Miami’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in South Florida has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From South Beach to Boca (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call South Florida home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout Miami and the surrounding areas.

Yonash Breneman

Before I turned 3, her and my dad faked a ski trip to Switzerland and escaped through Austria, shortly after tying my great grandmother up, so she wouldn’t alert anyone. We were swiftly detained and I began my life as a criminal in jail at the age of 3. After a couple weeks of quarantine followed by 2 months in a halfway home, I began my dream of becoming anything under the American slogan looking to thrive in the “Land of opportunity”. Read more>>

Loris FERET

A major influence in his journey has been his father, an experienced entrepreneur who continues to advise him on the strategic and operational management of his company. This ongoing mentorship provides Loris with a grounded perspective on decision-making, growth, and sustainability—balancing ambition with structure and discipline. Read more>>

Arthur Currie

Hi, I’m Arthur Currie, and I am the owner of Homewatch CareGivers of Coral Gables. Let me tell you a little about why I’m here: caring for people in their homes is very close to my heart, and to my family. I’m grateful my job is to help people, and I choose to do it with an incredible team of kind, caring and compassionate people. Read more>>

Shawn Snow

Grew up in South Florida in North Miami Beach, Miami Beach and now Hollywood for the last 18 years plus. I always wanted to start my own company since an early age. It was never about the money for me. Read more>>

Leonardo Pablo Figueroa

Born and raised in Argentina, I began my journey with a deep passion for music and product design. In 1999, I moved to the United States and launched my career in the automotive industry, spending seven years creating concept cars for major design studios across California. This early work ignited my fascination with innovation and advanced fabrication. Read more>>

Claudia Barrera

My name is Claudia, and my journey into the beauty industry is rooted in resilience, passion, and purpose. I studied Healthcare Administration and spent most of my life working in healthcare customer service. While it was a stable career, it never truly fulfilled me. Read more>>

Kate Johnson

When I was in high school, one of my creative writing class’s assignments was an autobiography. I still remember the first lines. “I was born. Whether or not that is of consequence is yet to be determined.” From that you can tell I did not have a high opinion of or belief in myself. Read more>>

George South

I am a first generation American, my family migrated over from Jamaica. I was born in Miami, and relocated to Lauderhill in HS after my parents got divorced. I have one brother, and I am the oldest child. I am married and have 4 children (two sets of twins). Read more>>

Christopher HIRSCH

My wife and I decided to take on the challenge of business ownership because we were craving something more human and meaningful in our professional lives. We wanted to be closer to people, to build real relationships, and to be part of a community rather than just working within it. Read more>>

Michelle Shirley

I was born and raised in Miami and I am the daughter of two Jamaican immigrant parents who came to this country with hope, grit, and a deep belief in building a better future for their family. Miami shaped me in so many ways, from its diversity to its sense of community, and it is a place I have always been proud to call home. Read more>>

Michael Berger MA MSW LCSW QS

I grew up in upstate New York, the son of a therapist, which meant conversations at the dinner table often went deeper than most—and usually faster. I learned early that people are endlessly complex, often funny in their contradictions, and almost always doing the best they can with the tools they have. Read more>>

Valerie Harvey

Since 1997, South Florida has been my home. My life’s journey has taken me across three continents, residing in six countries and experiencing the vibrancy of ten different cities. Born in the enchanting French West Indies, I embarked on an educational adventure, attending boarding school in France and pursuing college education at Babson College in Massachuset. Read more>>

Geanine Wester

My journey has always been grounded in service, leadership, and a deep belief in the power of community. After making history as the first African American President of the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County and being honored with the Delta Sigma Theta Women of Excellence Award, I felt a deeper calling rising within me. Read more>>

Brianna Page

I have always had a passion for helping others and making a difference. Whether it be through participating in Girl Scouts, founding a service project throughout high school, or leading mission trips for high school students in the Dominican Republic, I was always finding a way to leave my mark on the world. Read more>>

Sean-Avram Carpenter

Carpenter Fine Violins & Collectibles was founded in 2009 by myself and my two siblings, David and Lauren Carpenter, in the wake of the Great Financial Crisis. Our venture was born out of a genuine passion for classical stringed instruments, particularly those from 17th and 18th century Italy. Read more>>

Theo Arranz

I’m a Miami-based tech entrepreneur with a background in hospitality, luxury services, and maritime operations—industries where inefficiency has been normalized for far too long. I’ve always been drawn to building technology-driven startups in spaces where legacy systems create friction, and where innovation can unlock massive, overlooked opportunity. Read more>>

Danielle Nelson-Pluviose

My journey into private nursing and home care began long before I founded Deluxe Private Nursing, LLC. It started with caring for my own mother during her illness. During that time, I experienced firsthand how challenging it can be to find compassionate, reliable, and skilled care at home. Read more>>

Maxi Carreras

My journey with art began at a very young age. I have always been closely connected to drawing and illustration, and over time I found in tattooing a way to take that interest to the next level. I started independently, working out of a small studio, and gradually developed a very clear artistic identity focused on micro-realism. Read more>>

Paula Trejo

Well… I can walk you through it this way: from chaos, to listening, and finally, to purpose. For over eight years, I worked as a radio and television producer, immersed in a fast-paced world of deadlines, long hours, little sleep, and constant pressure. On the outside, everything looked fine. On the inside, my body was slowly shutting down. Read more>>

Natalie Leon

Natalie Leon is a mother, award-winning, community-driven communications professional, and founder of Acts of Grace Project, Inc. Her life of purpose is fueled by a journey of endurance and rooted in the belief that compassion and connection can transform individuals and communities. Natalie’s early life was marked by profound adversity. Read more>>

EMMANUEL TABORDA

Emmanuel started as a salesmen for a citrus company at 19 years old in charge of South Florida accounts. After that, Emmanuel became a buyer for a citrus company in the Miami produce market. In 2015, Emmanuel opened Tocumen Produce Inc. Read more>>

Cesar A. Hernandez

My story is closely tied to my family’s journey. We came to the United States from Venezuela in 2014, and that same year we started what is now BuildEase by Florida Mitigation Group. We didn’t begin with a passion for restoration or mitigation—we started out of necessity. Construction and hands-on work were what we knew, and we were determined to build a future here. Read more>>

Karin Lawson

My journey has been wonderfully eclectic, which I believe now forms the bedrock of a truly responsive practice. I began my career working in intensive settings like residential treatment centers, where I gained invaluable, hands-on experience with complex cases. Read more>>

Amyeric ‘Amy’ Gooden

My parents migrated from Jamaica to Miami, Florida, where I was born and raised. Growing up, I was always active—I played basketball, baseball, and a few other sports along with being an honor student for most of my K-12 years which shaped my discipline and confidence early on. I went on to earn my Bachelor’s in Communication Studies with Honors from Florida Atlantic University. Read more>>

Manzi Liu

I’ve been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was known as the “art girl.” I was always the best in art class, created flyers and posters for school, and won numerous art awards from a very young age. Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be an artist. Read more>>

James Boddu

I was born in India, raised in the Washington, D.C. area, and aside from a brief year in Chicago, Miami has been home for nearly a decade. I’m the product of hopeful first-generation immigrants and, after my father’s sudden passing, a relentless, faith-driven single-mother household. When my father died suddenly when I was 11 years old, childhood ended overnight. Read more>>

Jacobo Avendano-Jassan

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and at the age of three, my family and I moved to Florida in search of greater opportunity. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant shaped my perspective early on and instilled a deep appreciation for hard work, sacrifice, and access to opportunity. Read more>>

Audrey Amadeo

My story begins with a deep belief in the power of creativity as a bridge to inclusion. Early in my career, while working with individuals with developmental disabilities, I saw how often traditional systems—especially education—failed to recognize the strengths, talents, and voices of autistic individuals. Read more>>

Yami Contreras

Emilio Robba exists at the intersection of art and illusion. Long before artificial florals became widely accepted in high design, Emilio Robba was already redefining what they could be. His work challenged the assumption that beauty must be fleeting. Instead, he proposed something radical for its time: that flowers could be timeless, emotional, and enduring without losing their soul. Read more>>

Nadia Jimenez

I started Counsel NJ Solutions in north New Jersey. That practice is currently open and then I opened a Counsel NJ Solutions in South Florida in 2014 and in 2022 I opened a group practice called The Miranda Healing Group. We’re currently serving over 250 community members a month. Read more>>

Jennifer Haley

I did not come to art through a straight line. I came to it through curiosity and a deep interest in how form, space, and energy shape our experience of a room. From the beginning, I was less interested in traditional representation and more drawn to creating objects that subtly shift how a space feels. Read more>>

Explorico Indoor Playground

Explorico was born through the vision of Connie Valdes, a dedicated mother of four, an entrepreneur with experience in retail, marketing, and event planning. Over the years, Connie has worked to build not only a beautiful space, but also a warm and supportive community for families. As Explorico has grown, she recently welcomed new partners to help support and expand the vision even further. Read more>>

Michael Mayta

I started cooking professionally about 20 years ago. I enjoyed cooking with my mom growing up and thought maybe I should pursue a career in food. Baking was my initial thought, but cake decorationg and presentation didn’t grab my attention like savory food. I completed my Bachelor’s at Johnson and Wales, both Miami and Denver campuses. Read more>>

Yaolen Bolanos

I began my medical journey in Cuba, where I completed most of my training before life circumstances led me to leave during my fifth year of medical school. Determined to continue forward, I restarted my studies in Costa Rica, where I earned the title of Doctor in Medicine and Surgery. Read more>>

Pierre Philantrope

I decided to start Pierre Tax Group after working over 20 years in the legal field for multiple firms conducting discovery phase reviews, quality control and assurance for high-profile mergers and acquisitions, class action lawsuits, government requests and litigation matters for both individuals and corporate clients. Concurrently, I started in the tax preparation industry during the tax filing season of 1995. Read more>>

Nicolas Lopez Segura

Originally from France, I’ve always been drawn to the United States and its entrepreneurial spirit. I moved here to pursue my studies and earned a Master’s degree in International Business. After graduating, I decided to stay in the U.S. and began working in real estate, where I had the opportunity to connect with many international investors. Read more>>

Linda Udell Zakheim

Jaxson’s was founded by my father, Monroe Udell, and Mother Connie in 1956. He had a vision of creating a place where families could come together to enjoy great food and ice cream. From the beginning, Jaxson’s was about quality ingredients, large portions, and fun, and those values are still at the core of everything we do today. Read more>>

Roberto Carmona

I was born and raised in Havana, Cuba where I went to medical school and graduated in 2002. I became a GI specialist shortly after my graduation however I could not work for long due to my political views against the Cuban government and my spiritual beliefs and values that did not align with the regimen. Read more>>

Nan Wetherhorn

I have been a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit for more than 30 years where I developed a solid knowledge of and ability to work within the U.S. healthcare system. I have experience with both pediatric and adult patients in various medical areas such as cardiac care, neurology, surgery, and trauma. Read more>>

Juan Diego Viteri

I started at The Hungry Post as an intern in 2021. It was literally my first work experience. Fast forward to 2024, I got the opportunity to become their resident DJ, playing in both Miami and New York, just at a moment when they were thinking about expanding a lot. Read more>>

Andre Huyghues-Despointes

My journey began when I moved to America at just five years old. For a long time, my path seemed set on law; I planned to attend law school and was working for a local firm in Fort Lauderdale, but I quickly realized that environment left me unfulfilled. That’s when a real estate startup recruited me for their inside sales team. Read more>>

Brian Desind

Privada Cigar Club started the old fashioned way. On foot. Often in Little Havana. With curiosity and respect. Before there were warehouses and millions of cigars aging quietly in coolers Brian Desind was walking Calle Ocho buying unbranded cigars rolled by Cuban legends who had spent their lives at the table. No bands. No marketing. Just tobacco and hands that knew what they were doing. Read more>>

Maria Vila

I am a high school dropout who found my way back to education, earning my GED, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and ultimately an MBA in Operations Management. I began my career at the very bottom of the corporate ladder and worked my way up through dedication and persistence, achieving the role of Senior Billing Manager in 2024. Read more>>

Matt Mulcahy

My story in technology started early, working directly with real infrastructure and learning what it meant to protect systems and people. That hands‑on foundation shaped my approach for the rest of my career. As I grew into roles supporting both small businesses and enterprise organizations, I kept seeing the same challenge. Companies were moving fast, but their environments were fragmented. Read more>>

Juan Velez

From there, I moved into Macy’s, where the scope expanded significantly. I led one of the highest-volume operations in the country, managed a multi-million P&L, and delivered several construction and renovation projects. It was a period that sharpened my ability to balance operational excellence with financial discipline and long-term strategic thinking. I also spent a great deal of time developing leaders—something that remains a core part of my identity as an operator. Read more>>

Tyler Mills

I am a cultural brokerage, and that philosophy is the foundation of +CNTRL, my creative & cultural platform. I translate culture, people, and energy into platforms, experiences, and opportunities that move brands and communities forward. My work is rooted in real spaces, real relationships, and a deep understanding of how attention and influence actually operate. Read more>>