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. Check out our favorite stories from across California’s Central Coast.
Jose Valdez & Estefania Valdez Amy Landeros
The Story Behind Trazos Trazos is more than a printing and design company, it is the story of a family, a dream, and the belief that creativity can change lives. Our journey began when my brother and I decided to start a business together. Read more>>
Kristen Thomas
My journey into design truly began long before I officially stepped into the industry. It first took root thirteen years ago when I started my career in real estate. From day one, I was driven by a simple philosophy to help people through a lens of intentional living. Read more>>
Shantel Seoane
If you asked me where this story really begins, I would tell you it started long before Alter Experiences was ever a business. In 2006, my husband Rami and I moved to Egypt and found ourselves working at what was, and still is, one of the top eco-diving destinations in the world. Read more>>
Kellye Kodak
I began my floral design career in 2006, shortly after my first daughter, Chloe, was born. Becoming a mother made me rethink what I wanted my career to look like. I wanted to be home more with my children while also finding work that gave me a creative outlet. Flowers were somewhat of an accidental passion. Read more>>
Justin Lorenzana
16 years in the food industry came crashing down when I was laid off from my corporate office position from a large quick service food chain I rose to the top starting from the bottom in the restaurants and working my way up the corporate ladder from assistant manager to corporate management, my wife and I just purchased our first home and two brand new cars. Read more>>
Becky Mosgofian
I fell in love with writing early on. One of my core memories is sitting behind a typewriter in my grandpa’s glasses. That love started as creative writing and poetry, then evolved into journalism, where I could connect storytelling with real issues happening in the world. Read more>>
Emmitt Brooks
I grew up in Kansas City and played basketball basically my whole life competing in the 2024 youth Euro Cup in barcelona and playing at Kansas Christian College, but at some point I got just as into filming stuff as I was into actually playing. Read more>>
Tony Metric
It all started when I was 8 years old, when I first heard DJ mixes on the radio. That’s when I fell in love with electronic music. Later, during my teenage years, I learned how to DJ, and in my 20s I started making my first mashups. Read more>>
Andrew Barton
fter decades of planning and dreaming we finally opened our doors in the heart of the Central Coast in Grover Beach! We’re home to over 50 reptiles, amphibians, insects and Lorikeets! Our mission is to provide you with an engaging and interactive experience with animals. Andrew first fell in love with Reptiles at about age 5. Read more>>
Stella Carakasi
It is a long road from conception to completion. When it all started –The 90’s. Early eco-fashion disrupter Two Star Dog Inc. was launched by brothers Steven and Allan Boutrous in early 1993. Shortly thereafter I joined the team and together we created and marketed the first US hemp clothing wholesale collection. Read more>>
Arthur von Wiesenberger
My story in Santa Barbara began in 1973, when I arrived to attend Brooks Institute of Photography, specializing in motion picture production. I was young, curious, and fairly certain I was destined for a life in film. More than half a century later, I’m still in Santa Barbara, still making television—and still curious. So perhaps I wasn’t entirely wrong. Read more>>
Danielle Killen
My journey into fitness and wellness really began at a young age. I grew up with a background in gymnastics and equestrian vaulting—essentially gymnastics on horseback—and started coaching vaulting at a young age. Read more>>
Tyler Baxley
Before RFI, Tyler was experimenting with sauna and cold exposure while working as a Performance Consultant at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While in Kentucky, we instructed soldiers on a number of breathwork protocols to help contend with stress, energy and focus. Read more>>
Dakota Engle
Engle Property and Home Services really started with a combination of experience, opportunity, and a desire to build something of our own. My fiancé, Dakota, has spent years working hands-on in flooring and general construction. He’s always been the type of person who takes a lot of pride in his work and pays attention to the little details, sometimes to the point of perfectionism. Read more>>
Alma Flores
Soul Flower Screen Printing and Design, LLC started in 2020 as a small home based business during the pandemic. I have always had a creative background and an interest in graphic design, so I began creating custom items and apparel for family, friends, and members of the community. What started small gradually grew through word of mouth, returning customers, and support from the local community. Read more>>
Carol Dobson
Growing up around nature in Lake Tahoe, I wasn’t exactly a little girl who was obsessed with beauty treatments, health or wellness, but my environment and my family deeply shaped who I would become. Read more>>
Elmira Bairbil
My journey to creating MUSE started long before the brand itself. I began my career as a photographer and content creator, working with women, fashion, and visual storytelling. Photography taught me how much I value beauty, details, mood, and the way a visual story can make someone feel. Read more>>
Krista Lance
My path to becoming a professional photographer wasn’t exactly linear, but looking back, there has always been a thread connecting everything I’ve done. I first became interested in photography at a young age, around 10. I learned more about the techniques in high school and continued taking photography classes in college, where I developed a strong appreciation for composition, light, and visual storytelling. Read more>>
Dinorah Santana
I became a doula in 2019 after accepting a scholarship for The Full Spectrum Doula training through Birthing Way College of Midwifery. I partnered with a local nonprofit that worked exclusively with Medi-Cal clients and set up aspiring doulas with guidance to receive a Traditional Health Care Worker Certification to bill insurance companies for doula support. Read more>>
Cody Gibson
I was born into foster care in Oklahoma in 1987. When I was two years old my older brother Keith and I were adopted and moved to California. I grew up with three brothers. My older brother Keith (one year older than me), my brother Josh (three years younger than me) and Jacob (six years younger than me). Read more>>
Queenita Fernandes
My journey into homeopathy began on a very personal level, long before I ever imagined it would become my profession. Growing up in India, my younger sister struggled with asthma. Watching someone so close to me deal with a chronic health condition had a profound impact on me. Read more>>
Ariel Grusky Foley
My Journey to becoming a therapist and opening Ariel Xochil Counseling started when I was very young. Being raised by two parents who were very involved in social justice and living in Washington DC made it clear that I wanted to do something that felt like I was giving back. Read more>>
Nicole Zettlemoyer
Hi! Here’s a bunch of information from one of my other interviews. Take what you’d like from it! Bio: Nicole Zettlemoyer, a USAF and USMC veteran, hand crafts wreaths made from real military uniforms. In both the USAF and USMC, Nicole was a regional musician, playing the bassoon across all fifty states. Read more>>
Sara Taylor
I come from a lifetime inside the medical field as the daughter of an RN, years in behavioral health, coordinating patient care. Then in 2010 I lost my husband, and western medicine’s role in that loss broke something in me. What I’d always trusted no longer felt safe. What followed was an extended season of grief and dysregulation. Read more>>
Kira Gibson
Santosha Wellness wasn’t built from a theory. It was built from a life. And a lot of that life was mine. I grew up in a family where my worth was measured by how my body looked. I turned to nutrition first as a way to try to be acceptable to them. I got very good at it. I became a registered dietitian. Read more>>
Mary Cortani
I have always been an animal lover. I grew up with dogs, and as a child, I had a neighbor who used a guide dog. That was one of my earliest introductions to working dogs and the incredible partnership that can exist between a person and a dog. At 18, I joined the Army with the goal of becoming a Military Police K9 handler. Read more>>
Tiffani Tincher
From a Toy Kitchen to The Blooming Apron: My Journey to Becoming a Private Chef My love for cooking started long before I ever considered becoming a chef. I was six years old when I got my first little kitchen set, and I was completely obsessed with it. Read more>>
Peter Ducato
STEL started with a simple idea: great products deserve great stories. Early in my career, I was working across product design and visualization, and I kept seeing the same problem. The people designing the product, the people visualizing it, and the people telling the story were often working separately. I believed there was a better way. Read more>>
Krystal Black
“Hi, I’m Krystal, a local Santa Cruzian born and raised. Since my teen years I have loved the hunt for unique items. I went to college for Fashion Design and Merchandising and found a passion for the buying side of the industry. Read more>>
Toni Callahan
I always knew I wanted to own a business, and that’s a big part of why I studied business in college. I wanted to build something of my own, something I had control over and could pour myself into. What I didn’t know was what that business would be. Read more>>
Brittany Norris
I started out chasing sunrises. Living on the coast, I’d get up before it was light and drive out to the beaches around Santa Cruz and Monterey just to see what the morning was going to do, and I got a little obsessed with that window right after the sun comes up when everything goes gold and soft. Read more>>
Jenni Flores
My journey with lash extensions began in 2019 when I was first introduced to the craft. I started learning and practicing, and in 2021, I took my first lash extension course. What began as a hobby quickly grew into a passion as I discovered how much I loved helping women feel confident and beautiful through lashes. Read more>>
Melody Hierling
I’m Melody, owner and teacher at Starlight Pilates. 3rd Generation from Pacific Grove, Ca. I found Pilates after experiencing sciatica in my early twenties. It has shaped my life and I became fascinated with body movement and the history of Joe and Clara Pilates. I never felt more connected with my internal life force and strength than during and after a great Pilates session. Read more>>
Lauren Webb
My journey began when I was post undergrad and I was making steps towards becoming a K-12 teacher. I was working as a preschool teacher while I was preparing for the credentialing process, I realized I kept putting off moving forward and started to reflect on why. Read more>>
Donzelly
My love for music started in elementary school. I hated going to school so when the school district advertised “ensemble”a music program that would allow you to miss school a few days out the week I was 100% interested in auditioning. We traveled to perform at venues and got to record in a major recording studios. Read more>>
Adriana Magaly Velasco-Rodriguez
My name is Adriana Magaly Velasco Rodríguez. I am originally from San Pablo Huixtepec, a beautiful town in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2002, when I was 15 years old, I immigrated to the United States with my mother and my two brothers to reunite with my father. Read more>>
Christiaan Luneberg
I was introduced to rock climbing while I was in college. Once I had tried it, I was hooked. After years of taking friends out to experience this new game the idea came up to open an indoor rock gym. I being was told that I needed to get a solid job. Read more>>
Laura Stinchfield
## My Story I am The Pet Psychic®. For as long as I can remember, I have been able to hear animals’ thoughts and feel their emotions. I grew up on a horse farm in Upper Westchester County, New York. Read more>>
Jillian Duccini
I’ve had a passion for homes and design my entire life and always knew I wanted to do something in the industry. When I was in high school, I discovered interior design, and from that point on, I had my sights set on it. Read more>>
Charissa Shaoul
I was drawn to Kitchen Design over 20 years ago, loving how it gives a strong relationship with clients to create a unique, warm atmosphere that they will live with for decades. Every space is so different, each client has their affinites and dislikes so I am never bored! Read more>>
Nicole Fischer
I’ve always had a strong intuition for spaces and how they shape the way people feel. Even before Rootstock, I found myself creating environments that helped people connect, not just with each other, but with themselves. As a kid, I was always rearranging furniture, painting walls, and making spaces feel just right. Read more>>
Brian Dodero
Andrea Girardello Sommelier/Owner Brian Dodero Executive Chef/Owner Raised in Milan, Andrea’s first exposure to wine occurred at an early age when his father’s uncle shared a batch of his own wine made in the hills of Liguria. Read more>>
Janessa Vicenty
Girls on the Go started because I wanted to create the kind of community I was searching for—a place where women could meet new friends, try new experiences, and prioritize themselves. What began as a few local meetups has grown into a thriving community that hosts wellness, fitness, and social events while partnering with amazing local businesses and brands. Read more>>
Gillian Steffey
I am so excited to share my journey with you! My name is Gillian Steffey, and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, #158125, and I am supervised by Joseph Henson, LMFT #143459. I was drawn to the mental health field because of both my curiosity about people and my own experiences. Read more>>
Rachel Connerton
Originally from Los Angeles, I began dancing ballet at age 10. By the time I was 17, I had moved away from home to Chicago to train for a professional career. I dealt with biased because of my tall stature and tan skin, but I knew ballet was for me so I pushed myself to be what a professional company needed. Read more>>
Adam Sewell
I was raised in South Africa where we had two hours of PE after school five days a week. PE included soccer, rugby, cricket, field hockey, tennis, swimming, track and field and cross country running. That type of upbringing creates a natural athlete. Balance, proprioception, and biomechanics all come naturally to you after a childhood like that. Read more>>
Bob Swinnerton
I played golf for Fresno State University, the #3-ranked golf team in the country, my senior year. Followed my college career with a few years on the Canadian PGA Tour. After my years playing golf professionally, I began the Santa Cruz Golf Academy in 1994. Read more>>
