Portraits of the Valley

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around the Valley.

Adam Silverman

My interests have always been related to creative genres, mostly films, T.V. and art.. I loved movies from a very young age and earned my Bachelors degree in Cinema & Television Production, from California State University, Northridge in 2016. After college I worked as a Production assistant on the final season of an episode of “Bones”, and worked as a background actor on multiple network T.V. shows.. Read more>>

Starry

Where I am now…wow I have connected with such supportive talented artists like from Rizo Corp Gallery who has helped me tremendously in giving me the platform that feel magical and safe for creative introvert like me… Huge shoutout and thanks to Isauro Rizo. And I wouldn’t be where I am without my music producer Rick Mayelian and believing in me. Our song “Till Sky Rains Fireflies” started to play on fm college radio station since November 2025 on daily rotation. Such an exciting feeling to experience… Read more>>

The Cave Wine Storage

In 2008 I stepped into the role of ‘Resident Troglodyte,’ the overseer of The Cave Wine Storage. The Cave Wine storage is a little-known, eclectic, intimate wine storage facility tucked away in the basement of the historical Hotel Glendale, occupying space that was once the restaurant and social room. The original wood floor remains intact and the rumor of ghosts persists. Read more>>

Yana Britsova

My name is Yana, and photography has been my creative language for over seven years. After moving to the United States, I found a new way to tell stories — this time through images instead of words. With a background in journalism from one of Moscow’s top universities and experience in national television, storytelling has always been at the heart of my work. Read more>>

Sanda Fisherman

I began my career as a designer at another company, where I gained hands-on experience and a strong foundation in design. During that time, I recognized a growing need for thoughtful kitchen design that not only functioned well but also made spaces feel beautiful and intentional. Seeing that opportunity inspired me to start my own, women-run company—one focused on creativity, quality, and attention to detail. Read more>>

Maddie O’Hara

I used to work in the entertainment world for years, and I always had a love for all things home. I started wallpapering for fun, and it quickly turned into a love my mom and I shared together. After loosing my dad and her husband, we found comfort in each other and diving into a business that makes people love their home again. Read more>>

Benjamin Ghiam

I’m a Valley kid, born and raised, and my first dream actually had nothing to do with medicine — it was music. I played in a rock band through high school and college, and we toured around Southern California playing places like the Whisky, the Roxy, and the House of Blues. Read more>>

Moneer Mouchamel

After graduating high school, I spent nearly six years working in my family businesses. That time gave me a strong foundation in business development, operations, and management, and it taught me how businesses actually function day to day. While it was an invaluable experience, I eventually realized I wanted to build something that aligned more closely with my personal interests and passions. Read more>>

Brianna Shelko

My journey has been shaped just as much by the doors that didn’t open as the ones that eventually did. Early on, I found myself blocked from songwriting rooms I deeply wanted—and needed—to be in, often simply because I couldn’t afford the high cost of exclusive songwriting camps and opportunities. That experience stayed with me. Instead of discouraging me, it clarified my purpose. Read more>>

Robert Ancill

My journey really started with a deep fascination for hospitality and the way food brings people together. Early on, I was drawn not just to restaurants as businesses, but to the experience they create, the atmosphere, the storytelling, and the impact they can have on a community. Read more>>

Sabrina Cooper

After being in a major car accident 4 years ago and losing over 150 pounds, I decided to enter the California Regency International State Pageant that will be held on March 7th, 2026, in Visalia, California. Most people would have given up after having had to learn to walk again 3 times. But you can call me stubborn or determined; both words work. Read more>>

Nik Navarrete

My name is Nik Navarrete (she/they) & I am a soon to be 27 year old Los Angeles native. If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I am a Valley girl through and through. I have grown up, lived, and worked in San Fernando Valley my entire life. Read more>>

Edy Pickens Levin

I’ve always been someone who thinks and learns through making. I began my career as a visual artist and educator, teaching in schools and community settings for many years. For a long time, I followed a path that looked stable and successful from the outside, but over time I realized I was living far out of alignment with my internal values. Read more>>

Sean Yehuda

I grew up around construction through my family’s custom cabinetry work. My dad specialized in higher end cabinetry, and he would take me to job sites with him, so being around projects was just normal for me. The cabinetry work itself was very detailed and done the right way, which gave me an early appreciation for quality and craftsmanship. Read more>>

Camila Crews

I came to LA to work in entertainment and spent over a decade in film and TV publicity. After losing my father during the pandemic, everything shifted. Having lost my mother in 2001 and my father in 2022, I saw how uncomfortable we are with grief, even though it’s something we all experience. Read more>>

Argi Avetisyan

I started working young. I was coding professionally by 18 and skipped college. I moved to the U.S. at 17 with my mom and sister. There wasn’t much room to mess up, so I learned fast and worked a lot. Tech was my entry point. It paid the bills. I bought my first property at 20. Managing it is what really changed my path. Read more>>

Kyle Hendershot

It started with me putting everything I owned into my car and driving across the country to Los Angeles, sleeping in said car while I tried to figure life out. I’d done a reality TV show in college, and someone I met through that was gracious enough to let me house-sit so I didn’t have to keep sleeping in the car. Read more>>

Liam Gibb

Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the arts. Middle school was when I decided to enroll in drama, and I fell in love with it immediately. I was in all of our theatre productions, competed in our state competitions, and would go on to get my degree in Theatre at Florida State University. Read more>>

Analya Straughn

When I first became a trainer, I quickly noticed how many women were shying away from weight training. I started walking around the gym, talking to women of all ages, asking why they stuck to cardio machines and Zumba classes. Sure, some women lifted weights, but most stayed with light dumbbells, and only a handful were lifting heavy. Read more>>

Stephanie Sosa-Arzate

I am the daughter of immigrants that are living the American dream. They came to the US for a better life and they are living proof it is possible. I grew up in La Puente, CA. I always knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. I went straight from high school to undergrad at Cal Poly Pomona and then Ohio State Veterinary School. Read more>>

Ignacio Rodriguez

Ignacio Rodriguez is a self-made and visually driven architect with an impressive slate of luxury real estate successes throughout Southern California. His elite slate spans a half-billion square feet of built high-end luxury homes that range from 5,000 square-foot contemporary new-builds to 70,000 square-foot estates that are among the largest houses on the market in America. Read more>>

christian lincoln

In the late ’90s I was living what I thought was the grown-up life—downtown Manhattan, launching a .com startup, wearing the uniform of ambition. Then September 11th happened. Everything changed overnight. My wife and I looked at each other and said, “We’re done.” We bought a crumbling old farmhouse in Woodstock, New York, and I went back to what I knew best: carpentry. Read more>>

Ingrid Nishimoto

As a kid growing up in Burbank in the 80s and 90s, I heard and absorbed a lot of voices–fear from my overprotective, well-intentioned widowed mom, what to believe from my Korean church community, academic peer pressure from friends, what beauty looked like from Dawson’s Creek and Seventeen magazine. I was a shy kid, hiding and fearful of being seen. Read more>>

Craig Carson

I started my comedy journey by studying improv at Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade, where I learned how to think fast, commit to the moment, and turn everyday situations into big laughs. After training, I began creating comedy content with my classmates — writing, filming, and performing short sketches just for fun. Read more>>

Talin Danaci

It all started when I was an afterschool teacher, I began to draw to children who were having a rough day. I found myself often talking to the children who were having a rough time, sad, upset. I started to realize that going into teaching was not my passion, but instead, helping them figure out their stressors was my calling. Read more>>

Alec Cazian

I started out in my family’s structural steel fabrication shop, then moved to Alaska to work in the marine repair industry. After moving back to LA, I focused on developing my skills in architectural metal and aerospace work. Read more>>

Arman Danielyan

Square Signs was founded by Gevorg Hambardzumyan, and I joined in the early days when the company was still taking shape. At that time, the signage industry felt outdated. Ordering was slow. Pricing was unclear. Timelines were unreliable. I saw firsthand how disconnected the process was from how modern businesses actually operate. Read more>>

Randi Feilich

I grew up in Los Angeles, and I truly can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. I love the year-round sunshine, diversity, and the balance between city life and open space. Whether I’m spending time in the desert, skiing locally, or enjoying the beauty of Malibu, Southern California’s landscapes have always shaped how I live. Read more>>

Al & Rachel Tevanyan

We are a Christian Deliverance Ministry and have working together since 2022 to help those that are struggling with various trials to bring them freedom through the power of Jesus Christ. Read more>>

Andres Pongo

When I was just a child…. Just kidding. For a little over a decade I worked for the motion picture industry working on man TV shows and movies from 2012-2024. Read more>>

TOROS BALYAN

I started my practice with a simple focus: creating well-designed, practical spaces that actually make sense for how people live and invest. Early on, I worked across a range of project types: commercial, tenant improvements, and residential, which gave me a strong technical foundation and a clear understanding of how design, permitting, and construction really work in the real world. Read more>>

Isaac Amsellem

Before Covid I was in the beauty industry. Got hit hard and lost a lot of money. We didn’t operate for almost a year. During that time being at home me and my best friends (Zach and Ben) came with this unique idea. Aluminum fence and gates system that doesn’t require any welding or special skill. Read more>>

FATELL

Fatell is a Los Angeles hip-hop artist and radio personality on syndicated After Party Radio Show Fatell is an uplifting performer with a positive vibe, high energy and can’t miss smile. Fatell is from Lancaster, California. Where he began his radio hosting career as the face for the Antelope Valley’s 100.9FM (The Heat) He is in partnership with Willie Norwood Sr. Read more>>

Goel Sohmekh

My path into real estate has been very organic. Before I ever became a broker or developer, I was a business owner. I owned and operated a gas station. That experience was foundational for me. It taught me discipline, cash flow management, customer service, and what it really means to take responsibility every single day. Read more>>

Natasha Davani

My story began when I was working three jobs at once – one at a high-end gym, one as a behavioral therapist for special needs children, and one, most notably, at a pet cemetery. It was a strange blend of helper roles, each one with its own distinct need. Read more>>

Jennifer Shor Rowen

My introduction to real estate began long before it became my profession. Growing up in California, my mom and I would often pop into weekend open houses together purely to indulge in our shared enjoyment of architecture, design and landscape. We’d discuss what we liked, what we didn’t, and what really worked. Read more>>

Adrian Rice

I got my first taste of engineering in High School recording my friend, now music partner Andy Rodriguez. I attended Pueblo Magnet High School in Tucson, AZ where we had our own FM radio station; it was in this class that i was introduced to recording, production and audio technology in general. Read more>>

Farbod Zarrin

I immigrated to the United States from Iran in 2005 with my family and have spent much of my life working to build stability and purpose through education and hard work. I began my career in healthcare as a CNA and EMT, which exposed me early to patient care and the realities of chronic disease and emergency medicine. Read more>>

Ariesgleam

Sacramento Ca born music artist who currently lives in Tokyo Japan. I started writing music as a hobby and decided to record music at the age of 21. I make music to teach lessons and make people think about stuff they are afraid to speak about. The goal is blend realistic situations with modern instruments to make a sound people can enjoy. Read more>>

Tim Dieden

I grew up in Chicago and started painting at 18 through the Painters Union. That is where I learned the trade and spent several years working in the field. As I got married and started a family, I realized the work was not always dependable, and I wanted more stability. Read more>>

John Deptowicz

Having grown up in Los Angeles, I’ve always been drawn to creative work, especially the process of turning ideas into something real. I first came up through music and production, which taught me discipline, collaboration, and how to carry a creative vision from concept to completion. Read more>>

Manny Flores

I was born and raised in Los Angeles by parents who instilled strong values and modeled exemplary conduct. They taught me respect, responsibility, and care for others. I grew up in the church, surrounded by guidance, structure, and a clear sense of right and wrong. Read more>>

David Duncan

I graduated high school in 2001 with no idea what I wanted to do after. I took some classes at a local community college, but nothing really sparked my interest. I’ve always enjoyed creating things, so I decided to try a welding course at the Simi Adult School. Read more>>

Giovanna Villarroel

My name is Giovanna Orsini Villarroel, I’m 25 and from Brazil. I was born and raised my entire life so far in Belo Horizonte, capital of the state Minas Gerais. An important piece of information for the future: it isn’t a city with a huge movie industry. Read more>>

Annie Tsai

When I was 5 years old, my parents put me into piano lessons. I had an on-and-off love-hate relationship with playing the piano growing up – there were times when I really loved it and found it a source of comfort, and other times when it felt like a chore. Read more>>

Jeanette Davids

I began my journey over 23 years ago with a simple but deeply personal goal: to create a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for children during their most important early years. What started as a passion for caring for and suporting families gradually grew into a vision for something bigger. Read more>>

Katt Shea

I was in my 20s, when I wrote and directed my first film for the world famous producer Roger Corman. I looked 17 however and was from Michigan. I was a fledgling screenwriter and Andy Ruben was my partner. It came about because we were in a restaurant and I ordered mussels, Andy informed me that mussels are poisonous at certain times of the year. Read more>>

Janine Prado

I’m the Director of Recreation and Community Services for the City of Santa Clarita. Which basically means, I bring the fun. But I also bring the caring. Read more>>

Mayne Biffi

I grew up in Lima, Peru, watching my mother run her own preschool, so in many ways my journey in child development began long before I became a mother myself. From an early age, I saw firsthand how powerful those first years of life can be—and how the care and early learning opportunities children receive shape the adults they grow into. Read more>>

Anastasia Fox

Hi, and thank you so much for asking this question. I’m truly honored to share my journey with Voyage LA readers. It’s a pleasure to reflect on the path that led me into the beauty industry and to where I am today. My name is Anastasia, and I’m the founder of AnaFoxBeauty in Woodland Hills. Read more>>

M.T. Falgoust

Wagging Tales Press officially became an LLC in the fourth quarter of 2025, but the truth is, this company has been quietly in motion for much longer. I’ve been operating as an independent publishing house since 2013—first as a sole proprietorship, doing the work, learning the market, and building a body of award-winning IP long before there was any formal “studio” language attached to it. Read more>>

Ramír Delgado

1)Born in Puerto Rico, raised many summers in Spain, my next goal was Los Angeles. My story can be quite interesting. Raised in the 90’s with all this boom of American, Puerto Rican and Spanish pop culture, I grew all with all this content. I studied in a private bilingual school in Puerto Rico. And those were the 90’s. Twelve years of school. Read more>>

Lauren Worley

Not sure how far back you want me to go but: I started as a baker, thinking I would open a bakery and take care of people that way. I went to culinary school and quickly realized that opening a bakery wasn’t what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Yelena Doroshenko

Avatar Sports and SkyDancer are a reflection of my own journey. I come from a professional sports background, where discipline, structure, and hard work were the foundation of everything. At the same time, I was deeply immersed in performance and storytelling — including experiences connected to large-scale productions like Ringling Brothers–style performance. Read more>>

ANDROMEDA STEVENS

We started our pilates studio in 2000 to cater to our community who had requirements of highly killed instructors who could handle injuries, rehab, pre-and postnatal, scoliosis and to clients who wanted to feel safe and supported in a professional environment. Read more>>

Michael Bitton

I grew up in The Valley and went to undergrad at UCSB. While there I got a degree in English literature since at the time I was following my family’s wishes/guidance and intended to go on to Law School. Read more>>

Debbie Shocair

I am an internationally-recognized whiskey expert. I taught bartending for a number of years and as a master instructor, I coordinated intensive tasting sessions with the students, as most of them were like everyone else – they only knew what they drank. Read more>>

Sandra Flores

Angelinos of Hope began with a simple but powerful goal: to show up for our community when help is needed most. Our journey started during one of the most difficult moments of our lives. When the fires swept through our community last year, our own family experienced a devastating house fire and lost everything. We were forced to start over from nothing. Read more>>

Caroline Prijatel-Sutton

I have been drawn to the nonprofit sector for as long as I can remember. Even early in my career, I felt a strong pull toward work that centered service, justice, and the well-being of vulnerable communities. Before stepping into formal leadership roles, I volunteered and worked with mission-driven organizations such as World Relief Organization, Global Children’s Organization, and The Carter Center. Read more>>

Arman Avetisyan

I began exploring creative performance and interactive entertainment at a young age — around the age of ten — driven by curiosity and a natural interest in performance and visual experiences. Over time, this interest grew into a deeper focus and a desire to keep learning and improving. Read more>>

Vlada Dmitrieva

It all started in the bathroom of our apartment when I was 12 years old and I decided to shave my sides with a women’s razor dye it blue and glue extension tracks into my hair from a hair glue I found at Sally’s. Do not recommend! Now I just do a version of that on other people but with a license. Read more>>

Anissa Lawrence

I grew up in Los Angeles, and movement has always been part of my world. In high school, a lot of my friends were dancers, so stretching was basically part of the culture, like brushing your teeth, but sweatier. Our choreographer was serious about it too. Stretch now, stretch forever, stretch into old age. Read more>>

Tyler Ganus

My story starts long before sports, music, or acting entered my life… When I was two years old, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disease and spent a few years in and out of Children’s Hospital. Doctors didn’t know if I would survive, and to this day, they still can’t fully explain how I did. That experience shaped everything about how I approach life. Read more>>

Debs Nieves

I started In-House Brand Lab after spending more than a decade helping businesses grow behind the scenes. I didn’t come from a place of trends or buzzwords, I came from real experience, learning what actually helps a business get noticed and what ends up being a waste of time and money. Read more>>

Trentyn Urick

I picked up my first guitar at 5 years old when my parents took me to my first Sam Ash because I wouldn’t stop asking them about learning to play. From there, guitars and music became an every day extension of myself growing up and becoming a performer. I took guitar lessons from the time I was 5 years old until I turned 10. Read more>>