We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Clark Sheppard

I didn’t begin painting until 1990, at age 45, when I signed up for an adult watercolor class at a local high school in New Jersey. At the time, I wasn’t chasing a career—I simply wanted to see if I had inherited any artistic ability from my father. Read More>>

Isabela Pfeffer

I’ve always loved visual arts. Growing up, I loved to draw, write stories, make jewelry, and I’ve even dabbled in animation. When I learned film photography in high school, I was instantly hooked, and I quickly found that my favorite subject to photograph was people. When I realized I could make a career out of it, I gave it a shot and fell in love. Read More>>

Angela Hampton

Paws 48 started with the dream of opening an indoor dog park—a safe, climate-controlled space where dogs and their people could stay active year-round in Arizona. When that plan didn’t come together financially, I had a choice: give up, or pivot. I chose to build what I could with the resources I had, and that’s how the dog wash and dog gym concept was born. Read More>>

Sam DeMarco

Success is patrons, family, and friends at ‘my’ dinner table, currently at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen in Scottsdale, Arizona. Coming from New York City, raised in an Italian culture and shaped by NY’s melting pot of cultures and cuisines, food wasn’t about status to me — it was for the people, bringing them together and building trust through food. Read More>>

Bruce Black

This is such a vital question for artists. Honestly, for me, there really is no ‘giving up.’ I look back at my time in graduate school, where I had a beautiful studio and spent every waking hour immersed in art. Read More>>

Kathy Baggett

I think the most important thing I’ve done as a parent is being present and consistent—showing up, even when it’s hard or inconvenient. Making sure my kids know they’re supported, listened to, and loved no matter what has shaped their confidence more than anything else. Read More>>

Kimberly Peri

Since my day job is Risk Management, I look at risk in a variety of ways – risks are good to take providing you have thought out what that means and that you have measures in place to mitigate the risk if it is beyond your threshold. Read More>>

Leslie Gardineer

The most important factor behind the success of De Boa Jiu Jitsu is our focus on people, not just technique. From the beginning, our goal has been to help people build better lives—on and off the mats. Jiu Jitsu teaches discipline, humility, respect, and perseverance, and those qualities carry over into everyday life. Read More>>

Bryce & Paul Perkins

The most important factor behind SipTales’ success is God. We have been truly blessed to be in the position we are in now. From our playing days in the NFL, to winning awards at competitions, nothing has been achieved simply off the backs of our hardwork and effort. Read More>>