Raleigh’s Most Inspiring Stories

Wesley Trump

But what happened next became a defining part of our story. Our community stepped up in a big way. Through their generosity and belief in our mission, we raised over $300,000 to transform a historic building and install a full commercial kitchen. That’s why we proudly call it “the Café the Community Built.” Read more>>

Will Haire

Today, we’re a remote-first agency that has helped brands generate over half a billion dollars in sales. We’ve partnered with household names like P&G, Instant Pot, and Corelle, along with rising brands like Three Ships, Leap Year, and Wood 2 Art. Not bad for a side hustle that refused to stay in its lane. Read more>>

Rene Glover

My entrepreneurial journey began at 19 when I started freelancing as a photographer. A few years later, I added graphic design, blending visuals and storytelling to help others show up professionally. In 1996, while attending beauty school to become a nail tech, I noticed many talented stylists were waiting for walk-ins instead of marketing their services. That realization inspired me to merge creativity with business strategy to help professionals promote their brands more effectively. Read more>>

Ashley McIlwain, MA, LMFT

That time period is where I felt the prodding and leading to start Foundation Restoration, a nonprofit ministry that served the very foundation and heartbeat of society, marriages. The vision was to create a place with resources that would help people be healthy individuals and in-turn healthy marriages, in-turn healthy families, in-turn healthy communities, and ultimately a healthy society. Read more>>

Julie Conner

It was 9 years ago that I went airborne down a flight of stairs, and as a result of that fall, I suffered a traumatic brain injury; Over the next 9 to 12 weeks, with the professional assistance of an occupational, physical, and speech therapist, and a neuropsychologist, I had to learn how to walk and talk again. Read more>>

Dr. LaToya Abram-Payton

My innovative vision turned heads nationally when I sold 750 units of her Comfy Bath Kneeler in just 90 seconds on USA Network’s America’s Big Deal. From there, I expanded my brand to include Comfy Baby bag that converts to a bassinet, Colorful Furmotions AR storybooks, stress balls, journals, and educational materials that simplify emotional learning for families and schools alike. Read more>>

Shantora Oyeneyin

By the grace of God and the Village he sent my way, I went on to graduate high school, college, and graduate school with honors while parenting, working, and completing internships. Earning my BSW, MSW, and ultimately my LCSW with the support of my village became both my education and my healing. Over 20 years later, I’ve served in homes, schools, nursing facilities, community agencies, and as an MFLC for military families. To date, I have supervised nine other aspiring clinicians who have all successfully obtained licensure and are now serving others. Read more>>

Erika Brown

That creative permission became a gateway. I started a podcast. I began doing voiceover work. I said yes to unexpected opportunities that the “old version” of me would have deemed too risky or “off-brand.” Cosplay didn’t make me quit my job—it helped me find my brave. It showed me I could be multi-dimensional. That I didn’t have to choose between being a respected professional and being creative, playful, fully myself. Read more>>

Cole Yarborough

I have been lucky to transition from Director of Operations to Owner/CEO of H&L Swim Academy with the founder and former owner shepherding the transition process. He trained me to know every aspect of the business prior to taking over. There have been a few things that have come up that were unexpected, but his guidance and mentorship set me up and continue to help me navigate my first year as the owner of this business. Read more>>

Crystal Smith

Magnolia Cottage Venue of Bell Ridge Farm Carthage has an event wedding venue for weddings and other events, called Magnolia Cottage Venue of Bell Ridge Farm. It can house 50 people inside and about 300 outside. Owner Crystal Smith-Ross has been an event planner on the side for over 20 years and owns Deep River Charm Events. Read more>>

Verdale Dial-Harrison

I’ve always been an educator at heart with an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep passion for helping others. My journey began as a home childcare owner, where I spent 13 years nurturing children ranging from three months to twelve years old. During that time, I recognized a growing need to support children facing academic challenges. Read more>>

Phil Whitman

ProActive Pool Solutions began long before the company existed—back when I was a server at Ruby Tuesday in New York, where I met Patrick. Even then, our conversations were about more than just work. We were driven, growth-minded, and looking to create something meaningful. When I moved to North Carolina and entered the pool industry, I started noticing major inefficiencies. Read more>>

FELICIA Evans Williams

From childhood, I have always had a love for confectionery; namely candy. As a child, I grew up selling frozen icys and now and laters from our projects apartment while in junior high school. Read more>>

Donna Nealy

Esteem, A Total Transformation was started as a ministry initially. While going to school at night for my undergrad and grad degrees I gained a significant amount of weight. I was absolutely miserable. I knew there had to be other women in the same situation. School, home, husband, children, working full time gave no place for me. Read more>>

Lindsey Lambert

I graduated from North Carolins State University with a B.A. in History in 1993 and from Appalchaian State University with a M.A. in Public History in 1996. From 1999-2012, I was the director of Greensboro College’s College Museum and Archives. Since 2013, I have been the executive director at the nonprofit North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC. Read more>>

Jordan & Christopher Giovannucci & Russell

We (Jordan Giovannucci and Christopher Russell) moved to Wilmington, NC three weeks before Hurricane Florence hit the town in 2018. We were a couple years out of college (and in debt because of it), newly married (and strapped for cash), and looking to explore the world (having lived all our life in NorthWestern Ohio). Read more>>

Rosemarie Campos

What started as a creative outlet quickly grew into something much more — a calling. I didn’t step into this industry overnight. My journey has been layered with balancing motherhood, advocacy work, education, entrepreneurship, and artistry — all while building a brand rooted in connection and trust. Funny enough, other people recognized my professional talent before I did. Read more>>

Milagros Melendez

It was 1998, and I was 24 when I bought a 1-way ticket to New York, and arrived with $100 in my pocket. After having to get a new birth certificate in order to get a state ID, I was left with $40. Read more>>

Monica Young

Honestly, it all started when I was a little girl, I laugh. I loved doing my baby dolls’ hair and going to the beauty salon with my mom. That’s where my passion for hair really began, and it never went away—it just grew stronger over time. Today, my brand, KMKbyM—short for Kolor Me Kreative by Monica—lets me share that creativity with the world. Read more>>

Delene Sullivan

I graduated from ultrasound school in 2011 in California (where im from). 4 years later, I received a job offer from what was Prenatal Peek in Durham, NC I literally thought, why not. The owner helped me find an apartment. Moved about 3 months later after the job offer. Unfortunately she closed the studio due to unforseen circumstances about 3 months after I moved here. Read more>>

Terri McClernon

Brief Timeline: 1970’s—living off the land in NY, cooking with what we grew or was wholesome from the co-op; fav cookbooks Diet for a Small Planet, Vegetarian Epicure, and Julia Childs Mastering the Art of French Cooking when I inherited it; worked in a health food store; starting a family. Read more>>

Brittany & Michael Sacco

Hello to sum us up: Rooted in passion. Crafted with purpose. Shared with love. What started as a small dream in our foodie heads, has blossomed into something truly special. At the heart of Bear & Boards is Brittany, our culinary artist and the creative force behind every board. Read more>>

Alicia Roskind Dearing

Oasis sprang from the visionary life of Robert Roskind, an author twelve times over, whose books echo the powerful message of One Love—unconditional love for all. This message is woven through tales from Rasta Elders, Native American Elders, and Mayan Elders. Read more>>

Chris Jorgensen

On a summer night back in 2018 we sat in the back yard with our great friends, drinking wine and bourbon, eating some steaks when we came up with the idea of Norse Brewing Company – as they say, nothing great ever happens with a glass of milk and a salad. taht was the start of what we see today. Read more>>

Keith Ward

My music tastes are varied as I was introduced to new sounds and In high school when I was a Prince fan. My tastes became to take shape beyond the radio via a local record store in Greensboro called Spins. Read more>>

Geoffrey Allen Perdue

I was born in Albemarle, North Carolina in March of 1990, but I grew up mostly in Lexington until mid–high school, then moved around High Point and Greensboro through my early twenties. By twenty-five, I had made my way to Concord and Charlotte, where I’d lived and worked before traveling the country for five years- coast to coast. Read more>>

Laura Adams

Kindly Woven was born from a desire to do things differently in an industry I love. To build textiles rooted in creativity, community, and integrity. Read more>>

Lee Johnson

The beginnings of this band go as far back as the early 2000’s and a band called Big Bertha, i was cutting my teeth in the music business with this band when i recognized there were some better and more efficient ways to run a successful music franchise . Read more>>

Jaleak Gerlitzki

Currently I am dropping a website on 11-11-2025 after 4 strong years of building in person repor , also I am have a showroom in my home and host intimidate gatherings called “the vintage table “ twice a month with the first date being 11-12-2025 and 11-19-25 both being sold out within first day, so much gratitude to this point where I’m at in life now spiritually , mentally and physically with myself and my love for my passion business Read more>>

Phil Kolarczyk

Originally from Pennsylvania, Phil found a passion in helping individuals. He played football in college as an offensive lineman who are known to do “all the work and none the glory.” He took this passion into medicine. He found his true calling in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). It was a combination of helping people and making an impact on someone’s quality of life. Read more>>

Tate Godwin

As a kid, I loved to draw and write stories, and I was obsessed with comics and graphic novels. Once I started college, I chose to major in Economics, since it seemed practical, and pursuing art seemed anything but. But after a few semesters and a bad case of mono, I couldn’t ignore my gut anymore. Read more>>

Harold Greene

My story in music began when I heard the song by Kansas “Carry on Wayward Son”. Mesmerized by the sound, I came to find out the name of the band and aspire to be able to re-create those kinds of textures. And about the same age, I got my first guitar, it was an acoustic guitar. Read more>>

Lucero Marti

Seven years ago, I moved to Burlington, NC. One crisp fall day, I visited a small coffee shop I had discovered online. Read more>>

Debian Blackwood Clarke

How I Discovered the Foundation of Reading Method & Started Start Right Tutoring Services For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved helping children learn to read. I’m a trained teacher with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education, and I’ve spent years studying how reading actually works—the science behind how the brain learns to decode, understand, and enjoy language. Read more>>

Autumn Underberg

I bought Goddess Gowns December 23, 2020. The day before Christmas Eve and in the middle of a pandemic that was shutting down businesses. Brides want their dress and I was counting on that. So with no experience at all, I bought the store, turn-key and had a lot of learning to do. I fell in love with empowering women to feel beautiful. Read more>>

Kelly Graves

After 16 years as a tenured Associate Professor, Dr. Kelly Graves retired from academia to follow her passion for creating a community-based behavioral health center that bridges research to practice and increases access to care. Read more>>

Jacquelyn Clark Johnson

People often meet me in a boardroom today guiding people strategy and shaping culture across a global organization. But my path to the boardroom began long before corporate life. It began in Augusta, Georgia, where I was raised to value education, responsibility, and excellence. Read more>>

Bert Reed

I started my photography journey over 25 years ago, back in the days of film—long before digital cameras were part of everyday life. I was drawn to the creative process behind film photography, especially the magic that happened in the darkroom as each image came to life. That passion naturally evolved into photographing weddings, where I could combine artistry with storytelling. Read more>>

Dr. Brie Arevalo

My journey to becoming a psychologist is the greatest area in my life where I have seen God move — and move boldly. It has been an honor to watch my story unfold and to see how God has used my gifts to serve children, teens, and families in need of hope and healing. Read more>>

Abigail Ryals

When I first began dreaming about True Beauty Esthetics, I had no idea how far that dream would take me. What started as a deep love for skincare and helping others feel confident in their own skin has grown into a business built on passion, persistence, and purpose. Read more>>

Holly Parker

I created Holly Parker Health to help women who feel like they’ve tried everything to be healthy—yet nothing has worked. I know that feeling well, because not long ago, I was in the same place. Before founding Holly Parker Health, I worked as a Registered Nurse in traditional healthcare. Read more>>

Leif Heron

I came into this industry in a somewhat unexpected way. Before Heron Events, I spent years managing IT projects, coordinating moving parts, timelines, teams, budgets, and outcomes. The work was fine—but it didn’t light me up. I kept finding myself drawn back to the moments where people gathered: community fundraisers, queer pride events, family celebrations, small concerts, anything that felt like connection. Read more>>

Anna Vermeulen

My name is Anna. I’m proud, and very blessed, to be the small business owner of PetWise Professionals. As an avid pet lover from a young age, I’m fortunate enough to say that I can’t remember a time without pets in my life. Pets are family, and our household simply wouldn’t be complete without them. Read more>>

Swanie Tolentino

My journey into this work wasn’t something I planned—however, it unfolded naturally, as if I was being gently guided toward it. For more than 30 years, I thrived in the high-tech corporate world, leading global marketing teams across different countries. It was fast-paced, rewarding, and full of learning—but also stressful and left little room for personal growth. Read more>>

Hillary Budkowski

I was introduced to nutrition during my undergraduate studies and I fell in love with understanding how nutrients influence our body’s physiology, fuel our energy and mood, and support long-term health. That curiosity grew into a passion for helping others apply nutrition in practical, meaningful ways. Read more>>

JEROME TAYLOR

My name is Jerome N Taylor, AKA DJ ENERGIZER, I started as a DJ in September of 2012, I was a full time Operations Manager for Sherwin-Williams Floorcovering Division for 25 years but afterwards decided to go full-time as a Disc Jockey in 2017, I started djing at restaurants such as Applebees Restaurants doing Karaoke and Line Dancing. Read more>>

Colleen Bergren

I’ve spent nearly 20 years in the helping professions, always drawn to roles that center around support, service, and connection. Throughout that time, my path hasn’t been linear—there were personal and life hurdles along the way that, at times, derailed my original goals or slowed my progress. But those experiences also deepened my empathy, strengthened my resilience, and reaffirmed my commitment to this field. Read more>>

Daniel Sartain

My first job was washing dishes at a little seafood restaurant. I was 16 and needed to make money, so my friend hooked me up with the gig. I quickly started bussing tables as well as pulling long shifts in the dish pit. I liked interacting with guests, and knew my next job would be waiting tables. Read more>>

Claudia Ochoa

I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia where I open my first spa in the year 1993. I have a degree from Jorge Tadeo lozano university in BA Advertising and Marketing, in Bogota,Colombia, obtained in June 1998. I graduated as a professional esthetician in 1992 from ‘the international Beauty Center’ Bogota, Colombia. Read more>>