Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Sarah Orre
I always painted as a hobby but after I had my kids I struggled with postpartum and used painting as a coping mechanism for anxiety. During covid I painted regularly and discovered pastels. As covid lifted a position opened up teaching painting classes. I began teaching Oil & Acrylic Painting and pastel painting. Read more>>
Alexis Biddle
My name is Alexis, but feel free to call me Lexi! I am 22 years old, born and raised in Southern California. I began my journey in photography back in 2016, when I took a little photography course in school. It pretty much ended there until 2021, when I picked up a camera again, and it changed my life. Read more>>
Kevin Walton
I have been in consumer and real estate lending for 35 years starting with ITT Financial and Beneficial Consumer Finance which gave me an introduction to real estate lending. From there I went into conventional retail and wholesale estate lending where I have remained since. I stumbled into the reverse mortgage in 2008 during the mortgage meltdown. Read more>>
Maxwell Wiggins
It all started when I was in elementary school just being a little boy painting portraits pictures close-up images. In a mix of trying to find myself in my art.. I always knew I was very creative in my own way, but I also had a darker creativity to what I always wanted to do. growing up I was called weird I was called extra. Read more>>
Steve and Holly Teixeira
Ryan was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma at age 18, months after signing a baseball scholarship with Colorado Mesa University. His dreams were put on hold to fight for his life. While in the hospital for intense chemotherapy, Ryan’s nurse navigator explored wish-granting opportunities for him. He began planning a trip that served as a distraction while he endured treatment. Read more>>
Jose Tapia
I started cutting hair at the early age of 13! I always been an artist growing up but sports quickly drifted me away from that. Cutting hair however was a form of art to me that I was heavily passionate about it early on. I’m a firm believer in the law of attraction I got obsessed with growing and getting better. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Harrell
My name is Kaitlyn Harrell, I have been a licensed hairstylist for 16 years now. I started out shadowing my hairstylist when I was still in highschool and doing my friends and families hair. I did the R.O.P. Program my senior year in 2009 to start learning the craft. I started beauty school soon after graduation and finished Beauty school in one year. Read more>>
Shane Goodwin
I landed in Morgan Hill California around thirteen years ago. I took my plumbing experience and served this community in every way possible. While suffering from parental alienation I didn’t care too much about my life so I figured why not give it to the people. Read more>>
Myeshia “MY” Abdul-Hakeem
Myeshia “MY” Abdul-Hakeem is from Oklahoma City, OK. The proud granddaughter and daughter successful Indigenous and African – Freedmen. Who founded the historic and very well known, “Blandon’s Mortuary,” of Idabel, OK. During her childhood, education, entrepreneurship and volunteerism was greatly fostered and passed down through and realized in generations of educators. Read more>>
Brian Thompson
My love for design started early. I was the kid who cared about how things looked and felt, who paid attention to logos and packaging and the way a good layout could make you feel something. By the time I was studying graphic design I knew this was the thing I wanted to spend my life doing. Read more>>
Joe Raineri
Like many great ideas, Terra Amico Farms started with a simple dream: to reconnect people with the land, their food, and each other. My wife Lisa and I have always believed that agriculture is about much more than growing crops. It’s about stewardship, community, education, and preserving something valuable for future generations. Read more>>
Dante Oms
My journey into real estate began long before I even knew what real estate was. When I was a kid, my parents were purchasing a home, and their Realtor was a man named Cecil Rigney. At the time, I had no idea the impact he would have on my life. Over the years, Cecil became a close family friend and mentor. Read more>>
Susan Diamond
Moon Kissed and Moonstone are a culmination of so much that I love! In addition to being a fun magical mystery store, Moon Kissed has a strong emphasis on stones and crystals. We offer ‘made by nature’ and ‘living with intention’ products. Read more>>
Carly Lind
I grew up in a household where things were unstable early, we lost our home in 2008, my parents split, and somewhere in the middle of all of that I decided the only thing worth building a life around was something nobody could take from me. For me that was music, and it has never stopped being music. Read more>>
Catherine Evenson
Rainbow Bright Christian Learning Center has been in operation since August 1989 as a form of community outreach by the First Mennonite Church of Paso Robles. Their goal was to provide quality child care in the community while providing a Christian based faith for the child, as well as the family. Read more>>
Kathy Dodge
I had been bartending for years at a niche flea market on Treasure Island and had bought a pair of lightning bolt earrings from a vendor. I was curious if I could make something similar with resin. From there I was inspired to keep creating and have over 50 earring designs. Read more>>
Emerson Majano
My name is Emerson Majano, and my journey has been driven by a passion for food, culture, and storytelling. Growing up in a Honduran family, food was always at the center of bringing people together. Read more>>
Maggie Eschell
I first fell in love with classic cars when I was 12. My grandma had recently passed away, and up until that day, she had owned a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix, that she purchased new off the showroom floor in 1968. I remember the car having to be started since it hadn’t been driven in a while. Read more>>
Margaret Graziano
Hello well when I was 36 years old and already having spent over 12 years in the recruiting field, which includes Executive Search management search staffing for entire Enterprises and was very successful. Read more>>
Brett Stephen
My earliest food memories all revolve around my grandparents, my fathers parents owned a small ranch Rancho Este Es (now Black Jack Winery). My fathers mom had a huge garden and raise all kinds of livestock which was food for the family and community, from Squab, Chickens, Ducks, Goats, Cows, and was a champion Hog breeder producing a number of 4H champions for decades. Read more>>
Gisela Medali
My journey began with a desire to build a business that would give me both professional fulfillment and the flexibility to be present for my children. I knew I wanted to create something of my own rather than follow a traditional corporate 9-to-5 path. Read more>>
Mayra Bojorquez
At 16 years old, I found out I was pregnant. While most teenagers were planning dances, sports, and college applications, I was preparing to become a mother. By 17, I was raising a baby while still trying to finish high school. It wasn’t the path I had imagined for myself, and if I’m honest, there were many moments when the future felt uncertain. Read more>>
Sean Severud
I started my journey into the world of design and sign painting in Boise, Idaho. From film photography, I became interested in digital photography and taught myself to use Photoshop to edit and create digital artwork with my photos. After putting those skills to use designing websites, I decided to complete a BFA in graphic design. Read more>>
lauren lewis
After I got out of college, I thought I was going to go into physical therapy. My degree is in kinesiology so it made sense but I just didn’t have the heart for it like I did for the beauty community. Read more>>
Emily Marin Comstock
I have been around horses seriously since I was about 10 years old. With occasional riding prior on birthdays and such. No one else in my family rides. I was completely obsessed with them from as early as I can remember. I grew up in Long Beach, California and started in hunter jumpers before stepping away in high school because of the cost. Read more>>
Zack Reed
I began writing in high school for my newspaper. After studying journalism in college, I began exploring different genres of writing. In 2019, I finished my first novel, and at the start of 2020, I finished my second book, which was a novella that was the sequel to my first book. Read more>>
Matt Taddeo
I started beauty school 2 days after Highschool graduation. I wasn’t sure it was gonna work out for me but I was already a father my first born son was born 2 days before my 17th birthday. So needless to say I need to find a career and fast. Read more>>
Rosalia Arellano
I have been physical Therapist with a neurologic specialty for 25 years. Making sure that my patients and clients have resources within their community that help them to thrive, beyond the limitations of a health care system that focuses on only rehabilitation. Read more>>
Marissa East
I became a licensed esthetician in 2014 with a passion for helping people feel confident in their skin. Early in my career, I realized that skincare is about so much more than appearance. When someone feels good about their skin, it can positively impact so many areas of their life. Read more>>
LM Treasures
LM Treasures is the place to find the hard to find! Founded in 1999, this woman-owned family enterprise has evolved into one of the premier distributors of life-sized statues in the United States. The founder, Linda, built the business from the ground up while balancing the full-time demands of raising two children. Read more>>
Maria Gonzalez Rudy Jimenez
Green Thumb Farms was founded by Rudy Jimenez and father Rodolfo Jimenez with a simple vision: to grow healthy food while creating stronger connections between farmers, families, and the community. What began as a small family farm in San Juan Bautista has grown into a diversified operation cultivating over 40 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Read more>>
Tess Kostielney
TK Design started forming in my mind long before it became official. Before my husband and I got married, he would often remind me that I had more to offer than just what I was doing day to day, and he encouraged me to consider building something of my own. Read more>>
Julie DeMarcus
Trinity Financial Services is an independent mortgage brokerage serving clients throughout California. Located in Solvang, California, in the heart of the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, we provide a full range of lending solutions, including home purchase loans, refinance loans, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs), and reverse mortgages. We take pride in combining personalized, small-town service with more than 41 years of industry experience. Read more>>
Elizabeth Park
My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned. At the time, I was working as a nanny and studying sociology in college because I thought I wanted to become a therapist. I’ve always had a passion for helping people feel better, but as time went on, I slowly realized that therapy wasn’t the path I wanted to pursue long term. Read more>>
Aubree Russell
Thirteen: My official start in styling began while I was a model for a local fashion show. Choosing ‘off the cuff’ looks for adult models caught the eye of producer Lynnie Gamberdella, and soon I was balancing modeling with styling for the annual Faith Chapel benefit shows, raising money for women and children. Read more>>
Hannah Mortensen
This is my first year officially running Hannah Rose Events Co., and it has already been quite the journey. Looking back, though, I think I’ve been making my way toward this career for much longer than I realized. I started working in restaurants and hospitality while I was in high school and continued throughout college and beyond. Read more>>
Traci Konas
I have a few things going on. I am an ER nurse and wrote a book called survive the hospital be your own advocate! It’s about how horrible our system is, how to change it, and how to be your own advocate in the system we are in now. I also joined in on a company called cpr cart. Read more>>
Amy Maggipinto
I’ve always loved making people feel beautiful, but somewhere along the way I realized what I loved even more was creating spaces where people feel seen, comfortable, and like they truly be themselves. That idea eventually became a reality. When Brooklynn, Natalie, and I decided to open Kindred A BeautyCollective, it wasn’t because we wanted to build a big salon. Read more>>
Bob Cantu
My family moved to Paso Robles in 1980 from LA. I went to st rose school, and Paso HS before Cuesta college, cal poly and Chapman University. Played 3 years of varsity basketball at Paso High then began coaching in 1993. Coached from junior hs to USC head coach in 2013. Google Bob Cantu basketball for details. Read more>>
Crystal Maxey
I began exploring this the idea of holistic and somatic healing in 1996 when a close friend, who was studying Vibrational Healing Massage at the World School of Massage in San Francisco, was regularly practicing on me. During my sessions with her, I experienced many deep emotional healing breakthroughs. Read more>>
Leah Taylor
It all started on the dance floor at a Rusted Root concert at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach. I was 19 years old, and for the entirety of that show, something happened that I had never experienced before. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t caught up in my thoughts. I was completely present. Read more>>
Jasmyn Coleman
Believe it or not, my business started because I was completely over the chaos in my own pantry! Every time I opened the door, something was falling over, I could never find what I needed, and I was constantly buying duplicates because I couldn’t see what I already had. One weekend, I decided enough was enough. Read more>>
Lani Colhouer
Long before I understood marketing, I understood what it felt like to wait for customers. Growing up on California’s Central Coast, my parents owned a local antique store. Like many small business owners, they worked incredibly hard, but every day depended on whether people happened to walk through the front door. I watched firsthand how difficult it was for great businesses to get noticed. Read more>>
Geraldene Copeland
In 2017, I spent two months caring for my terminally ill father. That changed everything for me. I realized families needed someone who could handle the day-to-day so that when they walked through the door, they could just be with their person, not managing a to-do list. That’s why I started Ubuntu. Read more>>
Melissa Lee
I majored in studio art in college because I loved drawing, but honestly, I had no idea what else to do. After graduating in 2013 without a career plan, I decided to just try different creative things rather than pursue a master’s degree. Read more>>
Aashreeti Deo
I’m an immigrant and international student, and this past summer, my family had to get revaccinated because we couldn’t pull together our vaccine records. We’d moved around, records were in different places, different formats, different languages. At first I wrote it off as our situation being unusually complicated. Then I started talking to people and realized it wasn’t us — it was everyone. Read more>>
Judith and Jose Luis Silverio
This story is about my family Our family’s flower farming journey began with a dream, hard work, and a love for nature. My husband and I are immigrants from Mexico who came to the United States in search of a better future for our family. In 2016, we officially started our flower farm on California’s beautiful Central Coast, turning our passion into a family business. Read more>>
Miguel Avalos
My business partner, Javier, and I have worked together at a luxury resort in Santa Barbara for the past 11 years. While Javier built his career as a server and bartender, I worked as a room supervisor. Read more>>
Marcel Balladares
I started out as a DJ almost 15 years ago now and over the years slowly progressed from a DJ and Promotions team leader into an event organizer and eventual clothing brand owner, while simultaneously going to school and obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Cal State LA. Read more>>
Angelina Rennell
Beklina got its start in 2006 as one of the very first online ‘eco-boutiques.’ The brand was founded by Angelina Rennell in La Selva Beach, California, and its origin story is rooted in a mix of motherhood, tech background, and a personal quest for sustainable high quality textiles. Today, Beklina has transitioned from a curated hobby into an influential, independent fashion line and shop. Read more>>
Alex Kemp
It all began when I applied to Cal Poly SLO for the Wine & Viticulture major. I didn’t know much about wine other than raiding my parents fridge and I sure didn’t know what I wanted to study in college. I just thought wine sounded fun. When I was accepted to Poly it lit a fire in me. Read more>>
Carlie Corse
I’m a Ventura local through and through, and my path to opening Flora has been winding — but in the best way. My background is in nursing, and I spent my early career in the surgical setting before stepping into plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine around 2015. That mix of clinical precision and artistry was where everything clicked for me. Read more>>
Michaela Goorahoo
If you had told me twenty years ago that I would be teaching breathwork, yoga, and holistic wellness, I probably would have laughed. My journey began in a completely different world. I studied Fashion Design in Chicago and was passionate about creativity, expression, and bringing ideas to life. Read more>>
Lindsay Huddle
I started Lindsay’s Little Bakery at 16 years old, right here in the Santa Ynez Valley where I’ve lived my whole life. What began as a passion project – baking for friends, family, and local events – slowly became something I couldn’t imagine not doing. Read more>>
Sheila Murphy
For most of my adult life, I dreamed of living somewhere outside of the city where I could have land and surround myself with animals. In 2017, my husband Michael and I moved from San Jose after I fell in love with a gorgeous 40-acre spot in the hills of Morgan Hill. Read more>>
Abby Clayden Garner
I got my first DSLR camera when I was 15 and used it to photograph my life. I took it on every vacation, brought it to hang out with my friends and shared the images on Facebook. It didn’t take long before people asked me to take their senior photos. Read more>>
Brittany Ives
In our family, Sunday mornings have always been for dreaming. With a cup of coffee in hand, we would sit around talking about our biggest ideas and imagining what could be possible. The first of those dreams became a reality in 2001 when our mom, Tami, opened Affairs of the Heart. Read more>>
Brian Dunniway
Growing up small and insecure, I struggled with confidence. Everything changed when I discovered weightlifting in high school and martial arts in college. Inspired by underdog stories like Rocky and The Karate Kid, I realized that grit, discipline, and smart training could overcome size or strength. This sparked a lifelong passion for fitness, nutrition, and combat sports. Read more>>
Forever Stoked
Artist founders Charlie Clingman and Chris Pedersen met in Mexico on a surf trip when they were 15 years old. Art and surfing had kept the two friends close…in 1998 they started Forever Stoked. From original oil paintings and giclees to greeting cards and stickers, Forever Stoked has art for any budget. Read more>>
Allison Anthony
Sure! I grew up in Bakersfield, Ca. When I was 8 years old I started playing softball, nothing major, but some point it became my biggest passion and I would play almost year round. When I was 14 years old I started going to therapy following the loss of a family member. Read more>>
Amy Di Chiro
Four of us Amy Di Chiro, Jamey Nelson, Peter and Krista Cook took over Mission West in January of 2026. This is a long standing local bar on the west side of Santa Cruz. Formally called Ye Ol’ Watering Hole. Read more>>
Ashleigh Taylor
I’ve always been drawn to creativity, storytelling, and the arts. Before photography, my passion was theater and filmmaking. I earned a degree in film and initially planned to work in the entertainment industry, but I quickly realized that the reality of the industry wasn’t quite what I had imagined. Around the same time I was planning my own wedding and researching photographers. Read more>>
Sabrina Iniguez
I am writing to share the story behind our business, Amerirooter Drain Cleaning. Before launching AmeriRooter, my husband Ezequiel dedicated more than 20 years of his life to working in the plumbing industry. His experience, hard work, and commitment to helping customers built the foundation for what would eventually become our own business. Read more>>
Ryan Williams
I was born and raised in South Africa and, as a child, I struggled with a speech impediment that required years of speech therapy. Looking back, it’s quite ironic that my career would eventually revolve around voice analysis, communication, and wellness technology. Read more>>
Jim Yates
I’ve been a wood worker for as long as I can remember. I built custom boxes, shelving, cabinets and other types of wood art and starting my own construction business in 1998. During Covid I started doing some lathe work and got addicted. Read more>>
Andrea Strand
I am a women’s health nurse practitioner specializing with n Menopause. I have a masters of science in nursing from Yale University. I am a daughter of an OBGYN and one of five daughters. Women’s health has always been important to me. I am a wife and mother and have been a very competitive athlete in n running and biking. Read more>>
Jessica Ridgeway
Jessica Ridgeway serves as Executive Director of Farm Discovery, a nonprofit organization based at Live Earth Farm in Watsonville, California, dedicated to empowering youth and families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social, and natural systems. Read more>>
Ana ‘Latina’ Aristizabal
I was born and raised in Colombia and originally built my career in technology. For almost two decades, I worked in engineering, project management, and business growth, leading large teams and complex technology initiatives for companies like Disney and other global organizations. From the outside, things looked great. I had the career, the titles, and the opportunities I had worked so hard for. Read more>>
Lisa Plemons
I grew up in the shoe business, both retail and wholesale. My family owned a thriving shoe store for 91 years spanning three generations, so footwear has truly been part of my life from the beginning. I spent 30 years on the wholesale side of the industry, representing major brands including Nine West, Joan & David, Franco Sarto, and Naturalizer. Read more>>
Katie Smith
My journey has been anything but a straight line, but when I look back, there’s one common thread: I’ve always been passionate about helping people create a life they love at home. I’ve always been drawn to design, but what really captured my attention wasn’t just how a space looked—it was how it made people feel. Read more>>
Friendship Adult Day Care Center
In 1976, we saw a need to support our community through compassionate care programs, education, and meaningful connections for older adults living with dementia or similar conditions, so for 50 years we have been serving individuals experiencing memory changes and the sisters, brothers, wives, husbands, daughters, sons, professionals, students, families, and neighbors who walk alongside them. Read more>>
TRENT BURKETT
My professional background is in Fine Art. I studied at Sacramento State, my home town for my BA and MA. I also completed an MFA at the University of Minnesota in 2000. Through 2012, I worked my way to Full Professor and Chair for the Department of Art at University of the Pacific in Stockton. Read more>>
Angelique Roeloffs
I remember my grandparents for Christmas gave me a point and shoot camera when I was 8 years old. It was one of my most exciting gifts, and the $80 slim sony point and shoot would soon follow me everyday. Because I had exhausted using my two younger sisters for every photoshoot I had planned, I started shooting my American Girl Dolls. Read more>>
shannon Stoy
I’ve spent the last 10 years in marketing, most of it working with software companies on both the B2B and B2C side. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wanted to do something more personal something closer to the people behind the businesses. Read more>>
Emmad Karmouta
I grew up in Orange County, so Southern California has always been home for me. I pursued my undergraduate degree at UC Davis, then headed to Chicago for medical school at Chicago Medical School, followed by my psychiatry residency at Rush University Medical Center. Read more>>
Diana Mehrmann
My brother Steve and I are a team who own and manage Foxen Canyon Ranch. The over 200 acre ranch has been in our family since the early 1970’s and is near and dear to our hearts. Our parents established the ranch initially to run cattle and horses. Read more>>
Kristina Isdahl
I grew up in St. Helena in Napa Valley, and my path to where I am now definitely wasn’t linear. I originally started at University of California, Davis in 2020 during COVID as a pre-vet major because I’ve always loved animals and thought that was the direction I wanted to go. Read more>>
Ray Rivas
My career in medicine started as a general and trauma surgeon. I spent over a decade practicing surgery, working in high-pressure environments where I cared for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. While I found the work meaningful, the intensity and demands of that career eventually took a significant toll on my own mental health and relationships. Read more>>
Vickie Lobo Walton
This journey began during one of the hardest seasons of my life. After surviving thyroid cancer and undergoing surgery, I became cancer free, but I also became deeply aware that life is short. I realized I had one chance to truly live with purpose and do what God placed on my heart. Read more>>
Jane Benight
I began in the antiques retail business back in the 1980’s when I babysat my friend’s antique store when he was doing antique shows. I gradually worked more and more for him and then worked for the first antiques collective in the Monterey Peninsula; Antiques Warehouse. When they closed I rented a space at the Cannery Row Antique Mall. Read more>>
Amanecer Eizner
Hidden Kitchen started as a very personal and very organic project rooted in food, family, and community. What began as a small blue corn waffle stand on California’s Central Coast slowly evolved into something much bigger — a gathering place that celebrates heritage ingredients, creativity, and connection. From the beginning, our focus was never just about serving food. Read more>>
Shelby McKaig-Rowe
Hi! I’m Shelby McKaig-Rowe, a Santa Barbara local and licensed esthetician since 2008. I began my career working in Aveda concept salons and spas, and that experience completely shaped the way I approach esthetics today. Read more>>
Teri Storelli
MCARLM began as a community effort to preserve the agricultural and rural heritage of Monterey County before those stories and artifacts were lost. What started with passionate volunteers and a shared vision has grown into a unique museum campus in San Lorenzo Park featuring historic buildings, agricultural exhibits, tractors, and hands-on experiences that celebrate the people who shaped the Salinas Valley. Read more>>
Daniella Means
I’ve always been drawn to performance, resilience, and breaking stereotypes – whether that was in sport, business, or life. I was born and raised in Hong Kong to a Malaysian Chinese mother and American father, and sport became a huge part of my identity early on. Read more>>
Leah Kubiske
I’ve always been drawn to creative fields. I first discovered my love for photography in a high school photo class, and later pursued Graphic Design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After college, I spent several years working in graphic design, focusing on UX/UI and web design. Everything changed when my sister asked me to photograph her wedding in Cabo. Read more>>
Alvalyn Lundgren
More than 40 years ago I walked out of a prestigious design school with a portfolio, career goals, and no idea how to merge them. What I did have was faith, well-honed illustration and design skills, and determination. My goal then was to freelance rather than work for someone else. Read more>>
Marissa Wilson
My journey into fitness actually started with my own health struggles. I was an overweight child growing up in an immigrant family. Like many immigrant families, my parents were focused on building the American Dream and providing opportunities for their children. Health, nutrition, and fitness simply weren’t things we knew much about. As an adult, I gained nearly 80 pounds during my first pregnancy. Read more>>
Justin Fitzgerald
I’ve been working in hospitality since I was 16, 22 years. Between hotels and restaurants, customer service has been my entire work life. I genuinely love interacting with new people on a day to day basis and being able to bring them an enjoyable meal, conversation, experience whenever they walk through our doors. Read more>>
Ken Gilbert
Ken created ken gilbert | EMBODYMENT in 2007 out of a lifelong commitment to somatic education in body-centered movement. Ken began his group fitness career at Santa Barbara Athletic Club in 1987 at 37 years; being curious about the dynamics of group fitness and personal training. Read more>>
Liz Kroft
My first job out of college, I was Ben Stiller in Along Came Polly — also known as a risk manager for an insurance company. Glamorous, I know. I spent the whole time staring at the marketing department wishing I was over there. Eventually I found my way into real estate and stayed 13 years. Read more>>
Brian Cowell
I started martial arts when I was just three years old. At the time, I was a shy kid who struggled with confidence and focus in school, and my parents were looking for something that could help me grow. What began as a childhood activity quickly became something that shaped every part of my life. Read more>>
Danielle Parker
I have always loved working with children and knew I wanted to be a child psychologist since I was 16-years-old. I studied psychology at UC Santa Barbara and went straight into my doctorate program at Alliant International University at the age of 20. As soon as I earned my doctorate in psychology, I began working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders, providing therapy and psychological assessments. Read more>>
Marie Antonette Waite
I started with a grandmother who owned land and ran a store. And a grandfather who brought Karate to the Philippines. Lola (Grandmother) taught me business and sacrifice. She rode a bus for hours to buy me my first stationery set. Lolo (Grandfather) taught me discipline and respect. He didn’t teach students to fight. Read more>>
Francesca Petrolo
My story begins with a life-changing accident that cost me my left leg. It was a devastating moment, but instead of letting it define me in a negative way, I made a decision that would change everything: I packed my bags and left for a 13-month solo trip around the world. Traveling alone through different countries and cultures taught me more than I ever expected. Read more>>
Natasha Lozanoff
I’m Natasha Lozanoff, a wedding, elopement, family, and portrait photographer based in Santa Cruz, California. My path into photography has always been deeply connected to nature, movement, and adventure. Read more>>
Gabriel Gomez
I founded National Development Group in 2021 after spending several years as a Project Manager for a variety of construction companies, including those in the electrical sector. Throughout my career, I noticed a consistent gap in the level of personalized, white-glove service being provided to clients. Read more>>
Jack Trimble
About C&C– Copper & Crystal is a group of professional Central Coast bartenders who love slinging drinks and crafting cocktails. Our staff is experienced in handling crowds of all sizes and passionate about providing top-notch service! We help you throw the party your guests will talk about for months or years to come!! Read more>>
Meghan Sanders
I hope this isn’t too much! Freelance photography was my main bread and butter until COVID completely put life on pause. That was the first time in my life I felt lost.. In early 2021, I received a phone call from a client of mine I had worked with photographing wine lifestyle campaigns. He told me he had a proposition. Read more>>
Andy Samarasena
The Life Discussion of Andy Samarasena Andy Samarasena’s life is one of service, creativity, and leadership, spanning the fields of banking, photography, filmmaking, and philanthropy. Born in Sri Lanka, Andy migrated to the United States in the early 1980s, where he built a distinguished career in banking that now spans over 38 years. Read more>>
Jena Baird
I took my first class in college and was instantly hooked. I went to study yoga and wellness and applied it into my life. I saw first hand the impact it can make in my own life. I got excited to share it with others and starting teaching everywhere I could , at gyms, community centers, offering employee wellness programs and more Read more>>
Missy Reitner-Cameron
The Bunker SLO has been a passion project of mine since the first time I walked into the building. There’s a kind of magic in the space that’s hard to explain—but when you feel it, you know. The building that now houses The Bunker SLO was originally built in the 1940s by Mr. Dixon as an agricultural plumbing supply company. Read more>>
Mireia Taribo
Camins 2 Dreams is a family-owned winery founded in 2017 by the wife winemaking duo, Tara Gomez, a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Mireia Taribo, hailing from Catalunya. Camins translates to path in Mireia’s catalan language. Camins 2 Dreams means ‘ the path to our dreams’ Mireia was born and raised in Catalunya, in the northeastern part of Spain. Read more>>
