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.

EMANUELA LLANGOZI

I’m Emanuela, the founder of Be That Queen Bridal. Opening this boutique in the heart of historic Saint Augustine has been a dream come true, born from a lifelong love for bridal beauty and the belief that every bride deserves to feel like the queen she truly is. Read more>>

Heidi Aderman

In third grade, I wanted to be a rock star. I started as a musician who simply loved creating and performing. Music was always a driving force for me. It wasn’t just something I did, it was how I processed the world. Read more>>

Paul Gasperson

I was born in the Philippines and grew up moving between Japan and the Philippines because my father was in the military. English was my second language, so for a long time I understood the world more through observation than words. I learned by watching, absorbing my environment, and figuring things out through experience. After 9/11, my family moved to Orange Park, Florida. Read more>>

Sarah White

I began my career in the industry when I graduated from college in 2011. I knew I always wanted to be an event planner but didn’t have a great idea of how to make that happen. My intention was to get an entry level position with an event planning company. Read more>>

John Myers

I was in church one Sunday in Atlanta Ga. a young mother brought her son down to the altar. She had entered his room and found him standing there with a rope around his neck. She brought him to the church for help; we had no assistance to give her. We offered the basic in what we could, but she could have gotten that anywhere. Read more>>

Lakisha Young

My journey into travel began on the front lines of the industry. I started my career working as a sales representative for Carnival Cruise Line under an independent customer service agency I owned. Very early on, I realized my strength wasn’t just booking trips — it was selling the *experience*. Read more>>https://voyagejacksonville.com/interview/meet-lakisha-young-of-jacksonville

Kevin M Sylvester

Two years ago, I started experiencing severe back pain and began searching for relief. A friend suggested I try The Joint Chiropractic, highlighting their affordable and accessible care. I had always been skeptical about chiropractic care, dismissing it as nonsense. However, after my first visit, I felt incredible and was disappointed that I had spent 40 years without a proper adjustment. Read more>>

Mae King

Mentoring Families and Kids: The Story of Mae King’s Lifelong Mission In 2005, nearly two decades ago, Mae King founded a nonprofit that would become a cornerstone of her community in Jacksonville, Florida: Mentoring Families and Kids, Inc. Growing up in a large faith based family, Mae watched her parents pour their hearts into helping not just their family, but also the neighborhood around them. Read more>>

Emily Westerholm

In 1997 I was briefly incarcerated. This interaction with the carceral system had a significant impact on not just my personal trajectory, but also solidified my professional journey. First I began volunteering with those who had become justice-impacted and then a couple years later I became a substance use counselor working inside county jails and prisons. Read more>>

Lou Pugliese

My current business is writing fiction novels. My Mother got me started on reading and writing at a very early age, telling me that verbal and written communication skills were the essential building blocks for success at anything. Naturally, I paid little attention to her early guidance but learned through life lessons she was always right. Read more>>

Elizabeth Linger

I was raised in New York in a close-knit Puerto Rican family where celebrations—especially birthdays—were deeply important. Growing up, my mother made every event special. From birthday parties to sweet sixteens and weddings, everything was created by our family. Hiring help was never an option, so love, creativity, and hard work filled that space instead. Read more>>

Raphael Balbino

My story begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I was born and raised until I moved to the US with my parents at the age of 12. My first interest in Medicine sparked around the age of 7-9 when my oldest sister had attended nursing school and I would peruse her anatomy and physiology textbooks and lose myself in them. Read more>>

Adam Boulineau

Southside Outdoor Services started in 2022 with a truck, some tools, and a vision to fill a gap in Jacksonville’s landscaping market. I aimed to create a local, professional, and trustworthy service amidst indifferent corporate companies and unreliable individuals. Initially, I managed everything mowing, phone calls, estimating, and running every other aspect of the business. Read more>>

Caroline Cullers

I actually started out as a makeup artist in high school, but when I went to college, I had no idea what I truly wanted to do. One morning I woke up feeling completely miserable and frustrated with the direction of my life, and on impulse, I applied to cosmetology school. My tuition was due within two weeks, and I paid it with my savings. Read more>>

Suzanne Robinson

I never set out to build a vacation-rental coaching, co-hosting, and design company. My journey began when my banking career ended and I found myself owning and managing one small property with a simple intention: to create a place where guests felt genuinely welcomed. I quickly discovered that what I enjoyed most was helping people feel safe, comfortable, and seen when they travel. Read more>>

Mariah George

My husband and I’s journey began when our son, Luca, was diagnosed with and SPATA5L1 Related Disorder at just 18 months old. Like many rare disease families, we were suddenly thrown into a world of uncertainty, limited information, and very few answers. Read more>>

Layla Hamilton

My journey into the beauty industry wasn’t a straight line, but it has always been rooted in creativity, resilience, and a desire to help others feel confident in themselves. I became a licensed esthetician after realizing that beauty was more than just a service to me, it was a form of self-expression and empowerment. Read more>>

FC Quiles

I grew up watching how ideas, when paired with discipline and access to the right tools, can change the direction of entire families and communities. Early exposure to international business shaped my interest in systems thinking, strategic business development, technology, and education. Social enterprise continues to guide the work I do today. Read more>>

Ernest Almond

I believe that everything we do can be ministry. At least, that’s what I believe now. I was raised in eastern North Carolina, as one who went to church, but Church wasn’t in me. When I went to college at UNC Chapel Hill, I completely left church behind and found myself making my mark through being an MC and through my fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma. Read more>>

Antoinette Francis

I’m a Jacksonville native whose love for reading began early, thanks to countless trips to the Jacksonville Public Library with my family. That passion quickly turned into a love of learning—and eventually, teaching. After graduating from the University of Florida, I followed my calling into education. I spent six years teaching in both Florida and Asia, where I discovered my true purpose: helping struggling readers. Read more>>

Vanessa K. Harper

My journey with Cuba began in 2005, when I traveled to the island to conduct fieldwork for a master’s degree at the University of Florida in collaboration with the University of Havana. I lived in rural communities, worked alongside subsistence farmers, and witnessed firsthand the resilience, creativity, and generosity of the Cuban people. Read more>>

Dr. Rashan Ladyfire Jones

Complete Dimensions Wellness Center begin in 2019 during covid. I transitioned from Orlando back to my home town Jacksonville , Florida to serve as a mental health provider. It was discussed amongst the World Health Organization that mental health would be the biggest factor affected by the Covid 19 pandemic across lifespans. Read more>>

Deb Chapin

I am an entrepreneur who is passionate about celebrating life and creating gatherings that bring friends, family, and community together. At its heart, my work is about helping people honor life’s meaningful moments — from welcoming a new child and celebrating birthdays, graduations, weddings, and holidays, to gathering in remembrance and celebration of loved ones. Read more>>

Ashley Allen

Murray Hill United Methodist Church was originally founded in 1926 as Murray Hill Methodist Church, rooted in a strong commitment to faith, fellowship, and service within the community. In 1968, the congregation embraced its identity as part of the newly formed United Methodist Church, continuing its mission within a broader denominational family while remaining grounded in its local traditions. Read more>>

Kristina Shishkina

My professional journey in foot care and pedicure began over ten years ago. I was trained in Russia and continued my education with instructors from Israel and Germany, including SUDA and KART schools — internationally recognized standards in professional foot care. For me, pedicure is not just about beauty, but about precise technique, skin knowledge, and respect for the body. Read more>>

Jon Wayland

My path to building The Dollar Web was anything but direct. I started college thinking I’d become a high school English teacher, quickly realized writing wasn’t my natural strength, and switched to math. After observing in classrooms, I figured out teaching wasn’t for me either, so I pivoted again and became a pure math major. Read more>>

Sara Frasca

My two sets of grandparents came together in 1974 and created the first restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colorado – serving the famous and very unique ‘Panino’! (t’s a unique, Italian creation eaten like a rolled-up sandwich. We start with the Frasca Family secret dough recipe made fresh each morning, then add the highest-quality meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Read more>>

Demi Judd

My story starts here in my hometown. Born and raised in Saint Augustine, Florida. This area has changed so much since I was a kid running down St. George Street. Former St Augustine high school graduate, left for Bible college after graduation to study Christian leadership and theology. For two years, I lived in California and traveled to over 10 different countries. Read more>>

Lee Ann Annotti, PhD

I initially discovered my passion for conducting psychological evaluations for children and families with developmental delays during my post-doctoral fellowship at Westchester Institute for Human Development in New York. Since then, I have worked in hospitals in New Orleans and Jacksonville conducting evaluations and building programs that increase community access to psychological evaluations. Read more>>

Hope Ratliff

I graduated from Paul Mitchell The School in 2019, full of excitement and big dreams for my career. Like many stylists starting out, I spent time in a few different salons trying to find my place and really understand what kind of stylist I wanted to be. Read more>>

Nate Mundell

I’m Nate Mundell, owner of Pure Energy Electric. I started the company in 2012, but my path into electrical work wasn’t exactly planned. I was originally interested in sound and audio engineering, but school wasn’t for me and the cost was out of reach. Around that time, my father-in-law suggested electrical work, and I entered an apprenticeship program before I was even an electrician. Read more>>

Daniel Benton

I got started awhile back, in the tenth grade, even though I had been (nonprofessionally) been helping out my friends for years. The impetus for this was one of my teachers (for AP Statistics, and later, calculus as well) being rather busy chairing the math department and running the school chapter of National Honor Society during the end of the year. Read more>>

Ani Collier

My life has been one big accident. I have always wanted to perform everywhere, but living in  Bulgaria in a communist regime, one couldn’t travel. Once the Berlin Wall came down I ventured out with no idea what I was doing or where I was going. Read more>>

Chris Curry

Chris started as an executive chef looking to create recipes using local and seasonal items for his farm to table approach. Around this same time, Chris and his wife Cora had their first child (a son) who had some major health issues. Read more>>

Elaine West

I have always loved animals and thought that I would be a veterinarian. I didn’t like the gory part of that so I chose another path, but my heart has always had a passion for animals and their welfare. Read more>>

William McRae

In 2009 my wife’s twin sister was suddenly diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. Gina was an amazing teacher at Keystone Heights High School and she was a person of strong faith. It was always Gina’s dream to serve children. While teaching she personally touched so many with her loving touch in the classroom. Read more>>

David Echeverri

I was born in Miami but raised in Medellín, Colombia, where food was always at the center of family, culture, and celebration. I officially started my culinary journey in Colombia, learning traditional flavors and techniques. Eventually, I returned to the U.S. and worked in various culinary roles—from private events and banquets to restaurants like Cuba Libre in Orlando. Read more>>

Marco Guardado

I was born in Honduras and came to the United States when I was four years old. My childhood changed drastically around the age of twelve when my stepfather was deported. Overnight, I had to step up. I started working after school as a carpenter’s helper, not because I wanted extra spending money, but because my family needed it. Read more>>

Katina Mickens

I didn’t begin my journey with shortcuts or safety nets—I began with responsibility, faith, and a vision bigger than my circumstances. From early on, I understood that real estate wasn’t just about property; it was about positioning people for stability, growth, and legacy. I entered the industry determined to learn every layer—from transactions and construction to strategy and education. Read more>>

Olivia Duke

It all started in Jacksonville, FL when one year received a camera for Christmas. I had taken photography classes in high school and always knew I had a love for capturing moments, being creative, and a love for the arts. I’ve had the privilege of taking classes, workshops, courses and learning from some of the top wedding photographers in the industry. Read more>>