Luke Schlensker
If one thing in my life has never changed or been altered… It is my love for cars. Since I was a child I would love to play with cars, build cars, even park cars on the small coffee table in my grandma’s living room. Something about them has always calmed me down and kept me on track, even as a child. As I grew older in age I recognized that I never wanted to work for anyone but myself. Read More>>
Stephany Carmona and Joanna Figueroa
In July 2015, an idea was born out of 18 years of experience in the optical world for Edward Carmona who at the time was living in Caracas, Venezuela with his wife. The plan was to start a family-run business where he could be able to bring all his experience as an optometry doctor and blend it in with his family now of course with his business partners’ experiences in sales, customer service and his fashion oriented wife and sister in law. Read More>>
Lucinda Belden
I would never have envisioned myself where I am today. I was raised in a small Oklahoma town with three siblings in a family that wrapped a Christmas present with the newspaper cartoons. Money was tight and being land-locked, I did not see the ocean until I was an adult. The first time I went on a cruise, saw the ocean, I was hooked. Read More>>
Ritu Bhalla
My grandmother always had a love of healthcare and wished my mother to become a doctor. She didn’t have opportunity to pursue this dream as she had chicken pox and missed the day the medical entrance exam was administered. Instead, my mother ended up getting a masters in Political Science, and her desire of becoming a doctor, which was instilled in her by my grandmother, was passed down to me. My mother wanted me to achieve what she had been unable to do. Read More>>
Sungwoo Chun
I am the Chief Executive Officer of ADPOP Design. I grew up in DaeGu, South Korea, where I studied and applied design and various other work ethics and experiences. My wife, Jenny Chun, and I decided to move to the United States for better opportunities and a brighter future. Read More>>
Alexandra Geczi
I’m an attorney, CEO, and mother who created a family law firm by women for women, dedicated to guiding women and moms through divorce and into the next chapter of their lives. I grew up in a high conflict home, endured years of bullying and abuse, but found the strength within myself to overcome fear and create a life I love. Today, I help other women break free and overcome fear so they can create beautiful, fulfilling lives they love. Read More>>
Elaine Krazer
I met Colonel David Bateman in 2013 at his farm in Hawaii. We were working on projects together for the University of the Nations and I visited Heavenly Hawaiian Farms where he has 38 acres, and The Other Farm, where he has 42 acres. He has been planting and growing Kona coffee in the Kona district of Hawaii for 15 years. He asked me to propose some ideas to him for growing his business. Read More>>
David Scarberry
I guess my story starts out when I was growing up as a kid at my parent’s house. I had a large family and my father did upholstery work and then later on my brother did upholstery as well. I’m not sure why but I knew that was not what I wanted to do so decided I would go to college and figure it out from there. Read More>>
Doug Driggers
Bee’s Keys was founded in 1950 on the simple principals of integrity, professionalism, and outstanding customer service. We have held true to these ideals and have been consistently improving as we go. We have been very fortunate in all aspects of our business. We really haven’t had any struggles or hiccups. Even through the housing crisis, we stayed busing by refocusing our efforts in different areas. Read More>>
Gary Crandall
I love watching young children develop. I coached all of his kids when they were young and wanted to continue working with children. Starting TPYS seemed like a good way to do that. I retired from Electrical Engineering in 2004 to start this business. I was an electrical engineer until 2000 when the computer memory market went south. Read More>>
Jan Van Blarcum
In 1999, I opened Creative Learning 4 Kids and it is a 501 C 3 local not for profit public charity. The Einstein School is the DBA of Creative Learning 4 Kids. In the beginning, we offered tutoring and home school students professional educators and we taught the children in their homes. The families we supported and just about anyone I knew would say to me “Why not open your own school?” and at the time I thought “You’ve got to be kidding!!!” Read More>>
John Cann
I started in the stunt business shortly after graduating High School in Carmel IN in 1981. I left IN for Los Angeles when I was 19 years old to attend Kahana’s Stunt School in Chatsworth CA in the San Fernando Valley. After several years of training and teaching at Kahana’s I realized that the stunt business is a “family” business and that going to a school was not the best way to break into it. I discovered that there were basically three ways to get into the business. 1. Read More>>
Megan Upchurch
I have been a sun baby for as long as I can remember. I have tanned indoors since I was sixteen years old and in the sun for even longer. A tan has always been my favorite accessory for all occasions and outfits. I always loved how great my skin looked and the confidence it would leave me with. Read More>>
Ryan Harrington
I spent the majority of my youth at Cal Farley’s boy’s ranch. We grew our own food, cooked, cleaned and worked in addition to school. I attribute my work ethic to the lessons I learned there. After moving back to Dallas, I briefly worked for a couple of companies and while my attention to detail and OCD were used to organize, I never felt the satisfaction of being able to maintain it or expand it. Read More>>
Tony Johnson
I always liked building things as a kid and young adult. I didn’t learn until getting in high tech that it was called project management. When I learned about the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification I thought that would be a nice direction to take my career. As I started studying for it, I was working at a local junior college. Read More>>
Ryan Douglas
Camping has been a passion of mine since I was a little kid. I still remember taking RV trips to Big Bend National park with my family. Being outdoors, exploring and the bond’s that you experience with friends and family are ones that you never forget and stay with you your entire life. Those memories and others I gained growing up are the reason I have such a strong passion for what I’m doing now with CampReward. Read More>>
Mike Margolies
I was a failed athlete. Failed in High School (basketball, track, swimming), College (football and soccer) and Professionally as a soccer player. I didn’t have the mental toughness to perform with confidence. I went to do graduate work to become a better coach, then the coaches I had had. Read More>>
Dea Henson
In 1978 I moved to Dallas from Washington state, at the time Texas did not require licensing for massage therapy. If you asked about local massage it was common to be directed to the shady part of town where the proverbial “parlor” resided. This frustrated me immensely after working so hard to acquire my license from Washington State. Read More>>
Isha Hutchinson
I used to go out and dance at the clubs to de-stress from work and found that it was a lot of fun not only learning the dances, but also “making the dance my own”. I would get a lot of attention on the dance floor from people that wanted to learn how to do the dances or how to do the dances with energy, passion and their own unique flare. Some of the attention I would receive was not positive, as the other “dancers” worked very hard to divert the attention to themselves and away from me. Read More>>
Dan Ungaro
I started my career in mobile electronics in 2000 at Circuit City. I had no background in working on cars, but had a passion for technology and music. I was pursuing rock stardom in a local band, and installing stereos appealed to my 20-year-old self. Over the next 9 1/2 years, I honed my skills in 12 volt electronics and custom fabrication at Tweeter and Car Toys. In 2009, I struck out on my own in the corner of a warehouse. Read More>>
Maria Pokluda
Great Expectations Birth is a full service professional doula agency matching expecting families in the Dallas area with the perfect doula for their needs. Great Expectations has a group of dynamic and diverse doulas who all provide exceptional doula care. Neither childbirth nor pregnancy was my focus in college and my degree is in Constitutional Law. Read More>>
Wilene Dunn
Wilene Dunn, CEO of WCD Enterprises, LLC a global speaker agency, publishing and public relations firm. A recognized leader in sales, media, marketing, promotion and a top performer in her industry. Wilene has developed an extensive network of entrepreneurs, media and marketing strategists, nationally recognized radio and television personalities to assist clients in their marketing efforts and community outreach. Read More>>
Bob Baumann
I love what I do. I’m blessed to be able to follow my passion but you know my life has not always been that way. In 1986, I drove trucks for a living. I got a call early the morning of July 10 and my mother had died very unexpectedly. Read More>>
