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.

Mary Wyar | Residential Designer & Multidisciplinary Artist

After the 2020 pandemic, I decided to take a career shift away from portrait photography and move towards a different medium. Merrily Modern was developed after seeing numerous local builders renovation projects on mid century modern homes where era appropriate design decisions were not being made. My unique design taste, knowledge on how to navigate this specific era, and need in the market made formalizing this business a no-brainer. Read more>>

Corey Jenkins | Musician & Creative Problem Solver

One is I’ve not had my own business per say, though I have helped other businesses with development, branding, marketing, communications, etc. over the years on a freelance basis. I graduated from Kent State University with a major in Applied Communication Studies and a minor in Studio Art. I began my professional career in earnest at an advertising agency in Akron, Ohio called Caler&Company, Inc where I was mentored by Steve Caler (the founder of the agency) and quickly developed into a marketing/biz dev swiss army knife where I wrote copy, did graphic design work, took client meetings, came up with the strategy and helped guide the internal team and the clients. Read more>>

Melissa McClellan | Interior Designer & Realtor

Gosh! What a wild decision it is to start your own business (says any business owner) my decision came after living through covid, having a stroke, losing my dad to cancer, and THEN losing my corporate job to a layoff. I really had to sit in a space of discomfort and think what is really the purpose of work? What am I trying to get out of the work I do and what am I trying to put out into the universe? Ultimately I landed on going back to my roots and helping people enjoy their lives in their homes – I really believe our homes are our nests and not everyone knows how to get out what is in their brains and make their vision a reality in their homes. Read more>>

Sahithya Wintrich | Co-Founder of CHUTNI PUNCH | Chief Flavor Formulator | Nonstop Hustler | Technology | Stem Cells

I’ve always preferred savory breakfasts. Credit my upbringing in Southern India for that. I grew up eating savory crepes (dosas), steamed rice and lentil cakes (idlis) with coconut chutney and cooked semolina chock-full of vegetables and spices (upma). Read more>>

Tracy Haynes | event planner

Im always just trying to add more to the city so the thought is always fun, positive and it being something we can all look forward to. Read more>>

Jennifer Adams | Artist, Photographer, Dressmaker, Tailor, Farmer, Gallery Chairman

First and foremost I am a creator. I am an artist, a photographer specializing in a Holga plastic camera – using 120 black and white film, and writer. In 2019, I was given the push to return to my art and my should has been all the better for it. This is a business venture I have been on for years. Read more>>

Liz Powell | Founder, lawyer and advocate

I started G2G because I kept meeting amazing leaders in entrepreneurship and nonprofit organizations spanning from health to education to economic development, who were change-makers working so hard to bring valuable innovations to market or services to the community but did not know how to access government funding, shape policy, or partner to accelerate growth. I thought since I had worked on Capitol Hill and knew advocacy well, I could be that bridge, connecting people to government to make a difference. Then G2G was born: Government to Growth, or G2G Consulting. Read more>>