Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Tiffany FIlimon | Makeup Artist & Hairstylist

I grew up in the beauty industry, my grandmother owns a salon back in my home town in Michigan. I truly looked up to her and her business, At a young age I would help her with her books, writing out checks etc. for the salon. I thought it was fun! I was so interested in what it took to run her business. I tried working office jobs or at makeup counters/salons. I always felt so limited and like I was capable of so much more! When I acknowledged the hard work I was putting towards others dreams is when I realized I needed to live my own. I decided in 2014 that I was going to take a leap of faith and start my own concierge makeup & hair services. I’m so happy I took that leap because now I am doing what Iove & am so grateful for every client that has supported me & helped me grow along the way. Read more>>

Chelsea Hamilton | Co-Founder

Simple Jane was started by my mother, Angella, who found a need for a CBD product, without all the stigma around cannabis. We initially started out with a line of CBD arousal oils (still our best seller!) and evolved the products into more full body wellness, muscle recovery and massage products. Ultimately we wanted a product we were in love with using ourselves! Something that smells amazing (like essential oils, not skunks!) and combines natural tools (like our Himalayan Salt Massage Stones) to give you the tools you need to feel better in your body. Read more>>

Larry Lynn | Artist Manager

All my life I’ve looked up to successful entrepreneurs. As a teen, I was extremely interested in the music business and also played in bands. In a few of my bands, I acted as our manager. When I was in high school, I read online that venues would book you if a manager emailed them rather than a band member so I would email them and say I was the manager. Years later after I was done trying to make a career as a musician, I found Eddie Wellz while attending Arizona State University. We became cool and a few years later I became his manager and that’s how it all started. Read more>>

Valerie Gonzales

TBH I never set out to make a business, it just sort of happened. I originally made candy just to share with my friends & family when I shared it with my nail tech and she shared it with her salon friends. Then one day the owner of her salon messaged me and asked if I sold this candy, because if I did she knew some friends who would be interested. So I made up a name and a Instagram account and here I am, a year later….. a business owner. Read more>>

Danette O’Neil | Furniture Artist

I had been painting & re-purposing furniture as a hobby for almost 30 years, and in 2015 I stumbled on a mobile app that you could post furniture on and local people would submit offers. I began posting my furniture on that mobile app, and my pieces would sell really fast. After about 4 months of consistent sales I decided to try to see if I could make my love for painting furniture into a business. Read more>>

Amanda Backus | Ruby and Roy Events Owner

I have wanted to be an event planner for the last ten years of my life. It was not until having my son in 2019 that I truly decided to put that dream into motion. I started thinking of things I did not see much of, and that was balloons. I love creating things, and balloons seemed like a fun way to do it. It truly was not until I decided I just needed to take the leap and start it, where Ruby and Roy Events truly took off. Read more>>

Dana Rios | Owner

The thought process behind starting our own business was to have a family business together and be able to grow something with our children as well as be able to succeed and grow within our limitless world instead of underneath someone else’s thumb. We wanted the idea to be with our family as much as possible and show our children anything is possible with determination and dreams. Read more>>

Stephen & Desma Estrada | Food Vending Trendsetters

We wanted to provide a better future for our kids in hopes that they wouldn’t have to work as hard as we did if we set the right path for them. In starting our business we knew we wanted to provide a family feel since family is important to us. We wanted to bring a piece of our cultural up bringing in hopes of connecting with others. So, what better way to reach people than with authentic home cooked food. Read more>>