writing and started taking other writing classes that supported my creative passions. I am now a sophomore Dramatic Writing student who has written and directed a few short films, written many plays, directed two music videos, and written a SCADPro commercial. 10 year old Stella would be very happy. Read more>>
Fernando Morales
I remember talking to the Visual Arts Chair the second week I got there. His name is John Carruthers, but everyone just called him Mr. C. I was telling him that I was very interested in potentially majoring in anything related to the visual arts in the future. I would tell him, “I know it is in me, the art. I just have never had the chance to dive into it, and it might be too late because I cannot even draw an apple.” He stared at me for a little bit with his funny smile and long hair and just told me, “Well, all I know is you need a good portfolio if you want to get into any art school, so why not start now? Try drawing the best apple you can and send it to me tonight—we’ll take it from there.” Read more>>
Kailey Courtney
During the pandemic, my mom, my sister, and I rewatched every season of America’s Next Top Model. That experience unexpectedly reignited my passion for photography. I had always loved fashion and had enjoyed learning photography in high school, but it wasn’t until revisiting the show that everything clicked: I could merge these two interests into one career! After graduating in 2021, I enrolled in community college to study photography. There, I learned foundational techniques in both studio and on-location photography, including analog photography using 35mm and 4×5 film. Despite the valuable experience, I felt like I wasn’t being challenged enough and needed to push myself further. That realization led me to make a bold decision: I moved 12 hours away to Savannah, to attend SCAD. Read more>>
Salathiel DeLoach
I’m also deeply passionate about community engagement—whether it’s organizing events like Lace Up for Lupus Awareness and Operation Hope, hosting Purple Praise Sunday, or collaborating with local leaders to promote wellness and education throughout the year. While some of these initiatives highlight lupus awareness, they all reflect a greater mission: to uplift, inform, and empower. For me, each effort is a reminder that even in the face of life’s unexpected battles, purpose can still rise from pain. Read more>>
Julia Licht
After finishing school i moved to NY city where i got fired from several jobs . I found new work as a street artist in Soho nyc where i sold my art to people from around the world . While doing that i was able to get freelance gigs at the New Yorker and other publications . I was a street artist and free lance artist in nyc for 10 years until i got married to another artist and had three kids. Needless to say that didn’t work out and i moved to Savannah with my kids. As my kids got bigger i begam to be a full time artist and began supporting my small family. Read more>>
Brady Kuebler
While all of my first scripts were practically unreadable, they were the best time I ever spent. Each minute writing alone in my room led me to study Dramatic Writing (B.F.A) with a minor in Film & Television at the Savannah College of Art & Design. In and out of SCAD, I have written a variety of projects spanning format and subject matter. This includes student-produced short films like “Eyes Without a Face” and full-length screenplays such as “Artificial Intelligence”, which was recognized as a Second Rounder in the 11th Annual Launchpad Pilot Competition. Read more>>
Tammy Waller
Well, I am a cleaner from way back.I started cleaning houses when I was fourteen years old. Cleaned my whole life That’s all I know really. So I got started in the eighteen wheelers detailing after years and years of cleaning. My whole life I have done all types of cleaning. I’m set apart from others because when I put my name on something I do it with pride, honesty, and love. Things a lot of people have forgotten about. I can actually do house cleaning, vehicles, offices, yards, anything that needs cleaning I can do it without hesitation. And I have the credentials to back up what I am telling you. To do a job you have to love what you do to full fill it correctly..and I love cleaning. I couldn’t see me doing anything but that. I love my job I love what I do. Read more>>
