We are so inspired by the businesses in our community because of how many of them are committed to helping to make the world better than it is today. Check out some great businesses below and how they are helping others.

Tommy Rocks” Anderson | Musician & Music Store Owner”

I opened my music store in Jerome on July 1, 2014. I realized early on that it would have to be more than just a music store : “typical” music store are made for musicians. I wanted Tommy Rocks to be a store for aspiring musicians, a place where I could “create” future musicians. I think that deep down, most people want to sing and play music, but maybe had been told in the past that they couldn’t do it, or were “not good enough.” I firmly believe that everyone can do anything that they want – you just have to give yourself permission to do it. I grew up as a farm kid in southern MN. There was no way that I was to be a musician : I was “born” to be a farmer or a carpenter. About the time that I was joining the Army, I heard that Henry Ford said : “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right either way.” I had always wanted to play guitar, so I thought “Who’s stopping me?” I began playing guitar 42 years ago, and am still going strong. With that in mind, I have inspired customers to learn to play ukulele, which is the easiest instrument to learn, but difficult to master. I created the “Jerome Ukulele Orchestra” and the “Sedona Ukulele Posse,” and have sold somewhere near 3000 ukuleles to my customers. Many of them have returned to my store to thank me for starting them on their musical journey, as it is truly life changing. Kala Ukulele (one of the world’s largest manufacturer of ukuleles) has bestowed upon me the title of “Ukulele Ambassador,” and have me listed with some of the most influential ukulele players in the world : https://kalabrand.com/pages/kala-ambassador-tommy-rocks-anderson . Still, my greatest success is working one-on-one with people and seeing how happy they are playing music. Read more>>

Carrie Koepke | Bookshop Manager

Bookselling is a business like no other. We have the opportunity to provide a product that feeds a wide variety of needs to out customers, sometimes life changing, and sometimes just distraction. Our community bonds over reading the same title, or celebrates sharing different titles with one another. They bond at events at the shop, or in schools, and anywhere else we are able to participate in our world. It goes beyond the local business impact, which is already such an important thing. Skylark is a retail shop, and due to the unique combination of our product and heart, we are also a safe place, a meeting place, a destination. Putting the right books in the right hands at the right time is one of our favorite things to do, and the way that simple action echoes can be remarkable. Read more>>

John Modi | CHIEF IMAGINATION OFFICER

MakerFlo Crafts was originally founded on the basis of providing unique and high quality craftable supplies. Since its founding over 4 years ago, our business has pivoted many times and stands on a foundational belief of, “Be Good, Do Good, Spread Good.” That if you internally mean well for yourself and others, if you do well for yourself and others, that you will automatically spread good! We do not know the definition of good or bad, but as long as we accentuate and strive for what we believe to be good, it will automatically create wonder, curiosity and inspire others. By believing in that phrase, we hope to spread goodness in whatever communities we step into and eventually spreading goodness in the world! Read more>>