The Platinum Mask

Ryan is a UX lead, lettering artist, sign painter, and type designer living in Dallas with her wife of 13 years. In her artwork, Ryan uses italic gothic calligraphy, funky display type, and other hyper-decorative letters that push readability to build meaning. She has spoken for a number of groups including Shopify UX and CreativeMornings, and her branding for a local political campaign was called “master class in visual political communication” by D Magazine.

instagram.com/ryanrushing

tiktok.com/@ryanrushing

ryan-rushing.com

Alex O'aiza is a Mexican-American indie artist from Dallas, Texas with a sound that mixes snappy pop hooks with gritty rock riffs and the rolling beats of Alternative RnB, and songs that are led by poetic lyrics exploring the Gen Z experience in a fast-changing world.

Releasing a string of buzzy singles in 2019 led to press acclaim, local and college radio support and a label deal with Saint In The City Records at the start of 2020. Armed with a batch of hook-driven and genre-blurring new songs recorded with producers Caleb Turman and Austin Bello from celebrated pop-punk band Forever The Sickest Kids, O'aiza released new singles throughout the year and dropped his debut EP, Out Of My Mind, in August.


The EP garnered widespread independent playlist support and radio airplay. In specific the title track was soon playlisted on KXT Texas, Idobi Radio, Alt 103.7 FM and XS Manchester radio. Out Of My Mind was also featured by tastemakers at Alt Press, XS Noize, Central Track and Stereoboard, who all praised O'aiza's combo of super-catchy pop hooks and indie-electro beats. O'aiza returned on 2021 with two stellar singles Runnin' 2 Death and How Your Love Feels where he showcased a more confident rock sound that was immediately featured on Spotify's All New Rock playlist. Alex is set to come back with bigger and bolder records than ever before, as he further pushes the boundaries of his artistry.

https://lnk.bio/alexoaizamusic/?fbclid=PAAaaBgIZWXPmLyUcbTsrwYwJXoXg099FMqQXgarhbxDeQcHwX7_99htKzWAY

www.alexoaiza.com

Meet Dunnu, a mental health advocate and entrepreneur with an insatiable curiosity for making a positive impact on the world. He's not one to prioritize profits over purpose, believing that change should always come first. As the President of NRVE, a newly established mental health nonprofit, Dunnu is committed to addressing key issues such as homelessness and the youth in the DFW metroplex by building a strong community and gathering crucial data.

Dunnu's passion for natural health has also led him to create his own company, Holisic Health, which focuses on providing high-quality wellness supplements and educating the public on natural health solutions. His ultimate goal is to decentralize healthcare and empower individuals to take control of their own well-being.

In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Dunnu is also deeply involved in the local music scene. He runs his own record label and media company, AGE Recordings, and produces music that blends bouncy bass-heavy beats with a Desi twist. His latest music video, "Loot," delivers a hidden message that encourages viewers to seek knowledge over material wealth. Despite his many interests and pursuits, Dunnu has found a way to weave them together seamlessly, creating a comfortable and fulfilling life. With so much ambition and drive, it's clear that this DFW native has many exciting things in store for the future. Stay tuned!

Preston Corbell is an American professional stuntman and actor, known for working on the WB/CW drama series One Tree Hill (2003-2012) and the CW series The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017). He has also worked as a performer with Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Comics.

Dr. Tiffany Tajiri is a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist, a veteran US Air Force officer, and former Army behavioral health chief. Dr. Tiffany is CEO and founder of Freedom Rhythm, PLLC and Stand Up and Recover (nonprofit), Inc. She is the creator of the Rhythm Restoration & Freedom Rhythm protocols, and co-author of the Abundant Recovery curriculum at Abundant Church. She is the first woman to publish a faith-based combat recovery book entitled, Peace After Combat: Healing the Spiritual & Psychological Wounds of War. Dr. Tiffany is the podcast host for Behind the Service’s production of Peace After Combat. She is also the reigning Dr. Texas America 2023. But most importantly, she is a mother and wife whose mission is to teach people how to live an abundant life filled with spiritual and psychological peace & purpose.

Nicki Allen, MS, LPC, RPT, NCC (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. She is a Certified Expressive Arts Therapist, a Registered Play Therapist, a Certified Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator, a Certified Advanced Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Practitioner/Supervisor, and a trained EMDR therapist. Nicki is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling Program at the University of North Texas, with a specialty in play therapist training and supervision. Nicki is known in her community for serving those who are frequently targeted or marginalized, including survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence, artists, the LGBTQ+ community, and the Ukrainian American community. Nicki’s background in music, classical dance, Ukrainian folk dance, and theatre inform the creative lens through which she views the world.

Brad is a husband, a father of two, and a lifelong resident of the North Dallas area. He’s solely responsible for “Dallas Side Quest”, a cryptic and public outdoor adventure game which was implemented throughout the North Dallas area.

During the weekdays, he’s a senior designer for Randy Angell Designs, one of the pre-eminent luxury outdoor designers in the nation, where he recently won 4th place in the “Million Dollar Pool Challenge” in 2022. These days, he has less free time than ever before, but when he finds some, he enjoys traveling, documentaries, audiobooks, games, bourbon & craft beer, home renovation & carpentry, writing, designing, flying around on (and falling off of) his OneWheel, all things relating to sociology, psychology, history, philosophy and politics, and most importantly, the never-ending pursuit of trying to be a good dad.

When he’s not designing award-winning backyards, spending time with his family, or creating ambitious public games, you can find him supporting and spreading awareness for the pro-LGBTQIA+ organization known as “Kin-dom Community” where he serves on the board of directors. Along with his counterpart, pastor Pepa Paniagua, he’s also the co-host of their live-streamed monthly podcast, “Kin-dom Conversations”. He’s always proud to point out that it’s perhaps one of the only places on the entire internet where you’ll find an atheist and a pastor actually working together to do something positive.

Kin-dom Community was founded by an openly queer pastor in order to create a space for those who have been harmed and rejected by traditional religious institutions. The organization is working diligently to create regular social meetups, offering support to LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, friends and allies, and attempting to create a community (both virtual and IRL) where people from all backgrounds, faiths, orientations and identities can come together and find understanding and compassion. Their greatest accomplishment thus far has been the successful launching of the very first LGBTQIA+ summer camp for kids in the state of Texas (and I believe, only the second in the nation), and they are well on their way to expanding their camp offerings to different age groups in several different areas throughout the nation. It’s not a stretch to say that Kin-dom’s work could very well be saving lives.

To see the entire Dallas Side Quest story which took place from Nov. ’22 – Jan. ’23:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGR2hiBq_R4

Instagram: @dallas_side_quest

Facebook: @dallassidequest

To see some of the work that Brad and the Randy Angell Designs team have created:

www.randyangelldesigns.com

To learn more about Kin-dom Community:

https://kindomcommunity.org/

To find Kin-dom’s archive of podcast content:

https://kindomcommunity.org/video-content

A short list of incredible treasure hunts (some complete, some still ongoing) that are well worth a search on Google and YouTube:

Forrest Fenn’s “The Thrill of the Chase”

Byron Preiss’ “The Secret” (not the self-help book)

Kit Williams’ “Masquerade”

Regis Hauser’s “Golden Owl”

Alex Hirsch’s “Bill Cipher Hunt” (Brad’s personal favorite)

Breezy Farms is an initiative in self sufficiency. We grow and provide as much tangible food as possible to our family, both close and distant. We partner with neighborhood families that express the interest in gardening and becoming self sufficient but don't necessarily have the know how or the resources to start. 

All you need is a backyard and the desire and we will include yours with ours. If you are willing, all we ask is that you specialize in one product, be it meat birds, egg hens, potatoes, herbs , tomatoes or whatever, your efforts will be aided and half your yield will be given back to you and yours, and the other half will be given to Breezy Farms for the goal of stocking a community grocery. A grocery that is supplied by the community of believers. If you are interested call 214.356.9379.

Junior Ezeonu is a Grand Prairie City Council Member representing the entire city of Grand Prairie as an at-large member. Junior was elected to the city council in June of 2021 in a run-off election after defeating an incumbent who had served for 12 years. Mr. Ezeonu is the first African-American council member to represent the city of Grand Prairie since the early 1990s, and he is also the youngest elected council member in Grand Prairie history. Councilman Ezeonu is of Nigerian descent and was born in Onitsha, Nigeria and moved to the state of Texas at the age of 2 years old. He is a graduate of UT Arlington and has a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. Junior integrates the knowledge and understanding from his educational background to provide the City of Grand Prairie with high level service to improve the quality of life for all residents of the city. During college Junior served as a substitute teacher/tutor and educated students throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. He has worked in the Oak Cliff, Highland Hills, Pleasant Grove communities of Dallas as well as Fort Worth, Carrollton & Mansfield. His passion to improve lives and inspire others led to him serving as a substitute teacher and he has carried that same passion to his service as a council member for the city of Grand Prairie.

For the past decade, Dara Ashley Freemon has held leadership positions throughout her academic and professional career. Leadership was an early passion of Dara’s and manifested into her passions about equal education opportunity, mentorship, and paying it forward. This young Dallas native started The Dara Ashley Foundation to provide mentorship, scholarship, and leadership programs for students who might be in the same place she was not too long ago. Dara started her academic career at Howard University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). While attending Howard University, she learned a great deal and not just in the classroom. Outside of school, the university’s commitment to serving its community was one of her greatest takeaways. She participated in the MET Choice program, a mentorship program, which she guided high school girls that attended an alternative school. This experience had a great impact on Dara as she was exposed to the youth of diverse lifestyles and cultures. 

After Dara graduated from Howard University, she continued her education and attained her master’s degree in science from Towson University. Not only did she continue her education, but she also continued to mentor. Towson University started a program where collegiate students could be academic and youth mentors. In particular, every Friday afternoon, she led a 6th-grade science class in the Baltimore City school district. At the beginning of the class, she would introduce them to a fun science experiment. Following the experiment, her goal was to enlighten, educate, and edify the young students. Immediately after graduating from Towson University, Dara missed connecting with young minds and influencing the next generation. She created The Dara Ashley Foundation to create a lasting impact with new opportunities. 

Debra Swersky is a tenacious (and enterprising) problem-solver who has spent the better part of the last decade learning how to best manage her primary lymphedema, chronic swelling that affects her right-leg and her right-leg only. 

In January 2021 Debra launched Stemwear, a fashion apparel brand promoting asymmetric designs for all. Their signature silhouette, a one-legged legging, has been featured at New York Fashion Week with Runway of Dreams, in D Magazine and The Dallas Morning News, and on Texas Today.

Originally designed as a cover-up to a compression stocking, Debra quickly realized that her bold fashion statement was being sought after by those looking to skirt the ordinary with their style and a “no fuss” legging for unilateral amputees. 

Kevin Crouch is the Founder and Content Director of Ellis County Weather, LLC, a company devoted to providing forecast information and severe weather coverage for the residents of Ellis County, Texas. Kevin started ECW in 2015 as an experiment, and now operates a family of social media sites that boast over 37,000 followers/subscribers combined. Using his knowledge of Texas weather and communication skills, Kevin provides everything from daily forecast updates to live coverage of severe weather events that allow those in the path of the storm to receive real time updates and warnings. He resides in Waxahachie, Texas with his wife and two sons.

Farahana Kassam is a two time breast cancer survivor and the creator of the #flauntflat movement, an initiative geared towards spreading body positivity after her double mastectomy surgery. Farahana opted against reconstructive surgery and chose to stay flat because she believes “boobs don’t define me as a woman”.

Farahana is also a certified mindfulness coach, published author, conscious dying coach and end of life doula. She lives each day creating purpose, meaning and experiences that enrich her soul and in turn encourages others to do the same! Her message; be present, stay open and curious, connect the dots, discover aha moments, experience happy and come back with a good story!

Mark Baker-Sanchez is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief & Design Director of DONE, a publication created for & by the underrepresented. The magazine challenges Idealistic perceptions and social constructs by highlighting issues of discrimination, raising cultural awareness, and providing a presence for the unknown, forgotten & marginalized. Direct community impact is prioritized through human-centered and co-creative approaches, with the purpose of elevating and empowering the people. DONE finds synthesis with what is and what isn’t deemed socially acceptable to spark dialogue as well as unite divided peoples.

Photographer: Miguel Angel Salgado @salgadeaux

Stylist: Tauri Partin @vic.tauri.ous

Hair & Makeup: Will Adrian Creative Agency @the_waca

Imani Black is a multi-talented creative with a background in advertising and marketing. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a B.A. in Journalism and a concentration in Strategic Communications (aka Advertising). She produces engaging, strategic, and meaningful visuals, events, and ideas. Her creative work is inspired by her desire to learn by inserting herself into her interests and creating opportunities for herself and others. In Imani's spare time, she enjoys discovering Dallas, reading, exercising, and sharing business advice with creatives + showcasing her talents on YouTube. 

Kamilla Fayz is the founder of IKAT wear and a big cultural ambassador of her country, Uzbekistan. She also works for a non-profit organization which helps people from around the world learn more about American culture by means of cultural exchange.

You can learn more about IKAT wear here: www.ikatwear.com and more about Uzbekistan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiJVQZmLaHE

Also more about cultural exchange and how you can host an international student, here:  https://chinet.org/for-host-families/ 

Or how you can travel like a local on a budget internationally here: https://chinet.org/travel-the-world/

Follow her story on IG: @Kamilla Fayz

Gabrielle Dawn is the Founder of Saint Goodness. She is a holistic lifestylist and has always had a passion for cooking, community, apothecary, yoga, and holistic living. As a certified Yoga Instructor, Herbalist, and Life Coach she folds these gifts into assessing and curating the best solution for the needs of our clients. 

Gabrielle Dawn is a spoken word artist and motivational speaker and has been blessed to express and perform verbal artistry in Germany, Uganda, South Korea, and the U.S. Currently back home in Dallas, Texas she is still delivering a word to the good people! 

Her work is about equipping people with the insight to break yokes and heal through the gifts of plant medicine, spoken word, movement in yoga, stillness of meditation, and verbal expression.

She is the chef behind Saint Goodness, her custom delicious tea blends and herbal infusions that are good for the soul. Yoni steam blends for womb health and healing, and tinctures for guts health! 

The mission of Austen's Autistic Adventures is to “Bring the World to Autism and Autism to the World." Every day they go out together, practicing being out in the social world.  Adults with autism will find something to keep them engaged and learning, all year, all their lives. 

Sarah Phillips is the Executive Director of Rescue Her, an anti-trafficking organization that exists to empower survivors of sex trafficking to live in freedom. She graduated with a degree in Community, Family, and Addiction Services from Texas Tech and is also trained in Therapeutic Arts, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the SERVE model: a brain-based approach to complex trauma. She spent almost 2 years living in Chennai, India establishing Rescue Her’s first safe house for underage survivors of trafficking. After moving back to the DFW area in 2015, Sarah has led the development of Rescue Her’s crisis response for adult victims of trafficking, as well as established the Empower Program – a long-term advocacy program for survivors. She is passionate about raising up leaders in the anti-trafficking field who have the knowledge and support necessary to empower adult survivors of sex trafficking to live in freedom.

DFW Rat Rescue is a small animal rescue dedicated to helping the rats of the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area and the people who love them. They know that they may be small, and rats may not live very long, but every rat deserves a happy, fulfilling life and DFW Rat Rescue is here to help make that happen. DFW Rat Rescue is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization run 100% by volunteers, fosters, and donations. They are based in Rhome, TX with fosters throughout the area.

Ashley Sharp spends her career in public service- as Executive Director of Dwell with Dignity, Ashley has helped the organization reach new heights, including being awarded 40 Under 40 by the Dallas Business Journal, Social Innovator of the Year and the Best Place to Donate by D Magazine, and attaining national recognition through their innovative Decade of Dignity dining series. She has also served Interfaith Family Services as the Chief Development Officer, was the Manager of Patron Relations at the Nasher Sculpture Center, and worked with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to her professional career, she currently serves on the KERA Community Advisory Board, Mayor’s Star Council as the Engage Dallas Chair, is a graduate of the inaugural class of the UT Austin Lyndon B. Johnson’s Women’s Campaign School, is a Professor at the University of Houston, and was a finalist in the United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator. Ashley is a past president of the Business Council on the Art’s Leadership Arts Institute and has been part of the International Rescue Committee, Dallas Summer Musicals, and Junior League of Dallas. She holds a BA in Arts Administration and an MPA in Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management, both from the University of Texas at Dallas, as well as a degree in Social Impact Design from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Adaire Byerly is your distinctive on air, MMA/ combat personality covering events with interviews and is a leading representative for African-American women commentating in the sport. Adaire's involvement in MMA began 10 years ago wanting to learn self-defense as an effort to recover from an abusive relationship. Through training she not only learned her strength as a competitive athlete by training with professional fighters and coaches, she also fell in love with the technicality, communication and entertainment of the sport.

Adaire has a diverse background in fashion, film entertainment, and media. Recognized as an international Model, she has been Published in numerous magazines, including Vogue later earning her eligibility as a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

She is licensed and certified in numerous studies focusing on brain and behavioral sciences and implements this knowledge in her teachings to elevate organizations through her company, Entertainment Mindframe as seen in Forbes. Adaire's various knowledge & expertise allows her to bring the sport a rare perspective through understanding psychology and human behavior, allowing the audience to have a unique, educational, fun and exciting experience.

Like so many of us that were re-discovering ourselves through the existential crisis of the pandemic, The Dirty Shirts singer/songwriter Nick Santa Maria was doing the same and found himself diving headfirst into soaring guitars, disco beats, and sequined mod-inspired threads. Having found himself off the road for the first time after years of playing as a sideman for other artists, Nick finally had the time to return to writing songs of his own, constructing what would become the soundtrack to his new reality. The lockdown gave him time & perspective into what he truly wanted to do with his life, and rather than building someone else’s temple, he’d build his own. 

After reconnecting & writing a handful of songs with childhood friend & fellow studio/touring musician Cameron Moreland and experimenting with a heady spectrum of soundscapes, The Dirty Shirts was born. What arose married the nostalgia of the Warped Tour era of music they grew up playing with the shimmering atmospheres and image of the glam rock and pop music they’d come to love.

The combined music and aesthetic that The Dirty Shirts have cultivated, dubbed “Dance Floor Rock n Roll”, was a response to the drudgery we universally felt from exhaustive quarantines. Nick writes to remind people of the uninhibited times and badass music of the past, with the hope of debaucherous times to come. Songs that remind us of blaring music with your friends, shouting the lyrics deep into the early hours, and not worrying about the vaccination status of your Uber driver.

Proudly wearing influences from The Strokes to Gorillaz, with hints of David Bowie on their sleeves, The Dirty Shirts hit the ground running with live shows throughout their native Texas in March 2021 after the long awaited release of vaccinations. Soon after, they released multiple singles and a music video, and recorded their debut full-length album with Grammy-winning producer Tre Nagella, which they released on May 6, 2022. With a string of national tour dates planned for 2022, a love for the past, a hopeful eye on the future, and a drink in hand, The Dirty Shirts are bringing their soundtrack for the new normal (if there ever was one) to the masses. 

Dr. Chandler David Schexnayder, a proud 2017 graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana's Doctor of Pharmacy program, is a servant-leader deeply committed to improving patient care, developing pharmacy trainees, galvanizing his colleagues, and empowering his communities. As a pharmacist and author, Dr. Schexnayder connects his experiences and creativity to the amplification of the lives of the present and the future. Chandler's words to live by are Evaluate, Attack, Triumph - E.A.T.

Dr. Schexnayder is a residency-trained specialist who is board-certified in pharmacotherapy, ambulatory care, and diabetes care and education. As a Home-Based Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner, Dr. Schexnayder utilizes his training and his prescriptive authority privileges for medication management of chronic disease states for geriatric Veterans with multiple comorbidities. In addition to his patient care responsibilities, Chandler also participates in formulary management, pharmacoeconomics, research/quality improvement, and preceptor development. Dr. Schexnayder, previously a resident at his institution, is passionate about his role as the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director and is dedicated to the growth and preparation of current and future pharmacy residents.

Dr. Chandler Schexnayder believes he has an obligation to be a servant-leader for his community. Currently, Chandler serves as the Head of Community & Capital at Pharmacy Initiative Leaders, Inc. (PILs) - a non-profit organization with a vision to exponentially increase the diversity, inclusion, and equity of healthcare and elevate minoritized communities. In this capacity, Dr. Schexnayder leads over 80 Ambassadors to guide professional students, curate educational content for the masses, and impact one another. 

Even before finding pharmacy, Chandler Schexnayder's first love has been writing. With his stories, Dr. Schexnayder aims to move and energize the thoughts and minds of his readers and the people they connect with. Dr. Schexnayder is a freelance medical writer and provides didactic and interactive presentations to various communities with his company, SchexLevel Education LLC. As a contributing author for "I Wear A White Coat", Dr. Schexnayder gave an authentic look into his arduous journey towards his goals and dreams. With his future narratives, Chandler hopes to change lives one page at a time.

arlo is a central TX based songwriter with an anchor in NYC. The debut release of his 2018 self-titled LP record was co-written and produced by Houston-based producer, Eric Jarvis, at "crushpad productions." The 10-song true story and expression of love then loss was a dramatically vulnerable Americana Pop record written and recorded by Aaron Long (arlo) alongside Jarvis. This began a relationship with the powerhouse music producing duo, brothers Kristian Bush and Brandon Bush (Sugarland, Dark Water) and renowned Atlanta-based studio engineer Tom Tapley (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Train, Wallflowers) and plans were set in motion to record the follow-up EP in Atlanta, which is set to be released in Summer 2022. 

arlo’s anticipated follow-up EP “Lonely Soldier” is set to release in 2022 alongside plans to tour support and develop another batch of dramatic love songs.

Hand-picked heavy hitters Benji Shanks (guitar) and Travis McNabb (drums) joined the ATL sessions, and together the team sculpted a carefully realized and economically structured blend of Americana Pop Rock that soars and snaps. Goes well with ELO, John Lennon, Beatles. 

Follow up singles "Goodbye Picture," "Rain Parade" were released in 2021 along with John Lennon International Award and International Songwriting Competition Finalist "Ingenue." Debut single "New York, Queens" was also a finalist in a separate category the same year. arlo has been featured in numerous music and community platforms including "Rising Star" and "Voyage Magazine." 

Annika Key is a wife, a mother, a student, a program and curriculum specialist, and Mrs.Texas 2022! She's on a mission to help mothers fight mom guilt and find their inner balance between picture perfect mom and hot mess momma!!

With a career in entertainment spanning over two decades, Tara Darby Rasheta has worked as a professional model serving fashion clients like Guess, Jessica Simpson, True Religion, Speedo and Patagonia, and also hosting travel shows like Crossing Country and Get Out. In 2009, Tara took her passion for molding the next generation of models to new heights by co-creating Model Makers Group, a talent consulting company which she still operates. She also serves as the Director of Development for JDW Cotillions, a social skills training program for school-aged children. Tara acted as Miss Alabama USA 2004 and placed as a Top Ten Finalist at Miss USA. When she won Fear Factor: Miss USA Edition (NBC) and made a contribution to the National Breast Cancer Coalition, she never expected to face the disease herself at age thirty-five. Tara is determined to use her voice and platform to touch the lives of other young women facing a health crisis through the non-profit she founded in 2018, A Model Patient 501c3. 

Megan is a Troubled Teen Industry survivor that has dedicated herself to creating a space where collectors and nerds alike can find the things they love. She has spent years building a store that anyone can find something they love in, from music to anime to comics, Black Cat has got you covered!

Angely Almazan, also known as Dallas Dental Babe, is the owner of The White Pearl Co. She offers professional cosmetic teeth whitening at an affordable price and offers tooth gems at various events. Outside of her dental work, she hosts fun pop-ups for creatives and manages the band RickyRay and The Goons.

Known as Zeneth, Dora Zeneth Reynosa is a Mexican visual artist and muralist who works to reconnect viewers to their inner child through abstract designs characterized by patterns, movement, and playfulness. Her art contains a child-like frankness inspired by Modernist compositions, Mesoamerican glyphs, and the human need for expression. 

Lauren Sepulvador is the host of Connections Chat Podcast. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling and Development with an emphasis in Mental Health Counseling at Texas Woman’s University. She is passionate about mental health because no one should have to go through life’s struggles alone. She loves being able to help people get people the help they need strives to be an advocate for mental health.

Lauren has a passion for podcasting, blogging, DIY, food and learning about the world. She is a self-proclaimed Swiftie, Potterhead, Brené Brown fan and constant smiler who can (almost always) be caught eating. She has a serious case of wanderlust and enjoy looking back on photos from past trips and look forward to future travels.

Meet Alyson Rae Lawson, the CEO and founder of RaeLawson Enterprise LLC, a franchisee/operator of two 7-Eleven convenience stores with gas stations that are located right across the street from each other in Arlington, Texas. She is the only African American in her city to have accomplished this. Originally from Dallas, Alyson is an HBCU graduate who earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Hampton University and later, her Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a franchisee because her father franchised three McDonald’s in the Oak Cliff area when she was younger. By the age of 30, she herself was a 7-Eleven franchisee with not just one, but two locations.

Sarah Marince’s dynamic voice can be heard all over the world.

Whether she’s hosting on-camera events for globally recognized brands, recording voiceover work for international clients, or climbing up the Billboard charts with a country single, her versatile talent, passion, and professionalism put her in a class of her own.

A career in the entertainment world was Sarah’s single focus from a very young age. One of her family’s favorite memories is Sarah… at age 3… with a headset and a microphone belting out country songs in the garage. That microphone stayed firmly in her hand throughout her teen years as she evolved into a hometown celebrity… regularly singing the National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins…and later branching out across the country to perform for the LA Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York teams the Mets and Knicks. Sarah was also a constant presence on Pittsburgh television and radio as the commercial host, jingle singer and voice actor for Eat n Park restaurant…a multi-state restaurant chain. During Sarah’s senior year of high school, the allure of country music beckoned and she found herself traveling between Nashville and Pittsburgh…recording her first professional album. She quickly found success in the music city opening for Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Sarah Evans, Martina McBride and other established artists…as well as charting her own hit single, “In The Meantime” on Billboard.

With an inborn drive to expand all areas of her career, Sarah packed her bags and moved to Orlando when the Walt Disney World Entertainment group came calling. Her captivating voice can be heard in Disney Parks around the world, whether it is in song or voiceover. Sarah’s uniquely engaging voice can also be heard on spots for CocaCola, Cracker Barrel, Birchbox, Chick-Fil-A, Kwikset Locks and many other corporate clients. Sarah specializes in Commercial, eLearning, Explainer and Corporate Narration genres as well as Telephony and jingle singing…all done from her state of the art home studio equipped with Source Connect. One of her current fun projects is hosting a biweekly webcast with Blare Media called “Crew Talk” which consists of Sarah…in her friendly, conversational style… interviewing a panel of experts in the entertainment field…following up with a question and answer session. Sarah also continues to hone her skills in front of the camera with hosting appearances for ESPN, WalMart, Royal Caribbean and the Marriott Corporation.

As a passionate voice over professional, Sarah was thrilled to be nominated for the 2019 One Voice Award in the “Best International Voiceover Performance” category for her spot for CES (Consumer Electronics Show) entitled “What If.” Acknowledging Sarah’s authentic professionalism in the Voice Actor community, international voiceover management, ACM, signed her to their talent roster in April 2020.

Sarah’s voice embodies so many attributes of her personality…her genuineness, her approachable demeanor, her determination to find the positives in her life, but most importantly, her voice projects the fun she has everyday creating her career. Sarah faces everyday with open arms…ready to embrace the challenges and grow out of her comfort zone both personally and professionally.

Jeannette George, Family Nurse practitioner and content creator/influencer in the DFW. As an influencer who was born and partially raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jeannette uses her social media platforms and her personal background as war survivor, an immigrant, and a 1st generation female college congratulate to educate, motivate, and encourage others on the internet to fight for their own survival and to always follow their dreams. Jeannette graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor in Nursing and International Studies with a minor in African Studies. She completed her Master’s in Nursing degree at the University of Texas with a specialty in Family or Primary Care Practice.

Melissa Thiel grew up in Grayson County, TX and graduated from Tom Bean High School. She received her Associate’s Degree from Grayson College and then went on to study at Texas Woman’s University where she received her Bachelor's Degree in History. Shortly after, she decided to continue her education and received her Master's Degree from Texas Woman’s University.  Mrs. Thiel majored in History with an emphasis on Public History. It was during her studies that she learned about the lynching of George Hughes and the 1930 Sherman Riot. She is happily married to her husband who is a veteran of the United States Air Force. They have three wonderful boys and reside in Gunter, TX.

Dena Nguyen is a graphic designer, digital artist, and content creator based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. She currently works as a Jr. Art Director at a creative agency in Dallas, does freelance design work, and creates YouTube videos in her spare time.

Alōha fellow mindful wanderers! Christina and Patrick here, owners of Stay Zen Retreats. We love to travel and meet people from all over the world and look forward to connecting with you as a host or traveler. We have roots in western New York and south Texas, allowing us the great pleasure of spending time between both those points on the map. Each of our homes are inspired by our travels and designed with the mindful wanderer at heart. Simple, colorful and tasteful decor amidst comfortable and functional spaces where you can relax and unwind after a long day of exploring. Through compassion, mindful travel, conscious consumerism and simple living our mission is to spread love, kindness and inspire positive change; together we can all help to leave the world a better place.

To find out more about Christina & Patrick and all of their adventures, check out:

@themindfulwanderers

 @stayzenretreats

Infinite Greens is a small family business and was first established in 2017 cultivating hydroponically grown organic leafy greens and vegetables for sale to chefs and restaurants in the metroplex. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, we decided to convert the farm over to the hemp/cannabis industry. Our mission is to provide Texans with Premium Texas Hemp Flower and Pre-rolls, as well as the highest-quality Artisanal CBD Edibles, Tinctures, and Topicals for all their health and wellness needs. All of our Hemp derived CBD & Delta 8 products are hand-crafted from premium small-batch Hemp flower grown and manufactured from our hyper-urban, indoor farm in Farmers Branch, Texas, which allows us to control all environmental factors and prevent the use of any chemicals, pesticides, or other toxic inputs. Infinite Greens strives to be a trustworthy and transparent source of Texas Hemp & CBD products for our customers, which is why all of our products are also third-party tested.

Terrance Thomas has dedicated his life to transformation. He believes that we all can change for the better. He grew up in Fort Worth Texas where he was often on the streets begging for money to support his mothers drug addiction. “Excuse me sir, could you help us to get something to eat or go buy us something?” These words transformed Terrance and were also part of the hustle that allowed his mother’s expensive addiction to continue. Terrance stayed with family members and friends as he grew up. Some way or another, he would end up on the cold streets of Fort Worth with ripped shoes begging for money whenever his mother was released from prison again and again. Terrance was embarrassed and had disdain for himself. That is until his youth minister Adam introduced him to the love of Jesus Christ.

In 2004, David was wrapping up his freshman year at Baylor University and started his first business.  His parents told him they would give him money towards his MBA or his first business, and he immediately took the seed funding and ran with it. By college graduation however, the company was not yet large enough to support a full-time salary, so David moved in with his sister who was working on her Masters degree.  He slept on a Coleman air mattress for 9 months on the living room floor and went on the road pitching investors to raise a round of funding. The first 40 investors turned him down and he was down to just $300 in savings with the reality approaching he was going to have to go out and get a job. He firmly believed that God had a plan and he had to just keep going. After nearly 100 pitches, five investors came on board and provided the $250,000 in funding required to grow the business.  The same day the round of funding was closed, his air mattress popped, and he was able to get his own apartment and buy a real bed.

Fast forward to today and David has started over twenty businesses (several of those with Boss Club co-founder Charlie Gasmire).  In 2012 David and Charlie co-founded Vendevor, an ecommerce software business which successfully sold to Payscape in July of 2015.

David’s recent successes include First Centurion Group which sold a variety of consumer goods from its own line of skin care products and work-out supplements and generated nearly $40 million in online sales and grew to over 50 employees and was one of the fastest growing start-ups in 2013.

November 2019 David sold Pegasus Fulfillment, to Selery Fulfillment, a Mark Cuban backed company.  Pegasus Fulfillment was a company he built with his father Mike Grubbs, which handled inventory warehousing and online order fulfillment for over a dozen different ecommerce businesses including his own.

With many startups under his belt David has learned there is a recipe to starting businesses which enables businesses to be launched faster and with less risk.  Those hard-learned lessons from nearly two decades were disseminated into a unique Entrepreneurship course he taught at Baylor University with Dr. Kendall Artz and Dr. Les Palich where 12 hand selected students were given funding to start real businesses over the course of a semester.  The program was a success and the core of Boss Club’s curriculum is based on all the principles taught in that college level course.

In his free time David loves flying (as a private pilot), riding horses, scuba diving, reading, learning Spanish, and participating in his church.  David lives in a small rural town in Costa Rica and is married to his wife of four years, Daniella, who runs her own not-for-profit equine therapy center to help people with disabilities.  Their first son, Sam, was born in 2020.

Rachel Weaver is the Education Director for SCRAP Creative Reuse, a national network of nonprofit creative reuse centers, and active in the Dallas-Ft.Worth-Denton metroplex as a writer, musician, and mixed media artist. Rachel advocates for environmental health, local resilience, and developing our environmental imagination. She seeks to build strong community relationships and foster opportunities for growth through education and creative learning. Rachel has cultivated relationships and skills through various community activities including environmental education, farming and conservation work, local market management and entrepreneurship, event planning, educational development, and nonprofit leadership.

Victor and Melanie, the creators of Korazon Clothing, took a leap of faith and launched during the pandemic of 2020. They decided to turn their passion for fashion and started this thing. They didn’t go to school for fashion or merchandise but were not going to let anything stop them. Victor and Melanie hired a life coach to give them the push they needed and now it’s up to them to keep the momentum going. Join them as they carry out their mission. Their mission in Korazon is to create quality pieces that will make every woman and man feel confident and beautiful. Victor and Melanie want to help break the toxic beauty standards and show what true beauty is! This is why they're intentional about having representation. They choose models with different ethnic backgrounds, sizes and shapes. They hope to help our generation and future generations feel confident and learn to love and feel confident in who they are!

Desmond Blair is a Dallas-based artist and problem solver and has been ever since childhood. Blair was born without fingers. Through navigating learning how to write without hands in school, Desmond discovered a love for art and animation. It was this love for animation and animated storytelling that inspired Blair to expand his artistic talents. Blair’s tenacity, determination, and drive empowered him to graduate from high school at the age of 16. Blair later earned his undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Dallas where he honed his traditional abilities and transferred them to digital media focusing on animation and computer graphics. Blair later returned to UTD where he received his MFA in Art and Technology with a concentration on the development of computer graphics and the study/analysis of emerging media trends. He now uses his art to encourage others, promote limb difference awareness and raise money for charities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Desmond hopes to one day use his art to launch a scholarship fund that will assist graduating seniors born with limb differences in the pursuit of their academic goals. Desmond’s artwork can be found at the Pencil on Paper Gallery in Dallas.

My name is Carla Majeno. When I was almost 18, I had a plan. I knew how everything would turn out and as long as I stayed on this path everything would be great because it would be according to plan. Everything changed when I found out I was pregnant. I spent countless hours on YouTube looking up videos of pregnancy and what it means to be a “mom” and felt like I needed to know everything in order to be prepared. However, as much as I planned, I realized that nothing really ever goes to plan anymore… and that is okay.

Motherhood is a journey and it’s not one that can be planned and pinpointed every step of the way. Truly, just being along for the ride is one of the best gifts. We stress out and spend so much time thinking about the end result, we always forget to enjoy the journey.

I started blogging shortly after Zoe was one. At first it was to help me cope through my mental health and to also talk about things I had learned and what I wish I had known beforehand, but it turned into so much more. I realized that motherhood and life as a mom is not always easy or fun, but always beautiful, and I want to share that on my page. I want to spread positivity to mothers and show them how beautiful they are and how powerful motherhood truly is.

Malik Johnson is an actor, singer-songwriter, producer, and content creator from Fort Worth. Surpassing over 250,000 streams in 20+ countries with music largely self produced in his closet, his music is largely influenced by real life situations. His most popular songs include Expectations, Carmen Sandiego, & No Hard Feelings. Malik got his start in musical theater and considers acting his first love, roles range from Divorce Court & Dr Pepper commercials to Queen of The South, The Pullout Game, & Cruel Summer.

Mohammad Altawaha, also known as “Abu Omar,” is a serial entrepreneur based out of Houston, Texas.

Originally from a small village in Jordan, Altawaha moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s Degree in 2008. During his time in school, Altawaha worked in various restaurants across Houston & rediscovered his passion for cooking.

Equipped with his own set of signature recipes and firsthand knowledge of restaurant management, Altawaha set out to fill a void he felt was present in his community’s food scene. He opened his first venture, a food truck called Abu Omar Taco, in 2011.

Initially, Abu Omar Taco served a mix of Mexican and Mediterranean dishes that adhered to halal food practices. However, Altawaha soon realized the overwhelming demand was for their more Mediterranean dishes, such as chicken shawarma & gyros. Altawaha then decided to shift the menu focus to serve entirely Mediterranean classics.  With the new focus and menu offerings, the decision was made to change the name of the business to Abu Omar Halal.

After opening several food trucks in the Houston area, Altawaha, set his sights on the rest of the lone star state. Opening new locations in the Austin, San Antonio, & Dallas area in record time, setting his brand up for success. Over the last year, they have quickly expanded across the United States with over 25 food truck and brick & mortar locations in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Florida and California.

This success has led Altawaha to venture into other restaurant endeavors, including another successful multi-location Mediterranean restaurant called Arabella Mediterranean Kitchen + Grill, as well as a fusion food truck called Coreanos.

Ashley Durden started her business (El Bosque Plus) working with teen girls in 2017 in Juarez, Mexico. Since then her work has grown from just working with teen girls in Mexico, to working with all teens in both Mexico and the United States.

El Bosque plus is about enriching teens through this time in their lives and helping them live life (now) by putting their best foot forward. Ashley is able to do this by providing them with safe spaces to have open discussions/workshops about all topics, providing them healthy tools to handle the situations or emotions they might be dealing with, and an option for parents to work alongside Ashley in using practical tools to support their teens and build healthier relationships with them.

Currently, she is working with families virtually as well as in-person within the DFW area by teaming with the Rowlett Library and working with middle and high schoolers after school, and planning family events for the upcoming year.

Latesha Burnley is a DFW based artist, currently tattooing out of TNT Tattoo Company. She has been tattooing professionally for 3 years. Her style consists of bold and colorful neotraditional, noveau, and pop culture inspired designs. Find her portfolio, current projects and booking info on instagram @Elle_tattooer

Growing up in a household as a first generation Pakistani American wasn’t easy. Although it came with a set of high expectations, I was driven to challenge myself to do the best I could and reach my own personal goals. I found myself struggling to find hobbies that were appropriate for both of my cultures, when I was inspired by my mom's talent of sewing Pakistani dresses.  I loved shadowing her and learning how to sew. After several years, I was planning my wedding, and it was extremely difficult to find the dresses and jewelry I wanted. Shortly after my COVID wedding, I decided to take a new step and open my online shop, Beauty by Mishaal. I offer the best quality in South Asian dresses, clothing and accessories and am known for my affordability. I am grateful to have so many loyal customers. Their feedback is what keeps me going!

Shoutout to @lightsandgin for the featured headshot for this episode!

Meghan Forest Farmer has woven her way through the fashion pipeline over the past 10 years, but currently works as a fashion stylist, both on photo shoot sets, and in the wardrobes of her personal styling closet. After learning of the unfortunate, darker side of the fashion industry, specifically within garment manufacturing, she made sustainability and ethical fashion a mission for her personal life, and to educate her styling clients on. While volunteering with a local organization, visiting incarcerated women, she learned of the great difficulty of finding dignified work after incarceration. She made the connection between the fashion industry stealing dignity from the garment workers it exploits, and women in her city who deserved to have their dignity restored. The idea for her newest business venture was formed; The Bright Factory. A cut and sew factory in Fort Worth, TX, creating sustainable t-shirts, by the hands of women being given another chance. When she is not on a photoshoot set, or running a business, she enjoys being a goofball with her amazing husband, karaoke and dance parties, and serving her community and church.

Wendy is a mental health and acne awareness advocate with a mission to end acne stigma and harmful stereotypes associated with this skin disease. After personally suffering from cystic acne and acne scars for over 20 years, she started The Acne Effect in December of 2019 in order to raise awareness and educate the public about the impact acne has on mental health.

Bo Sijuade is a Nigerian-American tech entrepreneur. Born on December 27, 1995, in Baltimore, Maryland, raised in Las Vegas, NV, and Dallas, TX. He is the Founder, CEO at On Touch Go a startup that transforms rideshare vehicles into a new format of geofenced advertising utilizing interior displays.

Morgan & Devyn Overton own Overton Family Jewels, a crystal and metaphysical online store. Morgan has been studying and collecting crystals her entire life & Devyn is a GIA Certified Gemologist. We started OFJ out of shared interest, and we are passionate about staying educated and ethical. We know that our niche industry supports small mining communities all over the world, and we understand the emotional impact our crystals can have on people metaphysically and spiritually. 

Our connections and relationships with our mining partners is something that sets us apart from everyone else. Because we have a personal relationship with the mines and manufacturers, we know exactly where our products come from. We also spend a lot of time and energy testing, verifying and pricing our crystals to make sure we are giving the best value. If you can imagine a mini gem laboratory in our studio that has all the tools to make this possible. You will hear us use the phrase “Good Energy” a lot. It really sums up what we are trying to accomplish with OFJ. Our goal is to spread Good Energy to as many people that will accept it. That’s why we try to create an ethical and safe place that everyone is welcome to join.

If you have questions about what we do and what we sell, please reach out to us on FB, IG and TikTok @OvertonFamilyJewels.

Dexia Smith is the founder of the Advocates Of Sexual Assault Awareness (AOSA, which partners with other organizations to raise awareness and funds for survivors. AOSA hosts an annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) Event with proceeds benefitting local nonprofit organizations related to sexual assault. When Dexia Smith is not dedicating her attention to this amazing organization, she's working at the Dallas Cowboys as a corporate partnerships representative. 

The thing about Westonn is his smooth yet energetic RnB voice. Mix that with creative, catchy and unique songwriting and you have one of Dallas's most promising artists. After deciding to pursue music for the last three years, his skill, determination, and music have grown noticeably.

If RnB and Pop had a new-age love child, Westonn would be his name. His music is inspired by the late 90s/2000s sound he grew up on, yet he has a knack for making his sound modern without losing touch of his roots, even adding a retro pop element that rounds out everything his sound is about.

Chris showed up in the acclaimed show "The Circle" an American reality competition series created by Studio Lambert and Motion Content Group which previously broadcast on Netflix. It is a game show and Chris stood out enough to be noticed as a challenger. The configuration of the game The Circle is that all players are in a loft however they can't meet each other but yet should converse with one another through social media. Chris has done well all through indicating his genuine feelings and individuals are cherishing his character and the manner in which he is playing the game. He has likewise facilitated a week by week show The Gag and has additionally facilitated Eye Opener an American News Show.

Amy has been conveying her emotions through music since she began songwriting at eight years old, specifically recalling times where she would fight with her mom, run into her room angry with a sharpie in hand, and write a song on colored construction paper. Early musical influences include Amy Grant and Taylor Swift; she learned to play Swift's entire discography by the time she finished elementary school. Needing to incorporate music into her life as much as possible, Amy attended and graduated from a fine-arts middle/high school where she focused on vocal performance. Amy has been performing her own songs in Almost Jaded since she was 16 and continues to build her music career.

KRISTO BLANC is a Hip-Hop/R&B/Pop artist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He first stepped onto the scene in 2018 with singles like Foreign Toyz & ATL/BTL. In April 2019, he released his first EP, PSA: Failure to Launch. In March 2020 during the global pandemic Kristo continued to release projects and surprised fans with the project "KOBRA AURA 2020". With his new single "Nude" featuring King Mizzie and Mercury caught our attention I wanted to reach out and give him the opportunity to speak on the podcast.

As he gears up to release his single, 4TH QUARTER I talked to him about his musical process and how he and his team stay busy with some of the obstacles they encounter.

Katrina Strohl is a Navy veteran who served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM). Now, with over ten years of Human Resources (HR) experience, several HR Certifications and multiple Career Coaching Certifications, Katrina continues to serve others. In 2018, Katrina decided to take her own life after internalizing the behavior of a toxic workplace. Since then, she has become a huge advocate of mental health and works to reduce the stigma through their show. Absolutely Not! is the weekly live podcast dedicated to providing examples of setting personal boundaries at work and the vocabulary needed to name harm in those spaces.

It is said, "art is often a reflection of the artist." This statement is definitely accurate with XDezend, a music producer and DJ based in Dallas, Texas. The name XDezend, a kind of acronym for a fictional word EX-Descend, represents how the artist is no longer descending into many lows in life: the lows which stemmed from mental illness and alcohol/drug addiction. After overcoming numerous obstacles and challenges XDezend hopes to raise awareness for mental health and to show others that no matter where they have been or what they have gone through, they can still conquer their demons and follow their dreams.

XDezend's music is dark and intense, just like a reflection of his life. While performing, the artist is continually mixing from one song to another and frequently splicing other songs together, quickly creating live mashups with precision.  His unconventional DJ style stems from his ability to let his mind and imagination run wild within a house music format, while simultaneously reading the crowd and playing the music that the audience wants to hear. He is a fresh artist releasing his first single, The Underground, in September 2021 under Gangsta House Records. With many plans in 2022, XDezend will have more music releases coming soon!

Chris Brainard's passion for health and performance all started from growing up as a kid and playing multiple sports. He was an undersized athlete through middle school and high school and knew if he was going to make a name for myself, he was going to need to outwork everyone else.

Going into middle school and high school, Chris dedicated himself to become one of the top athletes in the area. His sophomore year, he chose to solely focus on being a wide receiver for Southlake Carroll High School. This was a big shift for Chris as it forced him to continue to do extra work when he knew everyone else was resting. It was his way of knowing that he was getting one stop closer to his goal.

Within Chris Brainard's junior year of high school, he ended up starting at wide receiver for one of the top programs in the country. Through this experience of learning from great Coaches such as Todd Dodge and Kirk Rogers, he learned the fundamentals of discipline and always going the extra mile.

After high school, Chris went on to play football at the University of North Texas. In 2015, he graduated with a BS in Kinesiology. Shortly thereafter, Chris chose to focus on helping people become the strongest version of themselves through fitness and performance and took over a family-owned small business that his dad started 21 years ago… As of today, APE Fitness & Performance has helped hundreds of athletes and adults achieve optimal health and performance.

Kendall Williams is the CEO and Founder of Regal Black LLC. This business is a full service entertainment company offering talent management, artist relations, publicity, and marketing. They are passionate about the music industry, breaking artists, and creating relevant content to engage those enticed by music culture.

Rafael Listo Gaitan is an undefeated professional boxer out of Grand Prairie, Texas. Also amateur stand-out finishing his amateur career with 68 wins and 3 defeats, capturing multiple national titles. 7x Golden Gloves Champion, Jr. Olympic Champion, #1 in the Nation at Heavyweight Division, #2 in the Nation at Super-Heavyweight, #3 in the Nation as a Light Heavyweight also ranking #4 in the World.

Christopher Joseph Gonzalez, the man behind the brand known as C. Joseph Art, has always had a love and talent for art.  He started at a very young age learning to hone his God-given ability to draw, and grew it into a passion not only to paint but sculpt as well.  Growing up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, he gained appreciation for color and art through his environment as well as from his Mexican-American heritage.  In his early 20's, Chris started painting murals as a free-lance artist.  That opened doors for him in many ways including a career as a production designer, where he was able to use his art to create designs and projects with companies like Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Marriott International, and many more.  Over the last 20 years, Chris has grown his knowledge and talents in both art and business and has been able to merge them together to meet his clients' needs with great professionalism.  Recent projects and murals have allowed him to expand his creativity and grow his brand not only here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but all over the world.  Outside of his faith and his family, art has been one of the biggest driving forces in Chris' life.  He has always had the passion and desire to share his art with as many people as he could, whether it be through canvas paintings hanging in the lobby of a hotel, a mural displayed on the busy streets of Fort Worth, a unique one-of-a-kind commissioned painting hanging in the privacy of one's home, or a mural surrounding a crib in a baby's room bringing joy to them as they drift off to sleep.  Chris' ability to captivate his audience through his use of color and design, truly make him a unique artist that adapts and grows in each piece he creates.  We hope that his art has in some way spoken to you, inspired you, and given you joy for today and hope for a wonderful tomorrow.

Robbie started Unusual Retail in 2016, mostly out of a need to shop. Vintage shopping for him started in the mid 1990s as a teen shopping for bellbottoms to sell to friends.

But the real story of Unusual Retail starts in October of 2020 when Robbie met Amy. Both are obsessed with 1960s décor and fashion, both spent many years in retail, and they are the same type of weird. It’s the perfect pairing. Robbie spent years working his way up through the retail ranks from store manager, district manager, and corporate operations. Amy worked with designer brands and eventually as a buyer for big box retailers.

When you shop Unusual Retail you are not only carrying on the story of a well loved item, but helping two lovebirds follow their life-long dream of owning their own retail store.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Chris Gronkowski was the middle of the 5 Gronkowski brother's.  Playing sports throughout his childhood and high school, he accepted a full scholarship to play division 1 football.  He graduated from the Univ. of Arizona with a bachelors degree in Accounting.

Chris went into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and went on to start for 3 different NFL teams including the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, and the Denver Broncos.

After his NFL career ended, he and his wife Brittany created and grew their online personalize gift shop into one of the biggest and best personalized gift stores online. With their successful company Everything Decorated running smoothly, Chris saw another opportunity in the market.

After his NFL career ended, Chris continued to live an active lifestyle.  During a hot summer Texas day, Chris was at the gym lifting weights.  When he went to take a sip of water from the bottle he had brought with him it was warm and had a lingering taste from the protein shake he had made the day before.  Frustrated with the shaker bottles he had been using for year, he went home to try to find something better.  Chris noticed there was nothing on the market that fit his needs and set out to make a product that would be ideal for not just the gym and mixing protein shakes but also for everyday use at the office.

Chris created Ice Shaker and launched the product in December 2016.  After 5 months he was able to generate about $80,000 in sales.  Chris was able to get onto the show ABC's Shark Tank at this point and pitch to the Sharks in which he was able to land a deal with Mark Cuban and Alex Rodriguez.

Bora is an experienced professional who is passionate about, social impact, early education equity, and innovation. Bora was born in Albania and immigrated with her family to the United States in 1996. She graduated with a B.A. in corporate communications from SMU in 2013. She earned an M.B.A. in Finance from SMU's Cox School of Business in 2019. Currently, as the Assistant Director of Programs and Director of Studies at Southern Methodist University, she manages program development and community involvement in ethical public leadership.

“All Damn Day” Will Allday is a professional wrestler that traveled internationally and all over the US wrestling for promotions such as WWE, AEW, NJPW, Impact, ROW, PrimeTime Live and more. He is the current Reality of Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and Texas Champion. He is a Rice graduate and former collegiate athlete. He has acted in independent films and skits for various companies as well.

Dora is a SDC certified director with an extensive background in theatre and film (MA from New York), as well as media and international communications (BA from Budapest and Padua), film (Certificates from Florence and New York). For the past five years, she has been mostly working as a director in Italy, Hungary and in the USA. Throughout that time Dora directed musicals, movement theatrical pieces, comedies, Off-Broadway shows, touring shows as well as commercials, music videos and short movies. Currently I reside in NY but enjoy saying yes to international work. 

Stage credits include: The Motherf**ker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis; My Name is Rachel Corrie by Alan Rickman, Katherine Viner and Rachel Corrie; Negative Space by David Kelly; Grudges by Joe Queenan and T.J. Elliott; Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons by Sam Steiner; Synthesis by Dora Endre; Eve's Apartment by Dora Endre. Film credits include: Nyctalopia; Sweet and Sour; Little Black Dress; Haze; Back Home and others.

The topics Dora most enjoys exploring in her work include shared social responsibility, complex relationships in turbulent times, children's rights, political conflicts, prejudices and the destructive nature of highlighting what is different in humans instead of highlighting what is common and can unite us. Dora loves developing new projects with driven collaborators, combining interdisciplinary elements, creating progressive and out-of-the-box projects both on stage and on film.

Luis is currently attending the University of North Texas focusing on Media arts with minors in Spanish and Communications. For the past four years, he has been working as a Video Manager at North Texas focusing on coaches' film and specialty highlight videos for the team as well. In his third year, however, Luis decided to take a different route from football and began to intern for a local soccer club called the Dallas Sidekicks. There he created video assets for branding and marketing purposes for the team which include: Commercials, highlights videos, interviews, jersey reveals, and managed equipment as well. Now back for his last year with the Mean Green, Luis utilized the skills he learned from his internship to create new branding for recruiting operations with North Texas, as well as continuing to provide mentorship to new students in coaches' video and video operations. While the future of Luis' career is still unknown, his appreciation of change, his experiences, and soon a bachelor's degree under his belt will provide Luis with the assets to continue to pursue jobs in the creative space in sports, entertainment, or advertising to broaden his skills and his impact with others.

Kasci attended college for biology with a concentration in animal science. She grew up loving animals from her numerous pets to working at a grooming salon and vet clinic. She enjoys rescuing and rehabilitating animals in her free time and adopted her dog, Bellatrix from her local pound. She also rescued two spiny mice from the pet trade and has rehabilated squirrels and opossums in Louisiana. Formerly she worked with numerous species of animals at her previous job as a zookeeper. Her dedication and perseverance for saving animals and the environment serve as an incredible aid to furthering our mission.

De’Andra Roberts is the founder and CEO of A Life to Share, a company that makes it easier, quicker and more affordable to document life stories. In addition to A Life to Share, De’Andra is also a corporate public relations professional, having worked with some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies in the United States. The 27-year-old Atlanta native is a proud graduate of Louisiana State University and in her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching her favorite tv shows, and hanging out with her child (a dog named, Sisqo).

Seth Block is passionate about helping in the community and giving back. This includes being an alumnus of the 2020-2021 Dana Juett Residency at Social Venture Partners and an alumnus of the 2019-2020 Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy cohort at Communities Foundation of Texas. Currently, Seth serves on the Dallas Chapter of the Advisory Council for Refugee Services of Texas, is a member of the Steering Committee for Emerging Leaders at United Way, a partner at Social Venture Partners Dallas, and is a co-organizer for Shot of Geneoristy at Union Coffee.

Dasjaevian Dixon's vision for the Networking with Purpose Tour is to create an environment where emerging and experienced professionals can connect, collaborate, and capitalize through the power of networking. His passions include marketing, fitness, motivational speaking, and philanthropy. During his collegiate career, he developed a deep passion for networking and making a significant impact in the community. He genuinely values helping others succeed in life. As an emerging business professional, he has been able to work with notable brands such as The Walt Disney Company, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Daymond John, and Kirk Franklin. Dasjaevian strives to reach high altitudes in life. He believes that any goal is attainable with passion, persistence, and purpose. He continues building onto his personal and professional versatility to remain a vital asset in the business world.

Daniel Smith's vision for the  Networking with Purpose Tour is one that challenges the social norms associated with networking and redefines the term to a more philanthropic mentality that allows people to leverage intentional relationships in order to cultivate their purpose in life. Daniel has a passion for financial literacy and educating people on how they can build wealth and create opportunities to serve their family and reach their calling. He has started multiple businesses, mentored numerous professionals and has conducted years of research focused on liberating people in all capacities of their life. His entrepreneurship mission is focused on helping others achieve what they desire in life so that they can pay it forward to someone else.

Born into a family prone to clutter, Libby quickly developed a passion for organization and honed her skills of creating order out of chaos.

While attending Texas A&M University, she continued to organize for friends and family, and not long after graduating from Texas A&M with a BBA in Finance, she returned to Dallas to launch Libby and Labels, LLC.

Libby is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and previously served as the Director of Professional Development for the NAPO-DFW Chapter from 2017-2019.

Libby delights in bringing order to the homes of her clients in the DFW area.

Mica Mackenzie is the CEO and Founder of The Quiet Nonsense Entertainment Company and QN Media and Marketing Firm. Her specialties are in the areas of Influencer Outreach and Marketing, Graphic and Website Design, Social Media Advertising, and Content Creation. When she’s not working you can find her with her son, Jio, probably doing yoga and drinking coffee. She likes to spend her free time interacting with clients and working with her team to keep expanding QN. Mica also founded the Talking Nonsense Podcast based in Dallas.

After graduating in 2013 with a degree in journalism and communications, Jazmine Reed-Clark struggled to find my footing as a young professional. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Jazmine tried on different hats within the advertising, marketing, and human resources fields. Each time, I would find some success (though, plenty of failures, too) but I never felt the same content I saw in other friends.

Then 2020 happened.

The world was ablaze and murder hornets were on the loose. Jazmine was at a new job, and was unhappy. She was going through the motions and it was obvious. So on my 60-day mark, during a pandemic, she followed her gut and quit. Time would prove that all of the confusion was for a greater purpose. Now, she's officially a one-woman show, open for business! Her most notable work as appeared in The Financial Diet, The Everygirl, Cupcakes & Cashmere, and MyDomaine. Jazmine helps professionals feel more confident, secure, and inspired in their careers. She empowers women of color to heal generational wounds while rejecting harmful narratives.

I have decided to reach out to Cade Lamirand. Cade joined Wild Rag Vodka at the start of 2021 as the Sales Manager. Prior to Wild Rag, he was a student at Texas Christian University. He graduated from the Neeley School of Business in May 2020 with a degree in finance. When he's not staying busy with Wild Rag, you can find him somewhere outdoors. His favorite spots are on the golf course, at the lake, or anywhere hunting and fishing. Go frogs!

Mamta Rana is an internationally certified natural henna artist (ICNHA) and has practiced henna for over 10 years. She likes everything art but is best known for her henna art and fun personality. She strongly believes in giving yourself the love and nourishment that we so freely give to others, in heart to heart conversations and of course tea (or coffee) table conversations are the heart of Matrika Henna!

Louie T. McClain II is the Founder and CEO of Melanin Origins: a children’s book company that writes about the intriguing lives of African American leaders, pioneers, and innovators.  Louie is intrigued by the resilience and tenacity of African American leaders who stand for truth, justice, and overcoming any obstacles placed in their way.  Thus, he decided to create Melanin Origins to share messages of lesser-known African American pioneers to the children of the world and empower them to aspire for excellence and chase their dreams regardless of any complications they may face.  Mr. McClain has authored five (5) book titles including Brick by Brick: a Snippet of The Life of Booker T. Washington for children and his autobiography, Up From The Trap, for emerging leaders.

Sydney Cessna is a graduate of UCLA's psychology program and a graduate of Texas Woman's University studying special education, with a concentration in educational diagnostics. Sydney works at the June Shelton School teaching mathematics. Additionally, she has tutored private students in Pre-K -12, with a focus of working with students with academic differences. Sydney works with a diverse group of students, ranging from ages 4 through 17.

How do we learn? How do sensory inputs become long-lasting memories and knowledge? What can we do to ensure that high-quality, scientifically irrefutable instruction is available throughout our country?  Learning theories, the intersection of education and psychology, is Sydney's central professional focus. With unwavering dedication, she hopes to affect education policy, specifically STEM curriculum, to ensure students operate at their highest potential.

Cindy Moore is an art specialist by day, and an activist by night. She is the founder of the nonprofit, Creatives Unite, serving up the bold movement of creativity to bring change.

Formerly an Architectural Designer, I have a knack for building things - whether it’s projects, communities, or companies. Following my career change, I dedicated myself to learning what it means to do “business”. I’ve worked with prominent startup stakeholders in Dallas, garnering knowledge and experience in everything from early stage startups to venture capital funds.

Now I spend my days cultivating community at Legacy West in Plano, TX as the Property Marketing Manager.

We speak to Adam Evers, the founder of Blumania, managing partner of EZBev Supply, and co-founder behind Gaslight Dallas. Adam received his bachelors in microbiology and debated on taking his MCAT for a pathway towards medical school. After a thought-provoking conversation with a professor, he realized his ability behind launching success startups combined with his scientific knowledge could prove useful in the beverage market. Blumania strives to go against negative connotations amongst typical energy drinks, like utilizing cutting-edge flavor enhancement and innovative “aftertaste” masking technologies to eliminate a bitter aftertaste. 

John Lamey is the Executive Vice President/General Manager at San Luis Spirits, home to the award winning Dripping Springs Vodka & Gin, 1876 Vodka/Bourbon, Paula’s Liqueurs, Republic Tequila/Whiskey, Pepe Zevada Tequila, and Martine Honeysuckle Liqueur. His 30 years in the Wine & Spirits industry included 18 years at a wholesaler, 4 years at the supplier level, and 3 years in retail. His career began at the Julius Schepps Distributing Co. in Dallas, TX. After 14 years at Republic National Distributing, he accepted the Vice President of Operations position at H&H Beverages (Retail Spirits Chain). John attended Texas Tech University on a golf scholarship and graduated with a BBA in Marketing. He enjoys spending time with his wife of 29 years and 26-year-old daughter who is also employed in the wine industry.

Anneliese Aeria is an actress, model, dancer, musician, artist, entrepreneur, and, most of all, a pet lover which is why at the age of 17 she founded AAPETPEOPLE. Growing up, she was painfully shy, and incredibly unconfident. Anneliese began modeling and acting when she was 12-ish, and working on sets with new, initially intimidating people was a very scary and nerve racking experience for her. She found over time that if she was able to some how slide in the question, "do you have pets?" to those around her, and find some common ground, all of the sudden the ice was broken! This simple question has put her at ease countless times, and made Anneliese realize that the individuals who were initially so intimidating, were just like herself at the end of the day. 

She credits her love of animals to her mother who is an entrepreneur of sorts and a veterinarian. With 2 parents working as veterinarians, Anneliese grew up around animals, fostering puppies and kittens with her siblings are some of her fondest memories, and she has always had a deep connection with pet rescue. Now, Anneliese Aeria is a full time model/actress, and has decided to connect her two worlds. AAPETPEOPLE is the uniting of my two worlds, into a brand which is focused not only on the pet, but their owner as well. Seeking to connect people, and pets, in the Fashion and Arts industries, as well as aiding in pet rescue, is the motivation behind the brand, AAPETPEOPLE.​

As a successful tech entrepreneur and global business leader, Tim Angelillo brings 15+ years of experience running divisions of publicly traded companies like Yahoo! and Time Warner as well currently founding and leading three start-up businesses in Austin, TX. These experiences allow Tim to share detailed insights on how to apply an entrepreneurial drive and marketing, sales, technology, and management skills both inside global companies and the tech start-up world.

As Global Business Leader for $900 million of revenue overseeing Yahoo! Sports and the Y! Commerce divisions and Executive Director founding and overseeing $100 Million of Sports Illustrated licensing, properties, and retail business units, Tim shares his experience with audiences around the world on the following topics:

· 5 Keys to Being a Successful, Halfway Sane Start Up Entrepreneur

· Be the Entrepreneur in a Global Corporate Machine or Tech Start Up

· Apply Your Corporate Experiences and Relationships to Your Own Start Up

· Launch Fast, Listen, and Never Fail

· Be the Best Brand Ambassador for your Start Up

· Lead a Lean, Mean “Team”…of Free Lancers

· Entrepreneurship Lesson One: Don’t Know…Teach Yourself, Quickly

· The 2 Most Dangerous Items to threaten your Start Up – Cash Flow & Distractions

· Pacing? It’s a not a Marathon but a Sprint with no Finish Line

With 18 years of service experience in the DFW area, Alex Fletcher has gone on to run and design some of Dallas most well-known beverage programs. From Irish pubs and New Orleans style dive bars to speak easy and cocktail lounges. After opening The People's last stand in 2012 he quickly was promoted to General Manger where he learned to build a business from scratch. Helping to drive the craft cocktail movement in DFW and change the drinking culture as a whole. After 3 years with People’s Alex was asked to head up the cocktail program at a well renowned cocktail den called Victor Tangos. There he really was able to slowly concentrate on fast paced high quality interesting cocktails and refine his craft and leading amazing team. After Victor Tangos Alex was approached to build a brand new program bar from scratch Henry’s Majestic. After the opening and success of Henry’s Majestic, Alex designed one of Dallas’  most unique cocktail experiences, a tiny 900 sqft cocktail den in the back of an alley, Atwater Alley, which quickly became a drinking destination in Dallas. From there Alex was prompted to be Beverage Director of the Dog and Pony Show including, Bread Winners Café’s, Atwater Alley, The Quarter Bar Dallas, The Quarter Bar Trophy Club, Harlowe MXM, Trick Pony, Shaken and Stirred Services 4 of these concepts he helped design and concept from scratch.

After 5 years with the Dog and Pony show group he was invited to work on an amazingly game changing concept with Hospitality Alliance and help to design and run the Beverage portion of the new downtown AT&T Discovery District .

Jamie Biel joined Treaty Oak Distilling in June 2018 with a focus on science and sustainability. As a botanist and former high school science teacher, she understands and appreciates the biochemistry of fermentation, distillation, and maturation. From water quality and conservation to sustainable farming techniques and locally sourced organic and heirloom grains, sustainability is a pillar of Treaty Oak Distilling. Jamie has found her passion and palate in bourbons and is always happy to raise a glass. Cheers!

David Stutz is an accomplished Entrepreneur, Senior Executive and Consultant who has demonstrate success spanning technology, commercial real estate, mobile & digital marketing, and advertising. David has held leadership positions with organizations including PIVMO, D1 Ink, C2C Outdoor, OMG Direct Inc., and Meredith Corporation. He co-founded Beach Juice Co. which is a brand of canned wine & spirits products. 

Adam von Gootkin brought his family legacy into the next generation by co-founding Onyx Spirits Co., an award-winning craft distillery offering America’s first ultra-premium moonshine and New England’s first whiskey. In 2015, his nationally released book Living Proof: Onyx Moonshine’s Journey to Revive the American Spirit, chronicled his unique approach to traditional business principles. After successfully building Connecticut’s first distillery in over 100years, Adam’s next venture would take him from the Connecticut coast to the rolling grasslands of the English countryside and to one of the most famous homes in the world. Partnering with the Godson to Queen Elizabeth II, the 8th Earl & Countess of Carnarvon, the owners of Highclere Castle (known to millions of fans around the world as the home in the award-winning tv series and motion picture, Downton Abbey). In 2017, Adam co-founded the Highclere Castle Cigars Company, produced with world-renowned cigar blender Nicholas Melillo in Nicaragua. The cigar went on to win many awards, with the brand rapidly expanding throughout the US, UK and mainland Europe. Highclere Castle Spirits joined the budding empire the following year, in keeping with Adam’s vision to create a global portfolio of hyper-authentic prestige brands with deep roots. In 2019, the award- winning Highclere Gin became the first of a super-premium line of spirits made from the oats and botanicals grown on Highclere Castle Estate, specifically, lavender planted by the Bishops of Winchester in the 9th century. 

Deron Brewer has been an Edna Valley based entrepreneur in San Luis Obispo CA for 20+ years and now owns Ragtag Wine Co. with his wife Sarah. Ragtag Wine Co. sources from nearby vineyards, most of which are in San Luis Obispo County. This allows the Ragtag Wine brand to be more diligent during growing and harvest seasons. The labels underneath Ragtag Wine also is made through a small batch process, allowing them to take the utmost care while overseeing the development of each grape varietal. They constantly strive for perfection in all they do; a concept that is never quite attainable, yet always deserves their foremost efforts.

In December of 2015, Acre Distilling opened in the neighborhood that was Fort Worth's den of sin and vice in the Old West – aptly named Hell's Half Acre. Where Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Etta Place once walked, Acre's team set out to take a dash of that renegade Texan spirit and produce small batch libations of uncommon quality. Today, Acre Distilling is a nationally acclaimed, award-winning creator of single malt whisky, bourbon, gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs, and cordials.

Tony Formby, owner of Acre Distilling, was a former majority stakeholder in Rahr & Sons Brewing Company in Fort Worth, Texas. At Acre, Tony has helped with the line of spirits by focusing on the quality of the ingredients, sourcing locally, and hiring passionate people behind the bottle. 

Nate Whitehouse is one of the co-founders of Drifter Spirits - Avuá Cachaça, Svöl Aquavit, Drifter Craft Cocktails, and Paladar Tequila.  Originally from Fort Worth, TX he spent the past eight years travelling extensively to build the brands and help educate bartenders on unusual spirits.  He is also one of the co-founders of THIRST Group, dedicated to indie hospitality engagement in the political process.

Texas native Amelia Lettieri is the co-founder and CEO of RancH2O, a ready-to-drink canned cocktail brand that champions her southern spirit and hospitality. Her corporate experience provides her with business savvy about the beverage and consumer packaged goods markets, while it is her pure grit, great courage, and deep faith that led her to become an entrepreneur, especially during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

After graduating from Texas A&M with a BBA in Finance, Amelia worked with a Dallas-based private equity firm in the acquisition of Carolina Beverage Group, a world-class specialty beverage co-packer for leading beverage brands. Here, she discovered her love of the beverage industry. Amelia also worked for beloved convenience retailer 7-Eleven, Inc. assisting in acquiring and integrating over 700 convenience stores and spent the last few years with Sunoco, LP overseeing the Organic Growth and Strategy Group before stepping out to launch RancH2O.

Liquid to Lips Tastings is a wine and spirits marketing company. We work with retail outlets, alcoholic beverage companies, wholesalers, and distributors to build product and brand awareness through in-store sampling and special events.

After realizing I wanted to work in wine and spirits marketing full-time, I filed for my LLC in late 2018. By early February 2019, we started covering all major markets in Texas due to demand. In May of 2019, I left my full time commercial real estate job to completely focus on Liquid to Lips Tastings. Thankfully, we're still going strong now in 2021.

My spare time is spent with my husband and seven month old son.

Curnelius is a Co-Founder of Tequila with Fiends. He serves as the Chief Operations and Compliance Officer at TWF. He has a background in Operations, Procurement, and Project Management.

A former Division 1 athlete, Curnelius has always given great thought to what he has put into his body. Tequila was the only spirit that rarely gave him hangovers or left his body drained the following day after enjoying a few drinks. Athlete turned businessman, he enjoys the smooth taste of TWF when celebrating life's blessings with friends.

Chandra Nicole Lever is the owner of Channic Cellars, a small business that provides custom hand-crafted premium wines. She is an Arkansas native born in Little Rock and raised in Pine Bluff. Ms. Lever currently resides in Texas.

Chandra earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business/ Economics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Her pursuit of fine wine began in 2018 in her role as a wine ambassador for a prestigious company.

As a wine entrepreneur, she wanted to bring something extraordinary to customers. Passionate about the winemaking process. She researched how to make quality wines and started Channic Cellars.

Rosie Luciano is the founder of New Horizon Coffee and a human trafficking activist. Through coffee, Rosie is telling a story, bringing awareness, and creating new opportunities within the coffee community.

Merrilee Kick is the CEO/Founder of BuzzBallz/Southern Champion, the only woman-owned Distillery/Winery/Brewery combination in the United States. The company is in Carrollton, Texas,  and makes ready-to-drink cocktails called BuzzBallz, as well as spirits like rum, vodka, gin, bourbon, and some private label brands. The products are sold in 49 states and 21 countries.  The company is family owned/operated and home to over 150 employees in the Dallas area. The company supports education-based causes.

She is a winner of the Dallas Business Journal’s 2019 Most Admired CEO Award; the 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Southwest; EY's Winning Women Award 2016; Winner of the Enterprising Women's Award 2017 and 2020’s Top 20 Award; Winner of the WPO’s 50 Fastest companies, Ranked in the Top 50 DFW Businesses by D CEO Magazine in 2020; Winner of the Top Women in Grocery in 2020;  and Winner of the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Woman’s University.

Emily Ackerman is the North Texas Business Development Executive for Carr Riggs & Ingram, a Top 25 National CPA Firm in the Dallas Fort Worth Office. They guide individuals in properly managing taxes, planning estates, formulating wealth management strategies, and more. Emily truly understands the value of building relationships in a business development role and intentionally creates transformational opportunities for others within her business network across multiple sectors. This makes her a valued and trusted networking partner with side effect of promoting her company in a way that keeps them top-of-mind in almost every business context. Her Business Development career has spanned many different industry’s such as media, software, and now CPA services. This diverse work experience allows her to connect so many different people across the metroplex, and as she puts it, she is DFW’s glorified matchmaker for connections.

Matriarch Financial, LLC is a financial consulting firm with women in mind.  Through virtual one-on-one consultations, Matriarch consultants help their clients with creating a conscious spending plan that includes planning for debt reduction, savings goals, spending strategically, and learning the basics of investing. Your first consultation is 100% free!

Akia Brown is a natural-born leader. She is dedicated to working hard, integrity, and building meaningful relationships. She has worked in many sectors including corporate management, customer service, education, and retail management. Her extensive background has allowed her to connect with people from all walks of life. She has a passion for helping others obtain their goals and educating them in the process. Her company, Lock & Key Financial Services, specializes in helping clients reach their personal credit goals. Whether that goal is homeownership, better interest rates, or just a peace of mind, her team will go above and beyond to provide a positive and satisfying experience.

NewTrnd is a new age clothing & media company founded by viral fashion designer and creative director Trnd Drew. The brand focuses on bridging the gap between luxury and streetwear through technique and carefully chosen design language to create the highest quality product. Documenting this process through an acclaimed docu-series "Following The Trnd" that follows Trnd and his label these next 10 years building this brand and showcasing the lifestyle of NewTrnd.

I speak to Kali O'Campo of the Love You, Mean It coffee brand. This brand offers products, services, and resources for better focus and better results in your daily life. She doesn't just stop at providing organic, naturally extra-caffeinated coffee and also hosts The Coffee With Kali show on The Country Network. Her business is diversified with a coffee subscription package, CBD partnerships, financial analysis programs, and custom mug collections. 

I speak with Jason Ley, the CEO of Better Drinking Culture and the author of the Drinker's Manifesto. This organization is working to promote drinking better and to make moderation aspirational. BDC has partnered with major alcohol brands and communities, and Ley speaks publicly to the alcohol industry and at colleges to spread awareness. 

@betterdrinkingculture and @jasonley

I got to speak with Jessica Ramirez who started as a sales consultant at Glazer's Distributors. She used her experience in management roles amongst CNI Brands and Chareau Aloe Liqueur to create her own freelance organization, Behind the Brands. Startup alcohol brands need their brands exposed to the right markets, so they reach out to Jessica. She creates content, sets up activations, consults on social media, and much more. 

I speak to David Weaver, a co-owner of the SoCo Ginger Beer company. This organization started in Austin around 2015, but David expanded the business to the DFW area in 2017. This is a family run business where David's brother handles the Austin market. Farmers Markets have been a launching pad for the business but they continue to mark new revenue streams. SoCo has built a following at the Markets based on its bottle refill model, seasonal flavors, and changes to the status quo of ginger beers. 

Veronica Bradley has had extensive hospitality experience. Her dad has been a restaurant furniture sales rep since she was born, often taking her to new construction sites where she could meet loyal clients. She then bided her time as an advertising copywriter and creative director, even taking photos professionally. This lead to the creation of Vector Brewing with her husband Craig Bradley, who had experience in the ground floor of Lakewood Brewing Company. Vector Brewing has had to make new adaptations due to the ongoing pandemic and faces unique issues in a period of social distancing. 

Chi Nguyen is the creator of Purpose Tea, a mission-driven beverage brand with a mission of lifting female tea workers out of poverty. She speaks about her immigration from communist Viet Nam, her discovery of the purple tea leaf in Kenya, and her adaptation to the covid-19 pandemic. The product features purple tea, a new beverage that offers consumers more antioxidants, less caffeine than green tea, and an exclusive phyto-nutrient that no other teas have.

Matthew Shelton is a fellow UNT alumni and creator of Leading Involvement, which provides creative marketing solutions to small and medium businesses. Matthew has worked with customer acquisition, paid advertising, and CRM development that has generated retention for local DFW organizations. He worked on various projects before this during his college years, where his skills developed promoting local musicians and creating new clothing brands. 

Jaelene Luper is a broadcasting student who balances college courses with her position on the National Cheerleaders Association Staff. She's also the current titleholder of the "Miss Grapevine" designation in the Miss America Organization. Using her influence for good, she devotes attention and volunteer hours to solving food insecurity. Jaelene has had experience from winning the the Chuck D. Lyrical Activist Award from the North Texas Food Bank, interning at a food bank, becoming a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) sign-up aid, and many other experiences that have opened her eyes in the world of food insecurity. 

I had the honor to speak with Noelle Pratt, the creator of 4 Da Girlz. Dealing with the ongoing issues of Covid-19, she decided to create a website dedicated to the uplifting and empowerment of women. 4 Da Girlz is a safe space for women and an opportunity to give them a break from their reality. The website offers daily motivations, clothing brands, music collabs, small business shoutouts, video blogs, and much more. They're also offering an ambassador program and in search of additional collabs, so feel free to reach out at the link below.

https://www.4dagirlz.com/

The first episode of the podcast features Trea Feist, the CEO and founder of Dank Spirits. This ambitious entrepreneur has an extensive background within the Dallas’ beverage and nightlife industry. His passion behind mixology has lead to the world's first terpene vodka, bringing you a premium blend of liquor with the added taste of lemon haze terpenes.

https://www.dankspirits.com/