local storiesDecember 2, 2025

Check Out Dana Miller’s Story

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Miller.

Hi Dana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My organization is called Creative Friends Network, and it started when my friend introduced me to this concepts called photomeets. Photomeets are essentially where photographers and models get together and take photos. Going to my first photomeet, I was surprised that the guy to girl ratio was like 10:1 and since I was one of the few females there, I was immediately asked to model. It felt like I was getting swarmed by paparazzi and everyone was snapping away in one moment, but then the next moment it felt that the photographers could give two shizes about you once they got the photos they needed. This experience made me feel objectified because I couldn’t connect with anyone.

It was then I decided to create Creative Friends Network: a community where different creatives can learn from each other, support each others’ businesses, and actually get to know each other and make friends.

Building Creative Friends Network has been a never-ending journey of discovery for the creatives and businesses I work with as well as for myself. My mission has been to build a platform for creatives of any level by giving them the confidence to express themselves, the safe space to learn new things, and the connection to people they can actually call their friends. CFN today is a collective of musicians, DJ’s, photographers, content creators, artists, poets, athletes, entrepreneurs, etc that connect to help each other grow their businesses and portfolios. We have hosted events that partnered with local golf courses, photo studios, car shops, restaurants, etc. and are excited to see what next year brings!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ahhh… following your dreams is never a smooth road LOL there have definitely been ups and downs but with each experience came a learning lesson for sure! Especially being a newer organization (we’re only 2 years old now) and being a POC female creative, I have spent a lot time trying to prove to businesses and other creatives the value that Creative Friends Network brings.

Being let down by businesses is one thing – but being doubted by your Asian mother is a whole other thing! I hate getting my ideas shot down even before I try – just because I am taking a very unconventional path. This has instilled a lot of imposter syndrome in me, and makes me push even harder to shut out the voices that consistently tell me that my work as a solo–preneur won’t amount to anything and that I should stick to my “safe” 9 to 5 job.

I am 1 person doing the job(s) of multiple people because I believe in my mission so much – but there are definitely days where I feel like I’m a hamster spinning my wheels. My jobs entail creating the content, building rapport with businesses, researching creatives around the area, hosting the event, collecting data from the event, playing photographer/videographer, and growing the organization. Most times I feel like I got my shiz together- but other times I feel like I went delirious and took on way more than I can chew.

LOL all this to say though – the struggle is worth it….

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
That is a tough question: I am a loan officer and therapist that likes to create content and host events to connect with my community.

As a loan officer, I love providing financial education for couples and families who are figuring out how to invest in real estate or how to use their current property’s equity to help get payoff their debt. However, being in this industry can mean being in constant sales-mode, which is demoralizing especially when companies make clients feel like they are just another number in order to hit a quota. Being in this industry also made the wealth gap and economic inequality seem much more apparent – as I saw the rich get richer and the poor not getting the support that they needed.
It was after about 10 years of being in the mortgage industry that I decided to carve my own path and get my Masters to become a therapist.

Becoming a therapist has been way more fulfilling and aligns more with my mission in life. Within this industry, I can educate my clients and also advocate for their needs. My work as a therapist allows me to connect with children, adults, families, and couples. I provide free resources for those who cannot afford therapy. These resources help clients learn about parenting skills, mediation, couples counseling, child rearing, and financial literacy.

What sets me apart from perhaps other therapists is that I am a DJ and I like to incorporate music into my sessions and I also like to connect clients to other artistic community resources.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the hustle and the bustle of the city. It’s really cool to see all of the different kinds of businesses that pop up and how each neighborhood has its own unique culture and history.

What I like least about the city is that it can be hard to make friends. I thought I was making friends with people, but when we make plans to hangout those plans fall through. It could be because of the traffic and how it takes an hour to get anywhere – but yes making friends can be a bit tough in a big city.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
April Staso
Jenny Rolapp

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