Highlighting Local Gems

Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.

Jennifer McNeil

Building my business has required a lot of quiet resilience. Like many creatives, I’ve navigated seasons of uncertainty—slow periods, changing markets, and the pressure to constantly evolve while still staying true to my values. I’ve learned how to adapt without losing my voice, whether that meant refining my offerings, reworking systems, or saying no to work that wasn’t aligned. Read more>>

dongkyu lee

When I was young, I never believed I would become someone impressive or remarkable. But now, I genuinely believe that I’m not that person anymore. Read more>>

Akary Busto

I understand that most behavior we label as lack of motivation, discipline, or consistency is actually the result of a nervous system under chronic stress. People don’t fail because they don’t want change badly enough. They fail because their bodies don’t feel safe enough to sustain it. Read more>>

Davix Foreman

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve come to understand what imposter syndrome is. Shamefully, I have to admit I deal with it by not putting myself out there in fear of not living up to expectations. I started performing at the early age of 5 consistently until I was 20 years old, so the spotlight is nothing new to me. Read more>>

Athena G

The fear that’s held me back the most has always been worrying about what people would think if I did this or that. But over time, I’ve learned that it’s a muscle you can strengthen — and I can’t get to the places I want to go if I let those thoughts run the show. Read more>>

Marla Martenson

Some of the most defining wounds of my life have come from grief and betrayal. I’ve lost many family members and close friends over the years, and that kind of repeated loss changes you. It forces you to sit with the fragility of life — and the rawness of what it means to keep going with an open heart. Read more>>

Dianna Smiley

My closest friends would say that Jesus matters the most to me. He is my everything and following Him guides everything I do in my life and in my career. Read more>>

Aiden Miller

I really am a person who yes, I like to party and have fun. Yes, I like guys and girls and am bisexual. Yes, I like to get weird sometimes, but when all comes to all, I am a gentle person who deep down cares about family and friends and loves to chill out. Read more>>

Nye Davidson

My late, great friend and sister in spirit, Traci Braxton, saw me clearly before I ever fully saw myself. What started as a simple, almost casual email—back when I was living in D.C.—changed the entire trajectory of my life. Read more>>

Susan Vishmid

My parents! My folks immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union where my mother was an opera singer with a major theatre company in Moscow and where my father was a professional volleyball player. Perhaps I was destined to become a dancer as dancers are not only artists but are also highly trained athletes. Read more>>

Royal Fools

We’re queer musicians, something we’ve never shied away from. It always stings when you’re reminded that homophobia is alive and well, even in Los Angeles. At one of our first ever shows, we were chatting with the headliners when one of the band members said the F slur. Everyone else there laughed. Read more>>

Josh Kanterowitsch

I usually know I’m out of my depth when I stop listening and start rushing. That’s always been a sign for me that I need to slow down, ask better questions, or get the right people involved. Over time, I’ve learned that being out of your depth isn’t a weakness, it’s part of growth. Read more>>

Michael Tullberg

The work that I left on the table–my photography, my books, and the history that I passed down to those who follow me. Read more>>

Lana House

This is something I’ve thought about often, especially this past year. In many ways, the fire forced me to confront this question in real life. While I was incredibly fortunate not to lose our home or possessions, I did lose my role as I had known it, and I watched many in my community lose everything. Read more>>

Channing Sparks

I think people would miss my energy the most — the encouragement, warmth, and sense of connection I bring into a room. I genuinely love uplifting others and making people feel seen, confident, and supported, and that spirit naturally carries into everything I do. Read more>>

Joseph Benjamin

For most of my life, I thought I was chasing success, visibility, momentum—forward motion at all costs. But I’ve realized that what I was really chasing was value, disguised as urgency. I never stopped to question whether the chase itself was the problem. I assumed wanting more meant moving faster. I assumed clarity came from acceleration. Read more>>

Yueyi Zhang

I seek the moment when space becomes an active participant in storytelling, not merely a container. My work moves freely across theater, film, installation, and commercial design, not as an interdisciplinary gesture but as a way to examine how narrative functions across different planes of reality. Read more>>

Matty Harris

Playing drums and bass. I grew up as a drummer, but as I started working in recording studios, I slowly moved away from actually playing. These days I mostly mix and master, so I’m rarely on the songwriting side anymore. Recently, though, I’ve been playing drums again and putting real time into learning bass. There’s no expectation of a payoff. Read more>>

Jenn Feldman

I’m investing in relationships, instincts, and patience. I’m building a body of work, a point of view, and a way of doing things that prioritizes integrity over speed. I’m teaching my boys how to be good humans. I’m trusting my intuition more than the noise. Read more>>

Katayoon Iravani

Bonds often break in small, quiet ways. A conversation that gets avoided. An assumption left unspoken. A moment where someone says “it’s fine” when it isn’t. I mean I am pretty sure many of us had that already 4x this week. But, yes, over time, those moments stack, and distance forms even between people who respect and care about each other. What restores bonds? Read more>>

TATEVIK BOUNIATIAN

Relationships can be broken by dishonesty, neglect, or poor communication. Resentment, unresolved conflicts, and self-centeredness can also create distance and weaken trust. But bonds can be restored through honesty, understanding, and empathy. Forgiveness, patience, and consistent effort to show care help rebuild connections. Read more>>

Denise Bella Vlasis

I feel most people may not understand what it takes to make it in the celebrity impersonator or tribute artist industry. Most people have no idea of the challenges many tribute artists and impersonators face and the hard work and dedication it takes to stand in the shoes of an icon. Read more>>

Russell Hartstein

Pet parents who get it, get it. How many details and nuances are there to optimize a pet’s learning and boarding, and training experience. Read more>>

AMIR IMANKHAN

Many people think that what we do in our shop is just dry cleaning. However, our work goes far beyond that. Leather cleaning is an art that requires skill, precision, and experience. We don’t only clean,we also perform color matching using airbrush techniques to restore items to their original appearance. Read more>>

Brad Lamm

With intervention, NO is a conversation starter, not the final answer. A refusal is not a failure. It’s information. Information that cracks open a real conversation. Many people decline help multiple times before accepting it. Each respectful, well-structured invitation can reduce resistance and increase readiness, even when acceptance is delayed. Read more>>